Navigating an undergraduate research program
Finding research opportunities is not always an easy process. In this article, the authors outline 10 rules that can help students find the right research program and once accepted, to make the most out of this experience.
Manzanares M, Peña C, Kobak KC, Stratton MB (2023) Ten simple rules for students navigating summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) programs: From application to program completion. PLoS Comput Biol 19(11): e1011573.
Finding a lab
There are many excellent ways to find a lab on campus, including doing web search for topics of interests to you, keep an eye out for interesting news stories from Stanford labs, or talking to professors. You may also find it helpful to visit the following compiled resources:
Wu Tsai Neuro's directory of faculty
VPUE's directory of departments with summer undergraduate research
Creating a resume
There are many ways to write a resume, and you don't need prior research experience to put together a good resume! Think about all of the characteristics that you want to convey about yourself to a lab (e.g., organized, patient, like to learn, responsible) and include things you've done to demonstrate that. Have you worked any jobs? Volunteered? Cared for a family member? Completed a project for class? Created something for a hobby? Explore templates provided by Stanford Career Education (CareerEd), or download and adapt this example:
CareerEd's guide can help you fine-tune your resume for maximum impact:
4_easy_steps_to_writing_your_resume.docx
Its helpful to ask others to edit your resume. For one-on-one help with your resume or any other career-related questions, sign up for an appointment with one of CareerEd's career coaches.
Writing an introductory email
Writing an email to a lab can feel intimidating, but don't let that put you off — at the worst you'll hear back they don't have undergrad research opportunities at the moment (or get no reply), but at best it will be your first interaction with an amazing lab and research opportunity! If you're not sure where to start, check out our guidelines:
write_an_introductory_email.pdf
It's fine to reach out to a few labs at the same time, but make sure to reach out only to faculty you would actually want to work with and take the time tailor your email to each one, so it's clear you're truly interested in working with them. Don't forget to include your resume!
If you don't hear back from a lab within a week, you may wish to send them onenice follow-up note to them know you are still interested in meeting to discuss research opportunities with them. If you don't hear back after that, you can take it as a sign that the lab is too busy to accept undergraduates at the moment. The good news is, there are plenty of labs out there — Stanford has about 500 faculty doing neuroscience-related work!
Preparing for an interview
Nervous about an upcoming interview with a lab? It can help to change your mindset! If a lab member is making time to meet with you, that's a great sign — it's a signal that the lab values teaching and supporting young scientists. Labs that want to work with undergrads know that you are coming to them without much or any research experience. Instead of sweating over memorizing the details of their science, prioritze considering all the other things that a lab will need or might want from you as an undergraduate researcher - reliability, a growth mindset, trustworthiness, etc. What do you know you can bring to the lab? How might you demonstrate that? Check out our guidelines for more advice on how you can prepare:
Finding funding
There are many ways to work in a lab — during the academic year you can work for credit, if you have Federal Work Study funds these can pay for some of your research hours, a lab can pay you directly, or you can apply for funding. You are encouraged to discuss funding opportunities as part of your interview, or in following conversations. Neuroscience-interested students may be interested in the following programs:
Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunity (NeURO) fellowship
Bioengineering REU
Biology SURP (B-SURP)
Bio-X USRP
ChEM-H undergrad scholars
Electrical Engineering REU
Psych-Summer Research Program
SSRP/Amgen Scholars
Symbolic Systems Summer Internship Program
Or, check out the many other departments that have funding available, or apply for an individual grant.