How to get into research at UBC
April 2021 | 2 mins read
By Sarah Jiang
Fourth Year | Faculty of Science, Combined Major in Science
Getting involved in research can seem intimidating, especially if you don’t have any previous experience! Luckily, UBC has lots of research opportunities for undergrads, regardless of year level or previous experience.
How to get involved
Here are a few common ways that undergrads can get involved in research:
- Volunteer to work with a faculty member on one of their research projects
- Complete a Co-op program, a Directed Studies project, or a student research program like NSERC
- Work or volunteer for a researcher outside of UBC (ex. in a hospital, research institute, or community-based organization)
When you’re searching for research opportunities, it’s important to take the time to identify your interests and to explore the diverse research going on at UBC. Emailing multiple professors whose work seems interesting might get you a position, but you’ll find your experience is much more valuable if you’re studying something that fascinates or excites you.
Additionally, if you have a specific research interest in mind, look for it wherever you can! Your program of study shouldn’t limit your search for research opportunities. Many labs are interdisciplinary, and you can often find interesting research in related fields. Choose which labs you reach out to based on the research question they’re trying to answer.
Where to find research opportunities
Now that you’ve identified the fields you’re interested in, where do you look for research opportunities? Here are just a few of the many examples out there:
- If you’re looking to get into research with a specific professor, read through their research projects before reaching out! Then send them a concise email outlining who you are, what you’re interested in learning, what your career goals are, and, most important, your direct interest in their work and why you’re reaching out specifically to their lab.
- If you’re taking a class with an instructor whose research you’re interested in, drop by their office hours and ask about getting involved in their research. Some professors may welcome you to get involved in entry-level research!
- Join Undergraduate Research Opportunities! They run the Research EXperience (REX) program starting in September of each year and hold several events to help connect you with research opportunities.
- Check out URO’s blog on Research Opportunities at UBC and Beyond
