Research
The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UT Austin is recognized as one of the leading chemistry research departments in the country, so our undergraduates have an incredible opportunity to become involved in world-class research. Chemistry and Biochemistry majors are encouraged to participate in research (Eureka; College of Natural Sciences undergraduate research program) starting as early as their freshman year. Research provides an opportunity to apply what is learned in the classroom and participate in exciting research using cutting edge technologies in the laboratory. If you are considering using your degree in some type of scientific career, then you should definitely try undergraduate research to see whether you enjoy it or not.
It is never too soon to think about becoming involved in undergraduate research: some students join a lab in their freshman year, although some research labs require you to have completed a certain level of coursework before considering your application. It can sometimes be too late: many labs won’t take a graduating senior for a single semester because by the time you are trained you have graduated. Read the EUREKA and Natural sciences websites linked above to get hints about how to get into a research lab. Sign up for the college Undergraduate research mailing list to hear about research openings, interesting seminars and meetings, and summer research internships. There are some opportunities to apply for undergraduate research funding, in particular, every year UT offers Undergraduate Research fellowships of up to $1,000.
Undergraduate research has as many different descriptions as there are labs. When you start in a lab you will need to be trained and start on small and simple tasks. You are usually be trained by someone else in the research lab, maybe a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher. As you become confident and competent in the lab, you may be entrusted with more responsibility. Many students stay in the same lab for a number of semesters and many are fortunate enough to be encouraged to perform their own independent research.
You can work in a lab for research credit (CH206K, CH369K, CH379H), for pay (usually not until you have been in the lab for a while and proved your worth), or just for the love of it. At the end of it all, you will have acquired some skills, discovered if research is a career possibility, perhaps have your name on a scientific publication, and have secured at least one good letter of recommendation from your supervising professor for your next career step.
Each year some students end up being a co-author on a publication in a world-class scientific journal, or have the opportunity to travel and present their work at world-class scientific conferences. All undergraduate research students have the opportunity to present their research during the Undergraduate Research Poster Session each spring, may publish substantial works in the Undergraduate Research Journal, or participate in a variety of scientific meetings geared toward undergraduate research (e.g., National Conference on Undergraduate Research).
The departmental Undergraduate Research Focus Group (URFG) [website coming soon] meets every week to provide mentoring and support for undergraduate research and is open to any interested undergraduate in our department currently working in a research group (contact DrRuth@mail.utexas.edu for details). Members of URFG send a contingent to the Southwest Regional ACS conference every fall to give presentations on their research. SURGE (Science Undergraduate Research Group) is a College of Natural Sciences student organization that works to foster a cohesive undergraduate research community. You do not have to be currently working in research to join SURGE. Our Department is a participant in the prestigious Beckman Scholars program. This program provides a stipend, research monies and travel money for outstanding undergraduate students that want to pursue careers in research.
