UVA Career Center

PHAP Perspective: A Guide to Finding and Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research

Written by Jenna Trent '26, Pre-Med

Getting involved in research is one of the most fundamental and engaging opportunities for undergraduate pre-health students. Research allows one to delve into the exploration of complex and cultivating studies by which you can immerse yourself in the contribution of enhancing and developing cutting-edge treatment and intervention for various diseases and conditions - but overall improve the lives and outcome of patients. Participating in research will amplify your problem-solving skills through critical data collection and analysis, and enhance collaboration skills by learning to work with a team of professionals (which is vital in the healthcare field!). Although research is an amazing involvement that all undergraduate pre-health students should participate in, it can be quite challenging to find opportunities or even nowhere to start in your research endeavors. If you're ambitious to participate in research, here is a detailed and comprehensive guide to assist you in landing your research position!

1. Identify your Interests and Passions

To jumpstart your search in finding research opportunities, it’s important to first identify your passions, pursuits, and interests that intrigue your intellectual curiosity or that make you eager and excited to absorb greater knowledge in that particular discipline/area. If you don’t know your passion or interest quite yet that is totally okay! You can reflect on various courses or experiences that have fascinated you to help solidify the research you want to pursue.

2. Identity the Type of Research

There are many types of research that you can explore and get involved in as a pre-health student. It’s important to be familiar with each so that you can be engaged with the type of research that best suits you. For example, if you are someone who enjoys more human interaction that involves clinical trials to determine new drug or treatment options, then participating in clinical research may be the perfect match for you. According to the Princeton Review, “med schools typically find value in a wide range of experiences covering basic and social sciences, clinical, and humanities research. But a full year of research, preferably in a lab setting, makes your research background stand out.” For me personally, I have engaged in both laboratory and clinical research, which are two very distinct fields of study. Although both were rewarding experiences, this exposure allowed me to profoundly determine my preferences when deciding on future endeavors. Therefore, if you are not sure which type of research you want to pursue, I would highly recommend being open-minded and exploring all options.

3. Establish a Mentor: Connect with a Professor, Advisor, or Alumni

Relationship-building or commonly known as “net-working” is a great approach for landing research opportunities. It can be as simple as going up to a professor after class or reaching out to a department in which you find their research to be most compelling. One of the most engaging research opportunities I participated in was through the connection of a UVA alum who assisted me with landing a research internship position in my intended field of study. By the act of connecting with an alum, I now consider them one of my many mentors in my pre-health journey. Therefore, I highly recommend establishing and fostering a strong relationship with a professor or department faculty to seek guidance, advice, expertise, and most importantly mentorship when searching for future research opportunities.

4. Finding Research Positions and Programs

As ironic as it sounds, finding research experiences and positions requires a bit of research. You can first try to explore various department websites within the University to see if faculty are accepting undergraduate students. Pro Tip: Sometimes it can be best to email departments/faculty in the Spring semester since fourth years will be graduating and departments/faculty will be looking to fulfill those roles and positions for the Fall Semester. In addition, you can visit “Handshake” to see if there are any job listings available for research positions. Lastly, you can explore summer research positions that the University has to offer for undergraduate students. I would also recommend expanding your horizon of research positions to other universities and colleges outside of UVA as this is another great opportunity to build your network, connections, and relationships while also working with renowned faculty. Finding research experiences can take a significant amount of time - so don’t be disappointed if you are not hearing back from faculty, departments, or not getting accepted into research programs of your choosing. Instead, take that time as motivation to continue to learn and grow by pursuing your goals, aspirations, and passions.

Resources for Involvement in Research at UVA

1. Undergraduate Student Opportunities in Academic Research (USOAR) Program: Intended for those who are first-years, second-years, or transfer students that do not have prior experience in research and who are eligible for a Federal Work-Study. Students will be paired with a faculty member in their chosen area of study to conduct research as a paid position during the Fall and Spring Semesters.
2. Handshake: Intended platform to connect students in the University for various opportunities in job offerings, in addition to finding resources, scheduling appointments in the Career Center (Pro Tip: Great opportunity to meet with a Pre-Health Advisor or Pre-Health Advising Peer), and registering for specific career related events. Handshake is resourceful in finding research positions in specific departments at the University. If you are unfamiliar with Handshake, this link can provide you with resources and information on navigating Handshake and setting up your profile.
3. UVA Summer Research Programs: There are many research programs and internships for the summer at UVA in various disciplines and departments ranging from ecology, biostatistics, bioengineering, and more. Although most of these application deadlines are closed, explore the various program links to get familiar in preparation to apply for next year!
4. UVA Career Center: Internship Placement Program: The UVA Internship Placement Program (IPP) is an amazing network and professional experience to explore various research internships. Students interested in the Internship Placement Program submit one application, have an interview with an IPP Team Member, and then get matched/placed to a customizable internship that aligns with their interests (however, the program can not guarantee placement in student’s preferred site). Students will be expected to complete weekly ten hours during the Fall and Spring Semester and weekly twenty hours during the summer.
5. Association of American Medical Colleges: Summer Undergraduate Research Programs: The Association of American Medical Colleges has provided a list of colleges and universities that offer research programs and internships for undergraduate students.

Sources:

https://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/research-experience-for-medical-school.

https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/articles/premed-research-that-impresse s-medical-schools#:~:text=Being%20   involved%20in%20a%20  research,is%20    built%20on%20clinical%20 research.

https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2022/09/undergrad-research