Getting involved on campus can seem overwhelming as there are so many clubs and activities to get involved in and if you are looking to get some research experience it can seem like there are endless opportunities on and off campus!
Here I am hoping to get you thinking a little bit more about the opportunities available to you as an undergrad to get more research experience! There are so many different pathways that you can take to get into research and it depends on the type of work that you are interested in pursuing. For me, my current work at the School of Public Health was the result of a worklearn position for the summer and has turned into a long-term position. If you are thinking of applying to a worklearn position for the fall (they are opening up now!!), I recommend also emailing the person doing the hiring with a little bit more about yourself and why you are interested in the position. It is a great way to make you stand out from other applicants and gives the PI an opportunity to learn more about you beyond your resume. This research position was based on an application however there are other ways to get involved in research. If you are interested in more wet lab research (like a chemistry or biology lab), you can apply via worklearn or directly email the Principal Investigator (PI) for the lab to see if they are willing to take on a student. This technique works but you need to be persistent in following up and trying to get a response. I recommend keeping the email short and touch on why you want to work in their lab specifically. Also, be sure to include your resume/CV and maybe your transcript. If emailing the PI does not work out or you don't get a response, I recommend emailing a graduate student in the lab (like one of your TAs). The grad students are doing more of the hands-on work and will know if taking on another student is possible. They are also more likely to respond. Some of these grad students may be your TAs and this is another point of connection for you. A great student club to connect with if you are interested in getting into research is the Undergraduate Research Opportunities club! This club offers mentorship, networking, and various research related services. Each year the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Club puts on a Life Sciences Research Night that is also a great way to make more connections! Here is their website. The final area that I think is extremely beneficial to develop connections and get into paid research positions is co-op. The Science Co-op has tons of opportunities to get involved in research. Stay tuned for a future blog about co-op and ISCI student experiences in the co-op program! As you can see there are many ways to get involved in research and your interests will drive the area that you go into. I hope that this offered some insight into more opportunities at UBC. Check out Student Services for more helpful information on job searching and career advice! - Hannah Doyle VP Admin and External
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January 2022
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