UAB PREP (Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program) Scholars Program

Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR)

Overview: Undergraduate Student Researchers in UAB SOM/JHS Labs
(Guidance for faculty and undergraduate students)

• Undergraduate Research for Academic Credit  
• Undergraduate Research for Employment 
• Summer Research Programs at UAB 
• Laboratory Training Requirements

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

• Faculty Research Programs
• Current Opportunities (under development)

RESOURCES

• UAB Graduate School "Opportunity Zone" - annual UAB Graduate Programs Fair
• UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences Programs
•  UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences Programs
         >  Biochemistry & Structural Biology
         >  Cancer Biology
         >  Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology
         >  Genetics & Genomic Sciences
         >  Immunology
         >  Microbiology
         >  Neuroscience
         >  Pathobiology & Molecular Medicine
         > MD/PhD Program
             *Undergraduate students are invited to attend periodic poster sessions sponsored by certain
              of these programs. Please contact the Program Managers for schedule and details.
        
•  Undergraduate Honors Programs Contacts
         > UAB University Honors Program
            MIchael E. Sloane, PhD, Director
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            (205) 934-8733
  
         > UAB Science and Technology Honors Program
            Diane Tucker, PhD, Director 
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            (205) 934-8885
  
         > UAB Undergraduate Neuroscience Program
            Anne Theibert, PhD, Director
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            (205) 934-7278

      > UAB Biology Department Academic Advisors

          Kathy Angus
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          (205) 934-6025

          Juanita McMath
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          (205) 975-4632

          Nate Wade 
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          (205) 934-8321

          Biology Honors Program
          Thane Wibbels, PhD
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          (205) 934-4419

 

          Departmental Guidance for Biology 
          Undergraduate Student Research

      >   UAB Psychology Department Academic Advisors
           Ashley Hampton                                    
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           (205) 934-3850

           Katherine Klyce
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           (205) 934-3850

      >   Psychology Honors Program
           Ed Cook, PhD                                        
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           (205) 934-3850

           Departmental Guidance for 
           Psychology Undergraduate Student Research  

      >   Birmingham-Southern College                            
           Department of Biology (Directed Research) 
           (205) 226-4870

• Laboratory Training Contacts
       > UAB HIPAA   (205) 996-2644
          Allison Litton, Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
       > Occupational Health & Safety   (205) 934-2487
       > IACUC Training   (205) 934-7692/7880
       > IRB Training  (205) 934-3789

OVERVIEW: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHERS IN UAB SOM/JHS LABS

Introduction
Many undergraduates come to UAB because of its national and international reputation in biomedical research. UAB's Carnegie Foundation classification as a 'Research University with Very High Research Activity' is a major attraction for academically gifted and highly motivated students who are applying to the University Honors Program, the Science and Technology Honors Program and other departmental programs. Providing these gifted students with an opportunity to participate in the research enterprise is an important component of the academic mission of the university. Opportunities for undergraduates to participate in basic and applied research with faculty in the SOM and JHS departments greatly expand students' options over and above opportunities for scholarship and research available in the multiple schools of the university that provide undergraduate education. The majority of students in UAB's various honors programs enter graduate or health professional programs and faculty mentors can play an important role in their professional development. Having highly motivated, academically talented undergraduates in your lab can be very rewarding for you and your research program (from Michael Sloane, PhD, Director, University Honors Program).

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Undergraduate Research for Academic Credit

UAB Students
Many departments have an option for their undergraduate majors to conduct research for academic
credit. These research options are required by most of the 25 departmental honors programs. Undergraduate students may participate in a research experience for academic credit by registering for appropriate undergraduate research courses (e.g., BY398 Undergraduate Research, PY398 Research Practicum in Psychology, HON 399 Research Practicum). Course descriptions and special guidance for undergraduate research for credit outside of the home department, for the Departments of Biology and Psychology as examples, are attached.

Common features of undergraduate research experiences include the following:

• Students are advised to seek out and make arrangements directly with SOM/JHS faculty regarding the nature of the research activity and the credit/effort hours.
• Students may have the option to register for 1, 2, or 3 credit hours of research in a given semester. One credit hour typically equates to 3-5 hours/week of research time.
• Programs typically do not provide explicit guidelines regarding the parameters of the research experience but provide flexibility to the research advisor to work with the student to design the project and evaluate the student's performance. The project should be designed to be completed in the semester for which the student is to receive academic credit.
• Since the student is receiving academic credit for their research, the faculty research advisor should provide legitimate research exposure and academic training rather than assign the student only to menial lab chores. This may include activities such as background reading and lab meeting participation, in addition to work conducted in the lab.
• The faculty research advisor must arrange for the student to take the necessary laboratory training appropriate to the research project (see below); lab-related injuries or illness are handled as described for Academic Credit Students below.
• The student should participate regularly, as agreed, in order to have a successful project.
• The faculty research advisor must provide a grade (Pass/Fail or a letter grade as required) to the program administrator responsible for the research practicum.
• Additional requirements exist for Honors Research students, as outlined on attached pages.
• Faculty wishing to advertise openings for talented undergraduates in their lab should contact the directors of the appropriate honors programs (see Resources listing).

Non-UAB Students
Undergraduate students from area institutions may have the opportunity to participate in research for credit at off-campus locations including UAB (see Birmingham Southern College, Department of Biology Directed Research example.)

Guidelines for parameters of the research project and student evaluation should be discussed with faculty liaison at the sponsoring institution.

• Visiting student should be assigned "Volunteer" status (code 60) in order to receive Blazer ID access
• Faculty advisor must arrange for the student to take the necessary laboratory training appropriate to the research project (see below)
• Lab-related injury or illness is handled as indicated for Academic Credit Students below

Undergraduate Research for Employment

UAB Students

• Students who are currently enrolled in a degree program at UAB may be hired as a paid student employee, with the title "Student Assistant"; UAB students enrolled for credit in a Spring semester may be hired as Student Assistant during the following Summer without formal UAB enrollment
• Student Assistants are paid on an hourly basis and not subject to effort reporting if on a timesheet
• Student Assistant employees should not receive academic credit for the compensated effort; if the student desires academic credit they should perform an additional project specifically for credit, in accord with Biology or Psychology department guidelines
• The faculty employer must arrange for the student employee to take the necessary laboratory training appropriate to the research project; lab-related injury or illness is handled as indicated for Employee Students below
  Non-UAB Students
• Students who are not currently enrolled at UAB are not eligible for "Student Assistant" status but may be hired as Lab Assistant (Irregular Employee 04)
• Training and lab injury issues are handled as for Employee Students below

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Training and Protection Issues

• Faculty research advisors must arrange for or verify that the undergraduate student, whether participating for academic credit or for pay, has the necessary laboratory training appropriate to the research project, including
• HIPAA training
• IACUC Use and Care of Laboratory Animals
• OH&S Biosafety and Chemical Safety
• IRB Training in Research with Human Participants
• Academic credit students may be seen at the UAB Hospital Emergency Room for lab injuries once without charge as a courtesy; additional health care must be provided by the student's health care provider, including Student Health if enrolled
• Employee students are covered for lab injuries through UAB HRM On-The-Job-Injury/Illness Program and can be seen at the Emergency Room (once) or at The Workplace (as needed) without charge; they must enroll in the UAB OHS program
• Lab access, i.e., keys and key cards, should be provided to undergraduate students on a case-by-case basis, depending on student's need and capability for independent activities in the lab
• Faculty are strongly discouraged from accepting UAB or non-UAB students to participate in research as non-credit earning, unpaid volunteers because of potential liability issues for the faculty advisor and department. All incidents involving volunteers or other visitors must be reported to Risk Management. Potential liability issues should be discussed with Risk Management.

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Resources