All students can get involved in research. Some students work in a lab as a volunteer, as a paid intern, or as a student worker. You can be both paid and get credit for research you are conducting if it is approved by your faculty mentor. What form your experience takes will depend on you and your mentor.  

If you want to do research for credit, then you must enroll in BIO_SC 2950, BIO_SC 4950/4952, or BIO_SC 4950H/4952H. The 4000-level courses require you to be engaged in an independent research project, which is defined as one in which the student is engaged in the development of the research question, hypothesis, and experimental design in an area of biological sciences/life sciences. The courses vary in terms of prerequisites required and the degree requirements each fulfill. 

As a student, you have the opportunity to learn a lot about biology in your classes. It is also important, however, that your scientific education include learning not just what we know, but how we know it, and how the scientific process is used to generate new knowledge. You can be part of the process of creating new knowledge by participating in a research project under faculty supervision and earn academic credit for doing so. We strongly encourage this hands-on research experience! 

No. You can work with any research active faculty member, in any department, who is willing to mentor you on an individually directed field or laboratory research project in an area of biological sciences/life sciences. You must be engaged in the development of the research question, hypothesis, and the experimental design. In other words you cannot be merely “hands in the lab” helping a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow.  

Biological Sciences majors often do research with labs in Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Plant Sciences, Psychological Sciences, and Veterinary Pathobiology.

Yes. You can work with any research active faculty member, in any department – based on your having identified them as a research mentor and assuming they are willing to mentor you on an individually directed field or laboratory research project in an area of biological sciences/life sciences. 

The Honors sequence (BIO_SC 4950H/4952H) allows qualified students to graduate with Departmental Honors, a distinction noted on the diploma and transcript. You can read more about the requirements and benefits of earning departmental honors. To enroll in this two-course sequence, students must have a GPA of 3.3 or greater. Further, students in this course must submit a written assignment describing their anticipated research, including background information, experimental approaches, expected outcomes, and significance.

BioSci 4950H and BioSci 4952H can count as honors college courses for students affiliated with the Honors College. However, Honors College membership is NOT required to enroll in these courses.  

Yes. Successfully completing 6 credit hours of either BIO_SC 4950/4952 or BIO_SC 4950H/4952H with a grade of C- or greater satisfies the Capstone experience.

The second course in the sequence must be completed within the last 45 hours of enrollment before graduation. 

Yes. Successful completion of the second course in the two-course sequence (BIO_SC 4952 or BIO_SC 4952H) requires a public presentation of your project. 

Yes. Upon completion of a total of 6 credit hours of BIO_SC 4950/4952 or BIO_SC 4952, 3 hours may be applied as major credit hours toward the BA or BS in Biological Sciences and 3 hours will count toward the over 120 credit hour required for a degree. 

Yes, you can conduct research as an intern, part-time worker, or through work study. You can be both paid and get credit for research you are conducting if it is approved by your faculty mentor.  The following campus internship programs are open to Biological Sciences majors: 

• BioFlare: Biophysics First Year Learning and Research Experience
• Cherng Summer Scholars
• College of Arts and Science Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program
• Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
• Freshman Research in Plant Sciences (FRIPS)
• Honors College Discovery Fellows
• MARC Program
• McNair Scholars Program
• Missouri Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (MoLSAMP)
• Mizzou Forward Undergraduate Research Training Grants
• Translational Biomedicine Summer Research Program

The Office of Undergraduate Research maintains a listing of current research postings for undergraduate students and part-time positions may be posted on Handshake. 

• Office of Undergraduate Research Jobs Postings
• https://hiremizzoutigers.com/ 

The Federal Work Study (FWS) is designed to give part-time employment to undergraduate and graduate students who need the income to help meet the costs of their education. MU Student Financial Aid determines eligibility and allocates Work Study funds to students. The MU Career Center helps students find and apply for Work Study positions. 

The following are the most common events at which undergraduates showcase their research.

• Show Me Research Week
• Undergraduate Research Days (Last day of classes each fall and spring semester)
• Research and Creative Achievements Forum (Summer semester)
• Interdisciplinary Plant Group’s Annual Symposium (May/June)
• Health Sciences Research Day (Fall)

If you have additional questions after reading through this website, you can email biohonors@missouri.edu to schedule an appointment with the department’s Director of Undergraduate Research. 

Your academic advisor also can answer many other questions you may have about doing research as an undergraduate.

If you’d like to know more about doing research from a student perspective, you can meet with a Research Ambassador from the Office of Undergraduate Research. Research Ambassadors are Mizzou students who are currently involved in research. Several Research Ambassadors are Biology majors.