MIMG Undergraduate Research
Overview of MIMG Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Within the MIMG major, all undergraduate students are involved in authentic research experiences either through Path 1 or Path 2.
All students who enter the major are automatically enrolled in Path 1: MIMG Research Immersion Laboratories. This path offers an opportunity to engage in authentic MIMG research through our two-course series. We offer two focuses: virology and microbiology. You can learn more about MIMG lab courses/research experiences within our major here.
Students may also choose to get involved in independent research through UCLA faculty member's labs. This is an independent, student-initiated process. The MIMG Dpt. does not place students in labs. Please see below for information and resources on how to get connected to a lab and find research opportunities.
Once students start volunteering/working in an approved faculty member's lab, there are different options for receiving academic credit for MIMG research (including MIMG 99s and 199s, MIMG’s Path 2, and/or MIMG Departmental Honors). Please email the MIMG Advisors to inquire about options for your lab once you are connected to research (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu).
Steps to Get Started in Research
Step 1: Prepare for Research
- Evaluate your interests and your time/capacity.
- What key areas of interest are you interested in?
- We recommend students connect with a lab when they are interested and have capacity (i.e. can commit X hours/week while maintaining a balance for wellness, academics, and other commitments). For many students, this could be during their second or third year, but experiences may vary.
- Update or prepare a CV/resume to be able to “apply” to labs.
- Utilize Career Center resources and events to update or create a polished resume that highlights your strengths and skills.
- Consider utilizing Career Center services (appointment or drop-ins) for guidance on your draft resume or other documents.
- Consider attending workshops or planning classes strategically to gain additional skills or experiences to enhance your portfolio and resume. For example, check out the Career Center's recorded/video workshop library,
Step 2: Expand Your Research Network & Identify Labs of Interest
Students will need approval from a lab's "Principal Investigator" or "P.I." to begin volunteering or working in a lab. Ideally, students should aim to work with P.I.s who are UCLA Faculty members (with "Academic Senate" titles like "Professor") to be able to potentially receive academic credit for volunteer work in a lab.* Faculty/P.I.s are eager to mentor and work with undergraduate students but may have limited space in their lab.
Identifying Potential Labs/ Faculty Mentors for MIMG Research:
- Start with MIMG Faculty and/or MIMG Areas of Research. Explore their lab websites, research publications, and/or news about the lab or faculty mentor to familiarize yourself with their research.
Find labs of interest from relevant/related departments (i.e. MCDB faculty, DGSOM Research Faculty, Biochemistry faculty, Neurology Faculty, etc.).*
*It is possible to conduct MIMG research with faculty outside the MIMG Department. If you are specifically interested in MIMG 199s and/or MIMG's Path 2, please email the MIMG Advisors (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) to inquire if a specific faculty member is pre-approved for MIMG 199s and/or MIMG's Path 2.
Expanding Your Research Network:
Exploring events and workshops hosted by the Undergraduate Research Center.
Intentionally expand your "research network". Often, students are placed in labs through "word of mouth" opportunities where they may meet or know faculty or folks in the lab. Here are some ways to expand your research network:
Join a research student organization (see research student organizations here and MIMG-relevant student organizations here).
Attend the office hours of your favorite class regularly, participating in a meaningful, productive way (i.e. asking insightful questions).
Attend events to meet and connect with faculty. Some event ideas include: PULSAR events, MIMG Research Symposium (quarterly, Friday 2:00-4:00 of Week 10), Undergraduate Research Week Events, and UCLA Life Science events, among many more.
If you are pre-med, explore Med Mentors' Research Experiences website.
Step 3: Contact Faculty & Apply to Research Opportunities ("Cold-Email")
If helpful, please utilize this Google Sheet Example/Template for Faculty/Principal Investigator (P.I.) Outreach for Undergraduate Research Opportunities. This tool is primarily an organization tool to support students' "cold emailing" processes. Students can view and "make a copy" or download to customize and edit.
Finding a Faculty Mentor for MIMG Research:
- Start with MIMG Faculty and/or MIMG Areas of Research.
Find labs of interest from relevant/related departments (i.e. MCDB faculty, DGSOM Research Faculty, Biochemistry faculty, Neurology Faculty, etc.).*
*It is possible to conduct MIMG research in UCLA faculty members outside of the MIMG Department. If you are specifically interested in MIMG 199s and/or MIMG's Path 2, please email the MIMG Advisors (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) to inquire if a specific faculty member is pre-approved for MIMG 199s and/or MIMG's Path 2.
“Cold Emailing” Tips from MIMG Faculty:
Include a clear, updated CV/resume.
- Utilize Career Center resources and events to update or create a polished resume that highlights your strengths and skills.
- Consider utilizing Career Center services (appointment or drop-ins) for guidance on your draft resume or other documents.
Be thoughtful/personal and specific but concise, demonstrating your passion for their field research or specific projects.
Reach out to several mentors (i.e. 10+), understanding that lab opportunities and space can be limited.
Do follow up with faculty after giving some response time (i.e. the following quarter), but do not reach out to the same person more than 3 times.
Confirm the Faculty's preferred email/contact method with the Department Advisors (i.e. MIMG Advisors) as needed.
After Being Accepted to a Lab:
Email MIMG Advisors (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) with your UID and/or schedule an MIMG Advising Appointment to discuss your options for getting academic credit for MIMG research (including MIMG 99s and 199s, MIMG’s Path 2, and/or MIMG Departmental Honors).
If working with a UCLA Health faculty member, please allot sufficient time (minimum of 2 weeks, ideally 1 month) to complete "onboarding" steps as a volunteer in the lab. Please kindly see onboarding Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs for students and Faculty/P.I.s here.
Complete the Free Lab Safety Training before you begin your lab work.
If enrolling in an MIMG 99 or 199 (as approved by your P.I.), please see enrollment instructions for the MIMG 99 here and enrollment instructions in an MIMG 199 here.
If applying to Path 2 and/or MIMG Departmental Honors, please see Path 2 application instructions here and MIMG Departmental Honors application instructions here.
Funding Resources for Paid Undergraduate Resource
Students seeking funding opportunities for their undergraduate research should please utilize resources from UCLA's Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment (CSSE) and/or explore MIMG and CSSE's list of Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunities relevant to MIMG undergraduate students.
MIMG will highlight any known undergraduate funding opportunities in our weekly newsletter (MIMG Listserv).