Getting Undergraduate Research Funding
Working in an undergraduate research lab is an opportunity sought by a range of students, but afforded to a few. Undergraduate psychology students seek out research opportunities to gain experience necessary to be admitted and thrive in graduate programs. Academic advisors consider it an excellent opportunity to earn a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, and graduate admissions committees consider research experience to be a critical component of a student’s application. Having been a member of two research labs at UNLV, I consider working in a research lab to be a great way to gain firsthand experience. Below are some of the experiences I’ve had with resources that you can use to help fund your research career.
When I joined the Interactive Measurement Group, I was so excited to just be a member of a lab! I would have been willing to volunteer my time on top of the hours I had committed to my classwork. However, as a member of Dr. Barchard’s lab, we have the opportunity to enroll in independent study, meaning we get course credit for the work we do.
This is a lot like getting paid for doing research. After joining the Hines Translational Neuroscience Group, I quickly learned that most research is expensive. Unlike the research I conducted in the Interactive Measurement Group, many of my experiments easily cost hundreds of dollars, so applying for and winning research funding is critical for two reasons: 1) I don’t feel bad about using lab equipment because I have grant money that can replace the materials I use, and 2) This extra money helps me spend less time at work and more time in the lab making progress on my research projects.
Finding research grants can be a little intimidating, but below are a few resources that have helped me:
1. Subscribe to the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) newsletter. The OUR exists to help undergraduates learn about various aspects of the research process, from learning how to craft an effective lightning talk to applying for research funding. The OUR newsletter usually contains information about events and scholarships that nearly all undergraduate researchers can apply for. Thanks to the Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Undergraduate Research Funding Award, I received $500 to work on a research project. With the money from this grant, I was able to purchase materials required to make solutions and specimen slides for my project. This funding also let me take time off from work to schedule extra meetings with my research mentor, without worrying about making up the money from those lost work hours.
2. Apply to be an AANAPISI and/or McNair Scholar. These programs are designed to help undergraduate researchers from underrepresented groups to spend time working on their projects, rather than sacrificing their lab time to something like a second job. Thanks to the AANAPISI Summer Research Institute, I received $2,500 in funding to work on a summer project, which included a series of experiments where I characterized serotonin receptors throughout the brain to help develop novel antidepressants.
3. Present your research at places where you have the chance to win prizes. Both UNLV’s Psi Chi chapter and the Office of Undergraduate Research hold conferences where you can win prizes ranging from UNLV bookstore gift cards to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in grant money. I strongly encourage UNLV students to participate in these events because, unlike other regional and national conferences, participating in UNLV forums is free!
Although it can be intimidating to apply for research funding, it is a worthwhile process that can only help you grow as a young professional and researcher. Not only is applying for and receiving research funding a great way to support yourself as an undergraduate, but you can list your awards on your curriculum vitae. Winning research awards shows prospective graduate schools that the work you do is important and that you care about the time you contribute to your projects.
April Contreras is a senior at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is majoring in psychology and minoring in neuroscience, and has been a member of the Interactive Measurement Group and the Hines Translational Neuroscience Group since Spring 2016. She plans to go to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Her research interests include the neurobiology of mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and interneuron function.