Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Research experiences for UCI undergraduates are available year-round including summer.
As a student at a top
research university like UCI, it is incumbent upon you to avail
yourself of this satisfying and unique opportunity as part of your academic
experience while at UCI.
Undergraduate students with a wide range of interests in health-related matters have found
a research experience in the Department of Epidemiology to be helpful
in refining their intellectual interests and have improved their critical
reasoning skills. The faculty of the department is especially
interested in UCI undergraduate students who plan to pursue an advanced
degree (e.g., M.S., M.P.H., Ph.D.) in epidemiology or a related discipline
such as medicine, public health or environmental science.
Students interested in acquiring a research experience in the Department of Epidemiology
should first try to match up their academic interest with that of one
or more faculty members in the department by reviewing faculty
research interest. When you find faculty who
have shared interests, you should email that faculty member directly
by using the contact information in our directory. In that email please state
your major at UCI, what year of study you are in, and what elements
of their research you have a interest in. You should also state
if you are looking for a position with academic credit or a paid research
assistant position.
Research experiences
for undergraduates at UCI can be obtained independently or through several
organized campus programs. Individually, you can make arrangements
directly with an epidemiology faculty member and your home school to
receive academic credit via the “199” course program. Alternately,
UCI has several organized programs geared towards helping students enhance
their research experience as follows:
1) The University
Research Opportunities Program (UROP) is a campus wide program that
is available to all UCI undergraduates. This program integrates
your research experience with broader discussion sections, workshops,
and an annual journal publication. UROP also assists students
in finding a research experience appropriate for them.
2) The University
of California UCLEADS Program is a competitive UC system wide program
that is available to students in the sciences, mathematics, engineering
and technology disciplines who are completing their sophomore year of
study and plan to attend graduate school after earning their Bachelor’s
degree. It is an excellent program designed to educate California's future leaders and seeks to attract individuals from a
broad range of socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic background. Scholars
participate in two summer research experiences. The initial experience
takes place on the UCI campus. The second summer research experience
occurs at another UC campus. Students receive housing and stipend expenses
paid by the UCI Graduate Division.
3) The Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF) offers undergraduate diversity students
with outstanding academic potential an opportunity to work closely with
faculty mentors on research projects. This competitive one-summer program
provides undergraduate students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. degree with
both a research experience and the tools needed to facilitate the application,
admission, and enrollment process for graduate school. The program is
open to those interested in epidemiology as well as other academic fields.
