Other Programs

Historically, UCI students from a number of different academic backgrounds have become undergraduate researchers in the Department of Epidemiology. Examples of past student undergraduate majors have included statistics, biological sciences, public health sciences, computer sciences, informatics, earth systems science, chemistry, mathematics, physics, engineering and others. Our students have overwhelmingly reported that their research experience in the Department of Epidemiology has proven helpful in refining their intellectual and scholarly interests, and in improving their critical reasoning skills.

Since academic coursework must be your highest priority as a UCI student, the department recommends that students maintain a minimum cumulative UC GPA of 3.0 in order to participate in our "199" research program. The department's faculty is especially interested in UCI undergraduate students who are planning, upon their graduation, to pursue an advanced degree (e.g., MS, MPH, PhD, MD) in epidemiology or a related discipline, such as medicine, public health, biostatistics, biomedical science/engineering, earth science or environmental science.

Getting started

First, you should first try to match your particular academic interest with that of one or more faculty members in the Department of Epidemiology. This can be done by reviewing individual faculty research interests. When you find a faculty member with whom have a shared intellectual and research interest, email that faculty member directly by using the contact information provided in their respective faculty profile. In that email, state your major, what year of study you are in, what elements of their research you have an interest in and your reasons for wanting an undergraduate research experience.

You should also state whether you are seeking a research experience for academic credit, work-study or as a volunteer research assistant. Other than an existing work-study grant held by the interested student, other paid positions are rare.  

Research experiences for undergraduates can be arranged independently, as detailed above, or through several organized campus programs. Individually, you can make arrangements directly with an epidemiology faculty member to receive academic credit via the campus’ 199 course program.

The Department of Epidemiology also actively participates in several organized on-campus programs geared towards helping students enhance their overall research experience as follows:

• 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 of student work. UROP can also assist students in finding a research experience appropriate for them.

• The UCLEADS Program is a competitive UC 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 backgrounds. 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 modest living expenses paid for by UCI's Graduate Division.

• 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 summer program provides undergraduate students planning to pursue a PhD degree with both research experience and the information needed to facilitate the application, admission and enrollment process for graduate school. This program is open to those interested in epidemiology as well as other academic fields.

The Department of Epidemiology maintains an EEE website for the EPIDEM 199 courses we offer to undergraduates. You can log in and review our EEE course websites by using your UCInetID. You do not need to be enrolled in a particular course or section to view the website. 

The Department of Epidemiology, within the UCI School of Medicine, offers a post-doctoral experience that emphasizes scholarship and continued research training for individuals who have recently completed a doctoral degree, typically the PhD or MD.

The post-doctoral scholar conducts research under the general oversight of a faculty mentor in preparation for a career position in academia, industry, government or other nonprofit institution. Postdoctoral work provides essential training in many disciplines for individuals pursuing academic careers and may include opportunities to enhance teaching and other professional skills.

We believe that post-doctoral scholars contribute to our academic community by enhancing research and education programs. They bring expertise and creativity that enrich the research environment for all members of the university community, including graduate and undergraduate students.

The Department of Epidemiology strives to provide a stimulating, positive and constructive experience for our postdoctoral scholars by emphasizing the mutual commitment and responsibility of the institution, the faculty and the post-doctoral scholar.

Those individuals interested in becoming a post-doctoral scholar should contact the faculty member within our department who shares their particular research interest. In addition, a posting of listed opportunities can be accessed through our epidemiology employment page. 

• View campus information on UCI's postdoctoral programs ›
• View  information on Graduate Division's Office of Post-doctoral Affairs (OPA) ›

Physician Training Program in Research Epidemiology

The Department of Epidemiology provides post-MD fellows with basic science experiences that emphasize scholarship and research training. The MD fellow conducts research under the general oversight of a epidemiology faculty mentor.

MD fellows typically are enrolled fellows in a clinical department’s ACGME accredited fellowship training program. MD fellows may be an MD or MD/PhD.  Some may chose to have protected research time extending from one year to several years.

MD fellows spending one or two years in a part-time research environment are well prepared for understanding the basic and translational science preceding clinical trials and application. Those that spend several years typically work toward being awarded a K08 grant and eventually becoming independent principal investigators. 

Individuals interested in participating in an epidemiologic research component during the MD Fellow Training Program should contact the epidemiology faculty member who shares their particular research interest as well as the fellowship coordinator of their program.

In addition, employment opportunities can be accessed through our employment listings.

Faculty research guidance is available for a limited number of post-docs, graduate students and/or medical fellows who wish to propose a short-term (summer or other specified duration) research project related to epidemiology and/or biostatistics. These appointments are competitive, instructional and will enhance your curriculum vitae. You will learn a lot but you must be willing to work hard, present your work at a formal seminar to faculty, staff/student researchers, sponsors and, on occasion, the general public.

Our visiting scholar experiences emphasize scholarship and continued research training with the visiting scholar conducting their research under the general oversight of a faculty mentor.

We believe that visiting scholars from both United States and international institutions contribute to our academic community by enhancing our research and education programs. They bring expertise and creativity that enrich the research environment of all members of our university community, including graduate and undergraduate students.

The Department of Epidemiology strives to provide a stimulating, positive and constructive experience for our visiting scholars. We emphasize the mutual commitment and responsibility of the institution, the faculty, and the visiting scholar. Fellowship appointments may be offered on either a volunteer basis (unpaid), for academic credit (unpaid) or occasionally, paid for by an external research affiliate of the visiting scholar or one of our departmental faculty.

Those scholars who have already been awarded a portable extramural grant to support their work as a visiting scholar are most welcome to apply for one of the department's short-term research appointments under the mentorship of one of our faculty. The University of California provides a unique opportunity for visiting scholars to work alongside world-class faculty at a top-tier research university.

Those interested in a short-term scholar opportunity should contact the epidemiology faculty member who shares their particular research interest.