<p>Hi, I was wondering whether there is a lot of respected research oppurtunities available at Berkeley. So basically is the research widely accessible? Is it respected? Particularly research programs dealing with molecular biology and/or neuroscience. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi, I'm a freshman in my first semester at UC Berkeley. There is a great program here called URAP that allows undergrads to apply to work in labs. I applied to three labs and was accepted to two of them (anecdotal but I was surprised). It's really great way to get involved in what makes Berkeley really great (that it's a first rate research university) as an undergrad. I already have tasks similar to those of the grad students, go to lab meetings and have offers to be a coauthor on a paper. I think many people don't apply for this as a freshman but the faculty I interviewed with seemed really happy that undergrads were interested so early on so I'd just do it anyway. I have a friend who's a sophomore interning at UCSF doing neuro stuff. There are a few people here doing human neuro research and also profs in IB doing research with animals such as songbirds. For human neuro UCB isn't as good as some places which have a med school but you will find good stuff to do if you look.</p>
<p>As far as if berkeley is respected in bio it is one of the best schools in the nation. Here's the US News rank for overall bio grad Search</a> - Biological Sciences - Best Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report</p>
<p>Natural Sciences:
QS</a> Top Universities: University rankings in the Natural Sciences</p>
<p>Life Sciences and Biomed (even though UCB's med school is UCSF):
QS</a> Top Universities: University rankings in Life Sciences and Biomedicine</p>
<p>I echo biomech and commend him/her for a great post. I'm a URAP apprentice right now as well, and I absolutely love it. The professors are inviting and open, and it's really fun to work with both the professor and his/her graduate students.</p>
<p>TONS. I'm a assistant through URAP too and it was super easy to get.
Plus, Its the Bay area, even if you don't do research directly through the school there is lost of research like stuff all around. You could also do interships and other stuff.
It would suck if I went to a small liberal arts school where there would be about one thousandth of the choices.</p>