<p>So I was accepted to UCSD as expected so my big question for current students or anyone with experience is how are the research opportunities for undergrad students at UCSD? Any input is appreciated, but I am particularly talking about the neuroscience and biotech department areas as I know those are ranked the highest in the nation. If I attend UCSD it will be as a neurosci major and I will be hoping to do research in my time there. I know it's a public college and not something like Johns Hopkins in regards to its undergrad research opportunities but the answer to this question will probably be the single most important determining factor in my decision to attend UCSD. Thanks in advance CC.</p>
<p>Quite a few of us have worked in various labs – mine including a lab examining psychopharmacological chemicals on cognitive function in mice, and another working as a statistics technician at an epidemiology lab.</p>
<p>There are ample opportunities to help out as a research assistant, and (as you become more senior in the lab) opportunities to conduct your own research if you wish.</p>
<p>Research is under-utilized at UCSD since the majority of professors in a wide variety of disciplines are willing and looking to work with undergraduates. I’ve never had an issue finding a faculty sponsor to let me work with them.</p>
<p>Comparatively to other schools I’ve been/worked at, there are more opportunities here to engage in scholarly research activities than at Arizona State University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and it seems to be about on par with Duke (at least in openness of faculty to allow undergraduates into their labs).</p>
<p>I actually know a few people who are currently doing research. Two of them are freshmen. The first one is an extremely bright Regent’s scholar who does some sort of biological research.
The other one has prior experience doing research last summer, and she too is doing biology research.
I talked to someone who has been doing research for three years and he says there are a few ways of landing a research position:
- Take a professor’s class, do very well in it, build a relationship with him/her and assist the professor.
- Contact a professor whose course you did not take but whose research you are particularly interested in. After several email conversations, you could land a position. </p>
<p>I also heard from one professor that in order to be an assistant, you should be either:
A) extremely meticulous and good at following directions
or
B) able to approach experiments in unorthodox manners.</p>
<p>I hope this information is helpful to you.</p>
<p>Wow with that kind of response it’s really hard to not go to SD, but I’m just wondering if there are also any opportunities to do your own research as well as be an assistant. I’m mainly interested in starting out as assistants or accompanying professors in their own lab work but eventually starting my own at SD’s top ranked neurosci labs and facilities. What would the current students say is the possibility of that?</p>
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<p>This ?</p>
<p>I think the question of when, not if, you start doing your independent research depends on your mentor and the nature of your work. </p>
<p>If your mentor thinks your up for the challenge and the lab techniques used aren’t too difficult, then you might be starting out with your own project.</p>
<p>If your mentor won’t give you that much responsibility to start with and the lab protocols involving very expensive and fragile pieces of equipment, you might start doing independent work after 1 or 2 years of being a lab assistant.</p>
<p>Thanks guys for the replies. So lastly, to get a general idea as a whole how does UCSD compare to the other UCs and privates when it comes to neurosci research? I know they are top class and like you said there are ample opportunities, but is it comparable to places such as JHU and the like?</p>
<p>When the school year starts or over the summer. I suggest checking this page [UCSD</a> Biological Sciences Reseach Opportunities](<a href=“UCSD Biological Sciences System Error Report Page”>Faculty with Research Openings)
and emailing professors that you think you would be a fit for. good luck</p>
<p>Great link. Extremely appreciated. The only thing that bothers me is how “research” is misspelled in big letters at the top lol</p>