<p>On several other threads (actually, many) people suggest UChicago because of its strong science programs and "focus on the undergraduate students". One of my neighbors got his Ph.D in one of the sciences from UChicago, and he says that there really is very LITTLE focus on undergrads in terms of professors being available outside of class, resources allocated to undergrads, research opportunities, etc. This concerns me greatly.</p>
<p>I am very interested in doing research while I'm in college. I'd really like to start as soon as possible, and would like to be in a place where I don't have to compete with hords of grad students for professor's attention. So I'm curious... just how much focus on the undergrads is there at UChicago, especially in the biological sciences? How easy is it to get a research assistantship or even start an independent project, especially freshman or sophomore year? I'm especially interested in what people have to say about biology/neuroscience/cognitive neuroscience/psychology research, if anyone happens to have experience in those areas. </p>
<p>Doing research freshman year in the sciences is fairly unusual at most places, simply because it's best to have a bit of coursework under your belt first. On the other hand, some universities have specific grants set aside for freshmen (I know Duke and JHU do). You might check out independent studies as an opportunity to do research with a professor. During the summer, check out research programs like the REUs.</p>
<p>Be wary of "research assistant" or "lab assistant" jobs geared for freshmen or sophomores; these positions consist mostly of manual work with very little research.</p>
<p>At my information session, I was told that there are more undergrad research opportunities than there are students to fill them. This sounds a little bit outlandish, but true or not it indicates that undergraduate research is there for those who actively seek it out.</p>
<p>if you go to frogs.uchicago.edu you?ll see just the few opportunities which are posted for the general university public... do note that most opportunities arise from coursework with a particular professor, and, of course, door-knocking. So, realize that this site is for those opportunities which faculty and other people needing assistance couldn?t fill by those means.... needless to say, there are PLENTY of opportunities out there.</p>
<p>Chicago is a major research institution with 9000 grad and professional students. There are countless labs and countless opportunities. For the student willing to take the initiative, almost anything is possible. In our lab, when I was at U of C, we never asked an undergrad to work with us, conversely, we never turned down an undergrad who asked to work with us. We had many fantastic undergrads working in the lab.</p>