Welcome to UC San Diego’s undergraduate research portal for all students in all disciplines who wish to explore the rewards and challenges of undergraduate research.
Faculty on Research
This is a public research university with big classes, lots of competition and a huge opportunity for undergraduates: to work with cutting-edge researchers who invent the future. If you don’t try to get involved in research, you are missing out on one of the key reasons for being here.
Gabriele Wienhausen—Associate Dean of Biological Sciences
Guide to Undergraduate Research
Overview
What is undergraduate research? Why is it valuable to you as an undergraduate?
Self-Assessment
How to take stock before committing to a research project.
Projects: getting started
How to get an undergraduate research project off the ground.
End Results
How undertaking a research project can help you in the long run.
Ready to get started? Visit our Opportunities page.
News and Events
Internship Speed Dating Event
When: May 20th, 5-7PM
Where: Price Center West Ballroom
What: Internship speed dating event with CONNECT and Commnexus member companies.
View registration, company and internship details.
National Chung Hsing University Student Exchange Opportunities
The Office of International Affairs as part of the Office of Research Affairs would like to share the following unique opportunity for students to participate in a program abroad exchange. National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) has invited UC San Diego to nominate two students for potential participation in programs for the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 terms.
Read More about the NCHU UC San Diego Exchange Opportunities
Project on the Study of Innovation and Technology in China (SITC) - IGCC
Looking for advanced undergraduate researchers to work 10 hours/week through the winter quarter, with the possibility of continued work through the spring quarter and the summer depending on job performance. Open to students with native or near-native comprehension of written Chinese.
Information session - 11/7, 3:30 pm in IR/PS Dean's conf room; RSVP to hserochi@ucsd.edu or Learn more about the SITC Project
UC San Diego Undergrads Lauded for Deft Library Research Skills
Four students win Library Research Prize for skillful use of library resources
Read More about UC San Diego Undegrads Winning Library Research Prize
Harvard College Undergraduate Research Association (HCURA) presents:
National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC) for Undergraduate Students
January 24-26, 2013
Students interested in applying for plenary speaker presentations abstract submission deadline - October 26, 2012
Poster session abstract submission is due by November 16, 2012
http://www.hcura.org/ncrc/2012/
27th National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
April 11-13, 2013
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
1725 State Street
La Crosse, Wisconsin USA
Deadline for submissions: Dec. 4th, 2012
5 UCSD Undergraduate Students to Compete in the B.I.O.M.O.D competition at Wyss Institute at Harvard
BIOMOD is a design competition in which undergraduate teams compete to master control of biomolecules on the nanometer scale. Focus areas may include—but are not limited to—biomolecular robotics, biomolecular logic and computing, and structural bionanotechnology. Students conceive and execute projects during the summer and then gather in Boston in November to present their work and win awards. The UCSD team of undergraduates is working with mentor support from CMM and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and will seek support from local industry partners. For more information, please visit http://biomod.net/."
Calit2 Class of 2012: Undergraduate Scholars Begin Their Summer of Research
The UCSD division of Calit2 this week kicks off a summer of research opportunities for 30 undergraduates representing 17 academic majors. For the 12th summer in a row, Calit2 Summer Undergraduate Scholars are fanning out across campus to work full-time in the labs of Calit2-affiliated faculty members, doing research alongside graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and their advisors. Read More about UC San Diego Calit2 Summer Undergraduate Scholars
Faculty Mentors Engage Undergraduates in Research
Faculty Mentors Engage Undergraduates in Research Often working one-on-one with students, faculty mentors offer guidance and insight into the research process—from how to develop a research topic and write a research proposal to submitting a paper and presenting the findings. Faculty may also mentor students about graduate school and pursuing a career in research. Read More about UC San Diego Faculty Mentors.
Two UC San Diego Students Receive Prestigious Goldwater Scholarships
Selena Kuo and Elham Rahimy, undergraduates at the University of California, San Diego, have both received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious award in the country conferred upon undergraduates studying the sciences. Read More about Undergraduate Researchers
Congratulations to UC San Diego Junior Anelah McGinness, winner of a 2012 Strauss Award.
The Donald A. Strauss Public Service Scholarship Foundation was created as a memorial to the late Don Strauss, who demonstrated a strong, lifelong commitment to public service and education. The Foundation annually awards $10,000 scholarships to no fewer than 14 California college juniors who've reflected a similar commitment. For more information on the Foundation and how to apply visit www.straussfoundation.org.
UCSD Undergraduates Recognized by President Bill Clinton at 2012 CGI U
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant in Dr. V.S. Ramachandran's lab, Elizbeth Seckel, was recognized by President Bill Clinton at the outset of the 2012 CGI U. Seckel, along with students Claude Miller, Brittany Lyng, Lina Delbruck and Nicole de Faymoreau, fulfilled their CGIU commitment during summer 2011, when the group of students volunteered in a clinic in Haiti. The students plan to return to Haiti and visit the Dominican Republic in June. They will also volunteer in clinics in Vietnam and Cambodia in September to treat more amputees and teach mirror therapy to other practitioners in order to sustain their positive efforts in the long run.
Read more information on the project and read the letter by President Clinton
Amgen Scholars Program Supports Young Scientists at UC San Diego
Leandro Gallo, a graduate student in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego, grew up in a working class family in Brazil where the possibility of pursuing higher education seemed an impossible dream for him. At age 19, Gallo left his native country to escape from life-threatening persecutions for being gay, and was eventually granted political asylum in the United States. With the help and encouragement of friends, he worked to achieve his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Hunter College in New York. While an undergraduate student, Gallo discovered UC San Diego through the Amgen Scholars Program—an opportunity that put him on track to pursue a graduate degree in chemical biology, with plans for a career in academic teaching and research.
Read More about the Amgen Scholars at UC San Diego