Research Labs looking for Undergrads

Student working in lab at mircoscope
students doing feild research with flowers

Remember: The best way to get into a research lab is to be proactive and contact faculty members you are interested in working with directly!

There are a multitude of other research positions available at KU that do not appear on this list. Be sure to do your own research and reach out to professors who have interests that align to yours.

Look for Labs in the Department of Molecular Biosciences

Look for labs in Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Find out more about Getting Involved in Research

Openings in Biology Labs

There are currently no known openings within Biology Labs.

Department of Molecular Biosciences

The Department of Molecular Biosciences is seeking 2-3 students to assist with general laboratory cleaning for vacated spaces. It will require ~10-20 hours a week and most likely for the fall semester, but could extend if more need is identified. Students will be paid for this effort ($13/hour). They can contact Scott Hefty (pshefty@ku.edu) for more information about the position. They should apply to the general UTA student pool (PDF).

 

Openings in Non-Biology Labs

The Lab of Adam Smith

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

  • Volunteer or Paid Position (If paid, what is the pay range?)
  • Volunteer
  • How many hours a week?
    • My research group routinely recruits undergraduate research assistants to volunteer around 15 hours a week.
  • How long will this position be available to the student? (Semester long, yearlong, etc.)
    • We prefer to recruit students with 2-3 years left before graduation with the intention to retain them over that period of time.
  • What is the focus of your lab’s research?
    • Our research group focuses on questions regarding the neurobiology of social behavior and stress. We utilize animal behavioral studies, advanced neuroscience and pharmacological methods, and computational neuroscience approaches to conduct this work. Students with backgrounds in neuroscience, biology, psychology, computer science, and related fields are encouraged to apply
  • What would a student be doing in your lab?
    • They will be assigned to on-going research projects headed by a senior lab member (e.g., postdoc or graduate student) and will receive training necessary to complete the work.
  •  Is there an opportunity for independent research?
    • Ultimately, undergraduates are allowed to conduct independent research after sufficient training has been received.
  • How should the student apply for the position?

 

The Lab of Kelsie T. Forbush

Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors

  • Volunteer or Paid Position (If paid, what is the pay range?)

    • Volunteer position - student will enroll in 3 credit hours of PSYC 480 under Dr. Kelsie Forbush.
  • How many hours a week?
    • 10 hours/week. 9 hours are generally flexible to the student's availability. 1 hour is required in-person meeting, every Friday at 9 AM.
  • How long will this position be available to the student?
    • 2 semesters at minimum.
  • What is the focus of your lab’s research?
    • We do research on the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. Currently, we are working on projects to better assess eating disorders in veterans and active duty military, view neuromarkers of treatment progress using fMRI, and test two mobile-phone treatment apps.
  • What would a student be doing in your lab?
    • Students would be involved in the daily conduct of research, such as reviewing eligibility for potential participants, being the point of contact for study procedures, processing compensation, and coding quantitative and qualitative data. Students may also assist in participant recruitment, outreach on campus and online, and in later semesters, manuscript preparation.
  • Is there an opportunity for independent research?
    • Students may be able to complete an honors thesis with Dr. Forbush as their mentor with her approval.
  • Is there anywhere for the student to go to find out more information about the position?
  • How should the student apply for the position?

 

The Gillath Lab

Department of Psychology

  • Volunteer or Paid Position (If paid, what is the pay range?)

    • This is a volunteer position. However, students may choose to work in the lab for course credit through PSYC 480.
  • How many hours a week?
    • ​​​​We require our RAs to commit 10 hours/week to the lab. This could include running studies, cleaning and coding data, reviewing literature, and more! We also hold a weekly lab meeting on Fridays from 4-5pm where undergraduate research assistants and graduate students all meet and discuss topics within close relationship research.
  • How long will this position be available to the student?
    • ​​​​​​​We are looking for research assistants who can commit to at least one year in the lab
  • What is the focus of your lab’s research?
    • Our research focuses on close relationships and their underlying mechanisms. We're also exploring the effects of increasing people’s sense of attachment security on their tendency to engage in pro-social behavior, their altruistic and sexual attitudes, and their goals, as well as their attentional strategies. Recently, we have also begun conducting research into artificial intelligence (AI). 
  • What would a student be doing in your lab?
    • ​​​​​​​There are a variety of tasks students can expect to work on in the lab. While most of our research assistants run human participant studies, there are also opportunities for them to help with data cleaning and coding, the process of developing and implementing new studies, working with and reviewing literature, and more! 
  • Is there anywhere for the student to go to find out more information about the position?
    • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​To learn more, please visit gillab.ku.edu
  • How should the student apply for the position?