The MCB department encourages undergraduate students to become involved in research. Our faculty members adhere to the principle that the best way to learn science is by doing research, and laboratory research is a strongly encouraged supplement to undergraduate studies. MCB laboratories offer a diverse range of research opportunities, including cancer, neurobiology, heart development and disease, plant development, evolutionary biology, cell signaling, gene expression, RNA biology, genetic networks and systems biology, genome stability, and origin of life/astrobiology.
Directed research, independent study, honors thesis, and senior capstone experiences allow students to work in a laboratory with a researcher for academic credit as a means of educating students about working in a lab, how scientists conduct research, and how students can participate in original research.
Need some guidance on how to get into a lab? See our Securing a Research Mentor page.
Please review the Research Guidelines before filling out and submitting your research, thesis, or capstone form.
Research Registration Forms:
- Spring 2023 Approval for Undergraduate Research Form
- Spring 2023 Registration Form for Senior Honors Thesis and Senior Capstone
Learn more about undergraduate research from our students Maria Macias and Brooke Carruthers!
If you are interested in a paid, full-time summer research experience, the UA Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) provides students the opportunity to conduct research with a faculty mentor, present your work at the annual UBRP conference, grow professionally, and join a community of like-minded scholars. For more information, visit http://ubrp.arizona.edu.
For more information: