“I was so grateful to have been able to gain research experience through one of the MCB labs on campus. Working with the PI and the other staff in this MCB lab has been one of my favorite memories of college!”
2021 Graduate
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? Read: Securing a Research Mentor
Research Registration Forms
Please review the Research Guidelines before filling out and submitting your research, thesis, or capstone form.
Fall 2026 Registration Form for Senior Honors Thesis and Senior Capstone (fillable PDF)
Fall 2026 Approval for Undergraduate Research form (fillable PDF)
Paid, full-time summer research
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.