UF’s Center for Undergraduate Research has been working on establishing a new course number specifically for undergraduate research in every department and college at the university.
Anne Donnelly, director of the center, said as long a student is enrolled in any other class at UF, he or she has the option to register for undergraduate research for zero credit hours.
The course will show up on the student’s transcript, but they will not have to pay for the research class if they choose not to take the course for credit, though taking the course for credit is an option.
“The big message is that research is for everyone, not just for scientists and engineers,” Donnelly said. “That’s the biggest misconception — that and when students don’t think that research is for them.”
Most of UF’s colleges already have this new course option in place, and the remaining departments will be finalizing their course options soon, Donnelly said. This course is not available through the Integrated Student Information System, ISIS, so students who are interested will have to talk to their advisers about enrolling.
Previously, there was an opportunity for students to participate in an independent study, Donnelly said. However, this did not necessarily mean doing research as an undergraduate.
Ben Dunn, a distinguished professor in biochemistry and molecular biology and the director for the UF Science for Life program, said he tries to help students find research opportunities that interest them.
“My role in this program is to help undergraduate students, in particular young undergraduate students like freshmen and sophomores, get associated with laboratories on campus that are doing research of some type,” Dunn said.
Dunn said one way he tries to get students interested in research is by inviting three different faculty members to come and make presentations about their research in one of his classes.
Lindsey Backman, a 20-year-old UF biochemistry and classics junior, said she got involved with her research through Dunn’s class and the Science for Life program.
“It’s been a great experience for undergraduate students to be able to participate that much in the lab,” Backman said. “Learning so many techniques has been very rewarding.”
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 2/6/2014 under the headline "UF center to offer free undergraduate research course"]
