If you are an undergraduate student looking to gain scientific research experience and to prepare yourselves for future careers, here is a flowchart to guide you along the way!
Use the flowchart below to navigate through the resources available to you!
| Undergraduate research | Look into available research opportunities ↓ Land your first research position ↓ Conduct independent research |
→ | Complete graduate, postdoctoral, or professional studies |
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| ↓ | ↓ | ||||||
| Future careers | Industry | Law/Consulting | Non-profit/NGO | Government | Academia | Healthcare | Others |
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | |
Undergraduate research
Look into available research opportunities
Other than BUDR, what research opportunities are available? Consider booking an appointment with an Undergraduate Research Coach who will assist with getting started in scientific research (https://www.uroubc.com/research-coach/). Consider joining the Research EXperience Program (https://www.uroubc.com/rex/) to meet professors, post-doctoral fellows or graduate students and to become introduced to their research and labs. Check out SCI Teams page with events, videos and resources (https://science.ubc.ca/students/sciteam). Consider the Women in Science Mentorship Program which could provide guidance on how to get involved in scientific research.
You can also reach out directly to a professor or graduate student whose work you are interested in. If you have had a course with a professor or graduate student, this is a great way to connect with research opportunities. If you are writing an email to a professor, keep it short and sweet. Describe your own interests, make it clear you know something about what they do, and connect the two. Attaching your up-to-date CV is also always a good idea. Here is a guide to writing your first academic CV.
Working a lab or field job will require time on top of your busy coursework! In addition, many students begin with volunteering in a lab without pay. It is important to ensure that you have the time and financial capability to contribute to research in addition to your courses, part-time jobs, etc.
If you cannot afford to work without compensation, paid opportunities include Work Learn positions that are offered in Winter/Summer terms, as well as summer research programs. Depending on your nationality, you can apply for NSERC USRA or Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Award for your summer project with a professor of your choice. Many faculties/departments also offer their own summer research programs, such as Chemistry and Medicine. You can always reach out to departmental advisors for more information.
Land your first research position
The first step in a career in research is usually working your first lab or field job. This job will probably be about learning the ropes of scientific research while you assist on a project. These jobs teach students critical skills that are relevant to the scientific field, including things like lab and field techniques, experimental planning, and data collection. Many of these positions provide space for students to take on more responsibility and independence as they get more familiar with the work.
Keep in mind that as you learn by doing, you may realize that you do not actually enjoy doing the research you thought you would enjoy doing. That is totally okay! That is exactly what these kinds of jobs are for. At least you have established connections and gained some valuable research skills. Think about what you do and do not like about your job, so that you can get what you want out of your current position and move in the direction you want for your next one. Having some research experience will increase the chances of getting your next research position. Even if you decide to switch fields (e.g., from genetics to marine biology), the skills you learn in lab and field jobs are highly valuable across departments.
Conduct independent research
As you gain more research experience, you may start to develop your own research ideas and the necessary skills for conducting independent research!. This will mean taking on additional tasks associated with research projects, including project (and maybe budget) management, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and scientific writing. However, conducting your own research also means you have much greater control over the questions you ask, the types of systems you work in, and the types of methods you use. So when you are getting ready to take this step, ask yourself: What scientific questions do I find really interesting? What kind of habitat do I want to work in or what kind of organisms do I want to work with? When conducting independent research at UBC, you will be paired with professor or a graduate student. These mentors can be really important in helping research succeed! So it is also good to consider: Who do I want to work closely with as I try to learn new things? What do I need from a mentor in order to succeed?
A good way to start your independent research is by reaching out to professors about Directed Studies (e.g., BIOL 448) and Honours Thesis (e.g., BIOL 449) which can be taken for 3-6 credits. (Some professors will allow you to take these courses without prior experience – it is a good idea to ask.) These courses often have written and/or oral assessments which will help you practice your scientific communication skills.
If you want to showcase your research to other professors and students, it is a good idea to present a poster or give a talk at a conference. Ask your professors or supervisors about conferences in your research field. If these opportunities are not available to you, UBC hosts an annual undergraduate conference that is free for undergraduate students to attend.
Graduate, postdoctoral, or professional studies
Graduate studies
Most Master’s programs take 2-3 years, and include 1-2 full research projects, while most PhD programs take 4-6 years and include 3-4 full research projects. As you start thinking about applying for graduate school, look for professors who are doing research that you are interested in. At many Canadian schools, you will need to have a professor who will commit to taking you on throughout your degree in order to get into the program. When you find a professor you are interested in, you may also want to consider the institution where they work. Consider the location of the institution, local culture, and nearby attractions and resources you want access to, as completing a graduate degree means living there for 2-6 years. Once you have decided you want to apply to work with a professor, you can reach out to that professor to express your interests and inquire if they are taking on new students in the coming year. In trying to sell yourself as a prospective student, reflect on and market all of your valuable assets, including hard and soft science skills you have learned in prior research experience. It also helps to include people, projects, time/budget management skills, and to demonstrate passion and commitment to your work.
The vast majority of research-based graduate degrees in North America are paid positions. This means professors must ensure they can meet your salary requirements before they take you on as a student. While finding funding can add work to the application process, professors will help you figure out which funding programs to apply for. Funding opportunities include NSERC CGS-M, PGS-D/CGS-D, Vanier, and institution-specific awards. If no external funding is available to you, professors will arrange teaching assistant positions to supplement your income. When looking for graduate programs, it is completely normal to inquire about graduate student pay, either to professors directly, or to their students. Common questions are: What is the department’s or university’s base salary? Do most students TA to get their base salary? Are students expected to pay tuition out of their base salary? How many years does it take most students to finish their degree?
As a graduate student, you will have many opportunities to grow as a researcher and develop skills and specializations that are important to your career goals. If you can identify these goals, you can work with your advisor to ensure you get the skills you need to reach them. For example, if you are interested in climate change policy, it may be a good idea to attend workshops on science-policy interfacing and practice writing and distributing policy briefs on your own work. Alternatively, if you are interested in working for a local NGO when you graduate, you may consider having an NGO researcher on your committee, to keep your work relevant to that field. Graduate school provides a wonderful environment where you can interact with professionals in many disciplines and personalize your degree to prepare you for your future careers.
Postdoctoral studies
Professional studies
Future careers
Industry
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Law/Consulting
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Non-profit/NGO
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Government
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Academia
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Healthcare
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Others
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