Internships & Research Opportunities

Participating in experiential learning, such as internships or research, allows you to get hands-on experience, make useful connections with research faculty, and build your resume. Experiential learning opportunities may be paid, earned credit, or volunteer work. They also can be short-term or long-term and can be found at the University of Arizona or with partner organizations year-round. Almost all graduate programs in the life sciences require experiential learning.

How to find a research opportunity

  • School of Plant Sciences faculty
  • Faculty from other departments
  • Navigate to find the faculty listings and their research interests. This can be especially beneficial if you are thinking of attending graduate school outside of your current major or if you are interested in learning new techniques.
  • Some disciplines that often couple with our majors include microbiology, public health, biology, molecular and cellular biology, entomology, environmental sciences, and natural resource management.
    • TIP: You can look up a faculty member’s most recent publications by searching for their name using Google Scholar or PubMed. The University of Arizona pays for journal subscriptions, so many articles are available when using Wi-Fi on campus or when routing off campus using a VPN.

If you find a faculty member you are interested in working with, attend their office hours or email them. Make sure you include the following:

  • Name and class standing (sophomore, junior, etc.)
  • The most recent version of your resume or curriculum vitae. (We recommend you submit a draft to your academic advisor for edits before sending to a faculty member.)
  • Briefly explain why you are interested in getting involved with their research, whether that’s personal interest, preparation for graduate school, paid job, etc.
  • Ask if they accept undergraduates in their lab and, if so, ask if they have any work in which you can participate.

Your initial email should be brief and to the point. The faculty member may follow up to ask for an in-person meeting, your schedule availability, and whether you are looking for a paid or volunteer experience. The academic advisers in the School of Plant Sciences are happy to review your email before you send it to faculty.

If you have secured an undergraduate research position and are receiving this opportunity for credit, please tell your major advisor so they can enroll you in the credit. There is paperwork that requires the faculty member’s signature, so you do not want to wait until the last minute.