An important component of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Major is extensive research experience for each student within an active Neuroscience laboratory at UAB.  UAB has world-class research laboratories committed to high quality research and sharing the excitement of scientific exploration with trainees.  The research experience has strong benefits in complementing the intellectual content of neuroscience coursework.  In addition, working closely with a research mentor in a laboratory and preparing a senior honors thesis have the additional benefits of acquiring knowledge and skills in experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing and oral presentation.  Finally, the research experience will allow students to interact closely with graduate students, fellows and professors and enhance their preparation for graduate, medical or professional school.
 
 Many Neuroscientists at UAB are eager to have, and currently do mentor, bright and highly motivated undergraduate students doing research in their laboratories.  Neuroscience research is conducted by more than 50 faculty members across the UAB campus, including faculty in the Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Physiology and Biophysics, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Vision Sciences, Pathology, Neurology, and Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurobiology.  The list of faculty who are interested in mentoring undergraduate students can be viewed by clicking on “UAB Neuroscience Program Faculty.”

 Formal independent laboratory research will be conducted during the junior and senior years and will be supervised by a Program faculty mentor.  To find a research laboratory, students will meet with the Program Director, and consult the list of “UAB Neuroscience Program Faculty” who have agreed to participate as undergraduate mentors.  Each faculty listing provides a description of the questions and interests of their laboratory research.  Students will also attend the Colloquium in Basic, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience during the freshman and sophomore years.  The Colloquium will feature participating Neuroscience Program Faculty and will expose students to potential mentors.  In the spring of the sophomore year, students will select several potential mentors based on the kind of research that interests them.  Students will then email prospective mentors and arrange for interviews to see whether the lab has an opening and whether the student is interested in the research conducted in that laboratory.  The process of matching with a laboratory will take about a month.  In order to register for research, students must have a research form signed by the research mentor and approved by the Program Director.

 Students are encouraged to participate in two different, year-long research experiences, one during the junior year and one during the senior year. Research during the summers and during the Sophomore year is also a possibility for students whose schedules can accommodate it.  Students may elect to stay in one lab for their research, or some students may want a third lab experience.  Thus, while two different lab research experiences are recommended, the Program will make exceptions depending on the particular preferences and needs of individual students and mentors.