What can I expect from a DIS research opportunity?
Neuroscience research can involve either human subjects or non-human subjects such as rodents, birds, fish, fruit flies or cell culture. DIS generally requires a two semester, 9-10 hours per week commitment outside of course work. Please be sure to do an honest review of your academic and extracurricular activities before committing to a lab.
Upon accepting an invitation to work in a lab, make sure tasks and grading expectations are clearly stated and understood by you and your faculty adviser. The progress and outcome of the DIS will vary depending on the lab environment. Some professors will require attendance at weekly laboratory meetings where the DIS student is expected to participate in the discussion and presentation of scientific papers. Other professors will require a research paper or project.
How can I secure a DIS research opportunity?
Contact a faculty member – Browse neuroscience faculty webpages to get an idea of the types of ongoing research opportunities available through the Program in Neuroscience. Make a list of three to five faculty who are conducting research that interests you. Reach out to individual faculty via email to express your interest in their research and ask whether they are accepting new DIS students and would be willing to meet with you to discuss the possibility of joining their lab. You may attach a resume, particularly if you have some prior research experience.
Plan ahead – Start looking for a lab no later than midway through the semester before you intend to begin DIS work. This will increase your chance of securing a DIS, as research positions for undergraduate students are limited.
How do I enroll in a DIS research opportunity?
DIS is variable credit, usually one to three credit hours per semester as determined at the beginning of the semester. Up to six hours of letter graded DIS (BSC 4901 for Biology elective credit or PSY 4910 for Psychology elective credit) may be used as elective credit for the neuroscience degree. You may only use DIS as elective credit for either biology OR psychology, not both. Note that an S/U graded version of DIS is also available (PSY 4920), but this will not count toward degree electives.
If you wish to discuss how to decide which is best for your degree progress, please contact neuroscience advising. Following acceptance to the lab, your faculty advisor will give you a permission code to add the DIS course to your schedule.