Unveiling Undergraduate Research Opportunities at UCSB

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) offers a wealth of undergraduate research opportunities across various disciplines. These programs provide students with invaluable experiences, allowing them to delve deeper into their fields of interest, develop critical skills, and contribute to cutting-edge research. This article explores the diverse research avenues available to UCSB undergraduates, highlighting specific programs and resources designed to foster academic and professional growth.

Introduction to Research Courses

UCSB offers several introductory research courses designed to provide students with foundational research experience under the guidance of faculty members. These courses are excellent starting points for students interested in exploring research opportunities.

Introduction to Research (ENV S 99)

Introduction to Research (ENVS 99) is a lower-division course available to lower and upper-division students who wish to conduct entry-level directed study under the guidance of an environmental studies faculty member. This course offers motivated students an opportunity to undertake independent or collaborative research for faculty-directed research projects. The topic and scope of the research vary, to be specified by the student and their supervisory faculty member prior to registration.

Independent Study and Research Assistant Opportunities

For students seeking more in-depth research experiences, UCSB offers independent study and research assistant positions. These opportunities allow students to work closely with faculty members on specific research projects.

Independent Studies (ENV S 199)

The Independent Studies course (ENV S 199) is available every quarter as variable unit upper-division course. It is designed for students who have a specific topic of interest they would like to research in-depth under the supervision of an Environmental Studies faculty member. The intent of this course is to allow students to investigate a topic covered in a recently completed course in which they would like to learn more about. Environmental Studies will try to accommodate Independent Studies proposals as long as they are supported by a faculty member and the research to be conducted is environmental (see the official course description for restrictions). To officially pursue 199 credit, take a rough proposal to an appropriate Environmental Studies faculty member and discuss the possibility of obtaining credit for your proposed research project. If you both agree on the project, then pick up an official ENV S 199 proposal contract, have it signed by your faculty advisor, and return it to the Environmental Studies Academic Coordinator before the end of the 3rd week of the quarter.

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Research Assistant (ENV S 199RA)

The Research Assistant course (ENV S 199RA) is designed just like the 199 course, with the difference being that the main focus of this course is to allow a student to obtain academic credit while assisting an Environmental Studies faculty member in conducting university research. This is a great way for an undergraduate to pick up research experience and learn more about a given environmental field. Students are encouraged to look out for advertised 199RA opportunities or approach any Environmental Studies faculty they might be interested in working with and inquire as to any research opportunities.

Summer Research Programs

UCSB hosts numerous summer research programs that provide students with intensive research experiences over the summer months. These programs often include stipends, housing, and opportunities for professional development.

Academic Research Consortium (ARC) Summer Program

The Academic Research Consortium (ARC) Summer Program provides mentored research experiences in all disciplines to undergraduates at the junior level and graduate students at the Master’s level who are seeking to gain experience and prepare for doctoral programs at UC Santa Barbara.

CCS Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)

The CCS summer fellowships play a vital role in facilitating experiential learning for undergraduate students at the College of Creative Studies. These fellowships offer UCSB CCS students from all nine majors the chance to engage in research, create original works of art, or develop entrepreneurial projects under the guidance of UC Santa Barbara faculty members.

Future Leaders in Advanced Materials (FLAM)

The UCSB Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), the UCSB College of Engineering, and the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program are seeking undergraduate science and engineering majors who are interested in pursuing a research experience. This internship program will bring undergraduate students from around the country to the UC Santa Barbara campus for a 9-week summer research experience. Interns will gain first-hand experience in scientific investigation in a dynamic, collaborative research environment. They will be matched individually with faculty and graduate student lab mentors from the MRL, the College of Engineering, and other UCSB departments. Mentors provide one-on-one training and support for the research project.

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Quantum Foundry Research Internship Program

The Quantum Foundry research internship program brings science and engineering California Community College, California State University, and other primarily undergraduate institution undergraduate students to the UC Santa Barbara campus for an 8-week summer research experience. Undergraduate interns gain first-hand experience in scientific investigation via a dynamic, collaborative research environment. They are matched individually with Foundry faculty and graduate student lab mentors who provide ongoing training and support.

Summer Institute in Mathematics and Science (SIMS)

The Summer Institute in Mathematics and Science (SIMS) is a 3-week academic preparation and research training program for incoming first-year students intending to enroll at UCSB directly from high school.

Specialized Research Programs

UCSB offers several specialized research programs targeted at specific student populations or research areas. These programs provide unique opportunities for students to engage in research and develop their skills.

Arnhold Undergraduate Research Fellows Program

The Arnhold Undergraduate Research Fellows Program is designed to aid and encourage English majors who want to conduct research beyond the level of ordinary course assignments. The program provides the opportunity for qualified English majors to receive extra guidance and assistance as they pursue their research goals.

Beckman Scholars Program

Scholars embark on a 15-month program designed to enrich their development as students and scientists through innovative research, mentoring, collaboration, and practice in effective communication. The program offers students a unique opportunity to become immersed in the scientific community. Beckman Scholars will receive a scholarship of up to $19,300 over two summers.

California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP)

The California Alliance for Minority Participation provides resources and opportunities to under-represented students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

EUREKA! Scholars Program

The EUREKA! program is designed to enrich the academic experience of undergraduates at University of California, Santa Barbara in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) disciplines early on in their educational careers.

Gene & Susan Lucas Undergraduate Research Fund

The Gene and Susan Lucas Undergraduate Research Fund was created to help first-generation undergraduate students experience research alongside UCSB faculty. The program supports research for first-generation undergraduate UCSB students in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).

McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program prepares qualified undergraduates for entrance to graduate programs in all fields of study. The goals of McNair are to increase the number of first-generation, low-income and/or underrepresented students in Ph.D. programs, ultimately diversifying academia, government, and industry, among other fields.

Paso

Paso for UCSB undergraduate science and engineering students. Interns will be matched with a research project, a faculty supervisor and graduate student mentor. Interns will receive a stipend of $4500 for the 9-week internship, up to $600 in travel support and housing in shared apartments on the UTEP campus. In addition to their research responsibilities, interns will give presentations based on their work and participate in career development activities.

Raab Writing Fellows Program

The Raab Writing Fellows Program, funded by a generous gift from UCSB Trustee Diana Raab, provides opportunities for mentoring and research in writing to selected undergraduates. This fellowship would be valuable for students interested in pursuing graduate work or in developing a writing project with an expert in the field. The program supports the academic and professional writing of students via one-on-one work with Writing Program faculty. Moreover, students have the opportunity to collaborate with the cohort of other Raab Writing Fellows, building a strong bond and writing network for their activities at UCSB and beyond.

SACNAS Scholars Program

The mission of the SACNAS Scholars Program is to train the next generation of diverse STEM leaders. SACNAS Scholars will have the opportunity to engage in both hands-on research training in a UCSB STEM faculty lab during an 8-week intensive summer program and academic year leadership development.

The Maximizing Access to Research Careers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (MARC-UCSB) Program

The Maximizing Access to Research Careers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (MARC-UCSB) Program is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The UCSB Edison STEM Research Scholarship

The UCSB Edison STEM Research Scholarship is designed to aid talented undergraduate students to participate in research under the direction of a UCSB faculty mentor/research affiliate in one of the following fields: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Earth Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or Statistics.

The University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) Program

This program is designed to engage and educate California’s future leaders by preparing promising students for advanced education in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM). The program is designed to identify upper-division undergraduate students with the potential to succeed in these disciplines but who have experienced situations or conditions that have adversely impacted their advancement in their field of study.

Research Resources and Support

UCSB provides a range of resources and support services to help undergraduates engage in research. These resources include online databases, research guides, and funding opportunities.

UCSB Library Resources

The UCSB Library offers extensive resources to support undergraduate research. Research guides are available for a variety of sustainability-focused and related courses, such as Business Planning, Approaches to University Writing for Multilingual Students: Campus Sustainability, Environmental Studies Capstone, Writing about Sustainability, Writing for Environmental Studies, Conservation Ecology, and Environmental Politics and Policymaking. Another course guide, Approaches to University Writing for Multilingual Students: Campus Sustainability (LING 12), includes a reference of key terms and search phrases for students to use in order to effectively access other library resources and has links to outside resources, such as Sustainability Science Abstracts, that can be accessed through the University’s subscription. The UCSB Library also provides a subscription to the database, Sustainability Science Abstracts, and links to the freely accessible GreenFILE database.

Research Assistantship Directory

The Undergrad RA Directory is your go-to place for discovering new research projects taking place on campus. Professors can submit projects on a rolling basis to have their listing hosted on the directory. Although the Directory is categorized by department, don’t allow that to limit you.

Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Grants

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) unit in the College of Letters and Science encourages undergraduates conducting independent research projects or creative activities to apply for funding to support these efforts. The funding for URCA grants comes from university, federal, and private sources and is intended to cover a project’s expenses, included research-related domestic travel.

UC Education Abroad Research Programs

Conduct a research project with professors and graduate students in your field and build a portfolio for graduate school or the private sector. On this type of program, you'll take your skills, ideas, and perspectives to a new location abroad and learn new methods for developing and presenting your work. This type of program is ideal for pursuing a research idea independently under the guidance of a mentor.

Academic Credit for Research

Students can receive academic credit for their research experiences at UCSB. The number of units awarded varies depending on the department and the amount of time spent on research.

Environmental Studies (ENV S) Credit

For ENVST B.A. majors, ENV S 199 and 199RA credit of max 4 units can be applied to the Area B requirements in the student’s upper division. For ENVST B.S. majors, ENV S 199 and ENV S 199RA credit of max 4 units can be applied to the student’s Area B-2 requirements in the upper division. ENV S 99 cannot be applied towards upper division major requirements but will count towards your overall graduation unit count. Students can receive up to 5 units of academic credit for their research in a given quarter. A maximum of 4 of those units can be applied to major requirements. Students can take a maximum of 30 units of 99/199/199RA credit during their entire college career. Departments commonly expect between 25 and 50 hours a quarter for each unit. A student can apply those units as upper or lower division units towards those needed to graduate. Departments have discretion in how many units to award for research and how many hours this translates into.

Balancing Research with Academic Life

Finding a great school-life balance is one of the main concerns and challenges for undergraduates pursuing research. Many students have duties within and outside of school that require extensive time and effort, making it hard to find space in their busy schedules for more activity.

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