Undergraduate
Undergraduate Research
Welcome to the undergraduate research web page for the Department of Molecular Biosciences at the University of South Florida. We are committed to training future generations of researchers in medicine, the biological sciences, toxicology, microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences, amongst others.
Note: The student featured in this video went on to complete her BS Microbiology from USF, then obtained a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from USF. She performed post-doctoral research at the University of Texas-Austin, and is now a faculty member with her own lab at the University of Central Florida.
Applicants should read the information on this page carefully.
The MBS department concentrates its research in four specialized research focus areas:
1) Bacterial Pathogenesis
2) Genome Integrity
3) Molecular Biophysics & Systems Biology
4) Biomedical Sciences
Our faculty each undertake their specific research programs within these above described
areas, sometimes with ground-breaking overlap between areas.
Please note that this is a very limited program and we can not accommodate all applicants. Because we receive such a large interest in this program it is important that you read all instructions carefully, and are diligent in completing all the required steps, in the correct order, and you are patient with this process. Apply at least 1 semester in advance of your proposed semester start date; allow the department and your academic advisors in BioAdvise sufficient time to respond to your queries.
The following criteria is recommended but not required by all faculty: Additional criteria may be required by the MBS faculty member with whom you wish to do research.
- The student should have a USF GPA > 3.0.
- The student should be a Cell and Molecular Biology or Microbiology major.
- On the date the Undergraduate Research Application is submitted to BioAdvise, the student should have completed 60 hours or more of undergraduate coursework.
Applicants can find out more about the research process using the BioAdvise research page:
BioAdvise Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research for course credit
If you are intending to perform undergraduate research for course credit that will apply to your Cell and Molecular Biology or Microbiology major, BSC 4910 or MCB 4905 is the course you will take. Tuition applies to registration for these courses.
a. BSC 4910, applied to CBO major
b. MCB 4905, applied to MIC major
undergraduate research for transcript notation
If you do NOT wish to receive academic credit, but you would like for your transcript to reflect your involvement with Undergraduate Research, enroll in IDS 4914 (0 credit hours). There is no tuition or fees charged. For further details, please refer to Undergraduate Research | HIPUR | USF
volunteer opportunities
Candidates seeking research volunteer opportunities within the MBS department are also encouraged. Once the candidate has been accepted by a faculty member, the faculty and student will complete an Undergraduate Research Contact and the required volunteer forms attached below:
For additional information, please refer to: Volunteers | Human Resources | USF
These forms will be submitted on your behalf by your faculty research mentor to the MBS Departmental Office which will then be subsequently sent to Human Resources for review and approval.