• Course-Based Research (CUREs) labs (3-4 Credit Hours): Students under the guidance of a professor perform research for a specific research program in a peer-center education research environment. CURE labs are available in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
• Within faculty research laboratory (1-5 Credit Hours(s)): Work within a grant-funded research lab within GSU exploring a wide range of field/laboratory techniques under the guidance of a principal investigator, graduate, and post-graduate students. Active research faculty to work under can be found here.

For questions regarding PURL, please email [email protected].

For current and incoming honors college students, research opportunities can be obtained through the University Assistantship programs.

In this program, biology students will be matched to a research group whose activities match their interests and will learn under leading mentors for a full academic year (Fall and Spring semesters)

• Duration: 1 year
• Compensation: $2,500 stipend, head start in Honors Thesis, course credit
• Who is eligible? : Incoming and current honors students in good academic standing with the Honors College
• Additional information: Assistantship is renewable on a case-by-case basis.
• Applications: Application openings and deadlines are sent to all honors students and links to the application portal are also sent via email through the honors college.

For additional information, please contact Emily Buis at [email protected]

To learn more about how to obtain funding for your research efforts, learn of the national prestigious awards and scholarships that can be earned here!

Also, visit the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and get enrolled in their iCollege course to gain access to all their resources!

Some GSU-based fellowships to explore:

Molecular Basis of Disease

Brains & Behavior

Georgia State University hosts the GSU STEM Conference biannually in the Fall and Spring Semesters. This is a great networking and learning opportunity which you could contribute to by sharing your work or your curiosities with your scientific poster.

For more information and to enroll for the next conference, visit this page!

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference (GSURC)

Hosted by the honors college, the Georgia State University Research Conference is a great opportunity for students of various disciplines to gather and share their research and/or craft with their peers in an encouraging environment. Participating in this conference is a great opportunity to learn about active research within GSU as well as form enduring professional connections!

External internship opportunities at the local, national, and international levels are usually compiled into databases created by research universities or other research inclined organizations. Here are popular databases of STEM/Biology research opportunity databases that are helpful:

• Pathways To Science: To gain access to a wealth of local and national external research opportunities, take a look at the Pathways To Science database, rich with more than 1,000 fully-funded research programs, and customize your job search to fit your location and needs.
• Emory's Undergraduate Research Opportunity Finder 
• Georgia CTSA's Research Opportunities & Collaboration Support (ROCS): The Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance compiled a great research opportunity database filled with positions and research groups focused on translational science present at institutions across the state of Georgia

Undergraduate STEM Research Society

Synthetic Biology Club

• What are some major moments of my life that led me to this point in my career?
• Who are the important people that I met that influenced my decisions?
• What are my future goals?
• How did I choose my university and why do I choose to apply to this new institution?

All this information can be channeled into the drafting of a personal statement that is professional yet self-reflective.

The Massachusett Institute of Technology (MIT) has created a brief file that explains the personal statement, the preparation of a personal statement and the stages of drafting a personal statement, and a guide on the expected content/writing style of a statement of interest.

CASA at GSU has also created a great on how to handle personal statement creation: https://casa.gsu.edu/files/2020/05/10aPersonalStatementSample.pdf

Writing the Personal Statement by Berkeley Graduate Division: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/statement-purpose/

Please take a moment to review the suggestions provided in the links above. After review:

• Research your history
• Outline a plan for your personal statement/statement of interest
• Draft your statement of purpose
• Review it for spelling, content, or grammatical errors
• Before submission, make sure that other career professionals, like those located in the GSU Writing Studio, view, critique, and edit your draft
• Read the finished product aloud
• You are good to go!

Below resources have been provided to guide you through creating a resume that serves to highlight your best aspects as an applicant for a job:

Resume resources

• GSU Careers Services Resume Checklist
• GSU Optimal Resume 

Curriculum Vitae resources

• The Balanced Careers CV samples, templates, and tips
• Writing the C.V by UCLA Graduate Division 

Please take a moment to review the suggestions provided in the links above. After review:

• Research and reflect on your past job experiences and achievements
• Research the specific job and requirements for the desired position
• Outline the best arrangement for the sections for your resume
• Draft your resume (editing it to best fit the requirements of each job you apply for)
• Review it for spelling, content, or grammatical errors
• Before submission, make sure that other career professionals, like those located in the GSU Writing Studio, view, critique, and edit your draft
• Read the finished product aloud
• You are good to go!

5. If the course is "restricted", then you may need instructor approval to register (please see next item).

To understand the different signature experiences currently provided further please visit the "Signature Experiences" tab of this page for more information!

Once the instructor has given you e-mail approval, go to the College of Arts and Sciences' Registration Portal found here to request permission to register.  You may attach the e-mail approval from the instructor to expedite this process.

• Showcase how your unique combination of skills and experience meets the key requirements of the job description.
• Show a clear link between your knowledge, experience, and abilities and the needs of the employer.

CASA at GSU created a great guide that provides an explanation of what cover letters are cover letter tips, and an example cover letter.

Proper preparation allows the interviewer to get to know you and see if you are a good fit for the opportunity. It also allows you to highlight your skill sets and obtain a better understanding of the company and the position for which you applied.

Proper preparation entails:

• Researching and going over common interview questions that could come up
  • You may be able to find common questions that specific organizations ask, for instance, “Interview Questions Asked by [Organization Name]"
• Doing extensive research on the company and position to make sure you have good background knowledge and are prepared to answer and ask informed questions
• Researching or brainstorming questions that you can ask the employer  
  • For suggestions on common questions you can ask, search “Questions to ask during an interview”
  • An extra step to strengthen your candidacy is by asking specific to the company and position. 
• Make sure to give yourself time to prepare for an interview.
  • Proper preparation may mean committing at least 10 hours altogether to research and review questions (including determining how you might want to answer them).

• Some great resources on prepping for your interview were created by The Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni (CASA) at GSU, including sample interview questions, tips on what to wear, and tips on how to better answer your interview questions(using the popular STAR method). These resources are linked below!
  • Interview Preparation
  • How To Prepare for Virtual Interviews
  • The Star Method - The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing

To determine who you might want to approach as a reference/letter writer, start by reflecting on with whom you have worked and in what capacity.

Once you have identified the required number of recommenders, you should contact them to request that they serve in this role.

Be very clear about your request.  If you need a letter for a specific position, you should disclose the details of that position and highlight any relevant skills that the person may have helped you develop. Also, be very clear about when the letter is due and to where/whom it needs to be directed and/or sent.

If a letter is required, make sure to give your recommender(s) ample time to prepare this. 4 to 6 weeks is a good rule of thumb.  This also gives you time to find a different recommender should the person not be able to prepare a letter for you.

You will need to provide contact information - make sure to clarify that the information is accurate and up-to-date with your references.

If you have prepared a c.v. and/or personal statement for a specific position, you should include this in your request to your potential references/recommenders.

When you e-mail anyone in a professional capacity - this includes contacting your instructors about course content and other related questions - professional writing is a must.

What do we mean by "professional e-mail writing"?

• Formality - address the recipient of your e-mail with the proper title; for faculty members, you should address them as "Dr."; in cases in which you are unsure, you should make an effort to find out the proper title.  If you cannot acquire this information, then "Good Afternoon," "Good morning" any appropriate salutation will suffice.
• Grammar and Spelling - use the spell check and grammar tools within your e-mail platform to your advantage; proper spelling and grammar communicate to the recipient that you are detail-oriented and took the time to write a polished e-mail.

For more tips and samples on how to write professional e-mails, please visit: https://ugr.ue.ucsc.edu/email

Secondly, the department has put together a database for undergraduates seeking internships that you can find here.

Finally, you may find internships right here at GSU! Check out the BIOL4916 offerings on PAWS each semester. We regularly offer internships through BioBus, the Atlanta Science Festival, and more!

They are also an incredible way to get your "foot in the door" in an organization, company, or practice. Therefore, internship experiences are also networking opportunities. When you meet people working in your area of interest, ask them about their stories - what did they study? Did they have to earn an advanced degree? What is their work-life balance like? What are their keys to success?

In sum, internships will help you develop career skills and competencies in real-world settings.

1.) Research Recruits - This is a program in which you complete the required training in order to obtain a research opportunity in a faculty lab. Find more information here.

2.) Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) - These programs are usually government-funded and hosted at institutions across the country. Held over the Summer, the average REU is about ten weeks long. Housing and stipends are often provided. The deadlines for these may be as early as December, so plan ahead! CASA has an incredible database for student reference - as well as workshops to help you prepare your applications! - which can be found here.

3.) Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) - CUREs are small instructional laboratory classes managed by a faculty member. The Department of Biology offers a variety of CUREs each semester under BIOL4905. For more information, please visit the PURL website which can be found here.

4.) Reach out to a faculty member! - If you read about a faculty member whose work deeply intrigues you, feel free to reach out to them to see if they have any research opportunities available for undergraduates. Here is where your professional e-mail skills are needed - a strong e-mail to a faculty member will include a brief statement of WHY you are interested in their work, what qualities and/or skills you possess that will best serve their lab, and your c.v. attached to the e-mail.

Dr. Gutzler will need an e-mail sent from your internship supervisor that details:
a.) the number of hours per week you will work at the internship;
b.) the types of tasks you will be responsible for/observe; and
c.) the duration of the internship (i.e. Fall semester, August - December).

In the case of working in a faculty research lab, you will register under BIOL4910 with that specific faculty member. This is a variable credit hour course and, therefore, it will be up to you and the faculty member to agree on how many hours for which you will register (the range is 1-5 hours).
CUREs and other theme-based Biology courses (like iGEM!) are housed under BIOL4905. These are usually 4 credit hour courses.

If you obtain a research position outside of GSU - i.e. an REU - this will require registration in BIOL4915 for credit. BIOL4915 is a 2-credit hour course, but duplicate registration is permitted for full-time positions for up to 4 credit hours.

In the case of REUs and Summer programs of other organizations (i.e. the CDC), deadlines may be as early as November or December prior to the program's start. Therefore, it is advisable to start planning well ahead of time.

The best advice on how to make these documents as effective as possible is:
-Keep the document concise. Try to focus on your education and recent experiences, especially as they pertain to the opportunity to which you are applying. If you played basketball in high school or are an accomplished baker, that's awesome! But unless you are applying for something relevant to those interests, they do not need to be included.

-Keep formatting consistent. If you use bullet points throughout, make sure they are the same style. If you bold the name of your position in one area, make sure the names of your other positions are bolded in every area. Make sure your fonts do not switch in different areas. Consistency is key.

-Check for grammatical and/or spelling errors. A correctly formatted resume or cv free of errors shows attention to detail. This is crucial!

Clerical work, even if in a doctor's office or research organization, does not count for internship credit.

To request a review of your internship position in order to earn credit, please contact Dr. Gutzler at [email protected]