Undergraduate Research
Undergraduates contribute to and benefit from ongoing research in our lab. If you're an undergraduate interested in animal behavior, sensory biology, or neurophysiology, and you're interested in gaining firsthand research experience that can prepare you for entering graduate school, professional school, or the job market, then you've come to the right place! Our lab is currently seeking bright and talented undergraduate students to collaborate on ongoing projects. Be sure to check out the helpful page on Undergraduate Research provided by the College of Biological Sciences.
Academic Year Research
Students who do research in the lab during the academic year typically sign up for 2 - 4 credits of Directed Research (e.g. NSci 4994 or EEB 4994). Both fall and spring semester opportunities are often available. Interested students should contact Dr. Mark Bee a minimum of two weeks before the start of the semester in which you're interested in Directed Research. Follow this link to learn more about Directed Research in the College of Biological Sciences. Students who have work study available to them as a form of financial aid may also be considered for academic year positions.
Summer Research (Applications DUE in early April each year)
Our most intense period of research is from mid-May (starting right after finals) through early- to mid-July. Treefrogs breed during this time window each year, so this is when many of our experiments are conducted. Four opportunities are available to students wishing to gain research experience during this time:
1. UROP Scholarship - Students are encouraged to apply for a summer scholarship from the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program through the Office of Undergraduate Research. Students interested in a summer UROP must start working on their applications early! UROP applications are typically due in mid-February, so to be competitive, students should start planning their proposal in late December, before the end of the Fall semester.
2. Research Assistantship - Each year, we can typically hire 3 to 5 students who work 30-40 hours per week as paid research assistants. Students with summer work study hours are particularly encouraged to apply for this type of position.
3. Research Credits - Many students choose to get credit for conducting Directed Research during summer months. In our lab, summer students can apply to take 4 credits of Directed Research, which is equivalent to working in the lab for about 24-28 hours per week for about 8 weeks. Follow this link to learn more about Directed Research in the College of Biological Sciences.
4. Research Internship - Both students and non-UMN students alike are eligible to apply for an unpaid position as a Research Intern. Interns gain all the same valuable research experience as Directed Research students, but do not have to pay for credits. Interns typically work 16-20 hours per week for about 8 weeks.
If you're interested in working in the Acoustic Communication Lab, familiarize yourself with the research topics currently under study in the lab, read a few of the lab publications related to the topic, then fill out and submit an application. Contact Dr. Mark Bee if you have any questions.