Expectations for Undergraduate Research

In the Morgan lab, undergraduate students are expected to do the following during their tenure in the Morgan lab:

1) Spend at least one summer in our lab conducting research, where the earlier the summer research experience in their undergraduate career, the better.

1. • Apply for COS-SURF, HCRI Summer Program, and/or Galvin Summer Internship funding for their summer undergraduate research experience. 

   • We understand if life events and/or circumstances prevent a student from participating in summer research, such as work obligations and/or caretaking responsibilities.  If this expectation is a concern, you are expected to discuss it with Dr. Morgan prior to accepting a position in the lab.

2) Take research for credit every semester upon hire (except when studying abroad). For credit, the course is CHEM 48498, and the section number for Prof. Morgan’s lab is different each semester.  One credit hour in CHEM 48498 is five working hours. 

1. • The five working hours include reading, group meeting, and meetings with mentor and/or PI. 

   • Minimum of one credit hour (five working hours) for freshman fall/spring, sophomore fall/spring, and junior fall semesters.

   • Minimum of two credit hours (ten working hours) for junior spring and senior fall/spring semesters. See (3) below for an exception in senior spring semester.

3) Write a senior thesis and enrolling in CHEM 48500 the spring semester of senior year. 

1. • CHEM 48500 is a one-credit course that requires approval from registrar and is open to students from any major. The course is self-guided and accounts for time dedicated only to thesis writing. 

   • Students are expected to consult with Dr. Morgan prior to their final spring semester to discuss if CHEM 48498 should be taken concurrently with CHEM 48500. The conversation will focus on if the student’s schedule will allow for experiment time in addition to thesis writing.

4) Present at least one poster at the University of Notre Dame at either i) Fall Undergraduate Research Fair (FURF) in the middle of the fall semester; ii) College of Science and Engineering Research Horizons Symposium at the end of the fall semester; and iii) College of Science Joint Annual Meeting (COS-JAM) at the end of the spring semester. 

There are also undergraduate research expectations for academic semesters and summer internships. Additional information can be found at the links below.

Link to semester expectations.

Link to summer expectations.