Undergraduate research takes on many forms, depending primarily upon the research advisor. In our laboratory, undergraduates go through required training on laboratory safety and techniques such as maintaining a laboratory notebook, tissue culture, and protein assays. Undergraduates are directly mentored by doctoral students or postdocs, and meet with Dr. Willits to examine their progress, develop their procedures, troubleshoot problems, analyze their data, and present their findings. This process means that we have high expectations of our undergraduates to work independently and ultimately excel in research. 

All students interested in joining our research lab are required to APPLY for the appropriate level PEAK award to define their semester project.

Students can participate in the lab by several different mechanisms, including volunteering, taking research as course credit, or doing research as a work-study. In our lab, we like to use the following guidelines:

• Volunteer: ~5 hr/wk, scheduled (like work) but not paid, small projects;

• Work Study: ~10 hr/wk, scheduled, chores and maybe help with projects (depending on time and skill level) - must be work-study eligible and these positions are based on funding;

• Work/REU: ~10-15 hr/wk, scheduled, focused on project, trained, and ready for independent work (not necessarily work-study eligible & depends on available funds);

• Credit: ~10-15 hr/wk for 3 hr (x2 semester) of course credit; first semester works on collecting preliminary data and preparing a proposal, second semester completes the research and writes a paper. This path is project focused, with coursework along the way (papers, proposals, presentations, etc).

UG research expectations (in general):

1. Time commitment: We are looking for students who can spend at least two separate blocks of 3 hours in the lab. These blocks should be M-F between 8 am and 6 pm.

2. Laboratory meeting: The group meets on Tuesdays (biweekly) from 2:30 - 4:20 pm (day/time varies depending on semester). We expect that all lab participants attend unless they have a course conflict (and then you would be expected to meet with your lab mentor biweekly).

3. We expect that new students will start with the idea that they are making a year-long commitment (2 consecutive semesters, Spring/Fall or Fall/Spring).

In general, by March 1 for the Fall semester and October 1 for the Spring semester, students should contact Prof. Willits directly at this email address: Students seeking Lab Opportunities - Willits Lab <2a3901d0.northeastern.onmicrosoft.com@amer.teams.ms>, submitting a cover letter that describes you, your interests, why you selected the project(s), and the amount of time you plan to spend on research in Spring/Fall 202X per week. You should include if you are work-study eligible (if you would like to use that for the work). We will review the letters and interview students and make interview requests based on the needs within the lab. 

What can you learn during research training?

1. How to do a protein assay - teaches you how to make solutions, pipette, and measure microgram quantities of protein in a solution. 

2. Maintain a laboratory notebook

3. Microscopy for cells and tissues

4. Sterile technique, cell culture, and cell counting

5. Basic chemical modifications to polyethylene glycol