Skip to main content

Research for Academic Credit

 

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers courses in which you can earn academic credit for conducting independent research with a faculty or industry mentor. Participating in undergraduate research provides you with hands-on experience in the laboratory under the guidance of our outstanding faculty. This experience gives you skills and knowledge that will help prepare you for graduate study or work in industry.

  • An application is required for each quarter of intended participation
  • Application deadlines are strictly enforced
  • Submission of an application does not guarantee approval
  • Consult with your college and major advisor about the possibility of counting units toward your undergraduate degree or toward honors in your major

Submission Deadlines

Submission deadline is Friday of Week 1 of each quarter.

Chemistry/Biochemistry Special Studies applications (CHEM 99, 197, 199) require you to fill out a complete application in order to be processed timely. We recommend getting started on your application AT LEAST ONE WEEK before the deadline.

Please note: submitting your application several weeks or months early will not result in a faster processing time.

For participation in: Deadline

Special Summer Session 2022

(6/27/2022-9/3/2022)

 Friday, July 1, 2022

Fall 2022

Friday, September 30, 2022

Winter 2023

Friday, January 13, 2023

Spring 2023

Friday, April 7, 2023

Eligibility

 

CHEM 99

Intended literature or laboratory research under the direction of a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty. 

  • Minimum of 30 units completed (including units transferred to UCSD, e.g. AP units) and no more than 90 units completed prior to the quarter of participation
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative UC GPA prior to quarter of participation
  • Work in lab 6-11 hours (2 units) or 12-15 hours (4 units) per week
  • To enroll, see How to Apply below and follow steps to submit your CHEM 99 application through the EASy System.

IMPORTANT: If your Special Studies application has not been added to your schedule by Monday of Week 5, please contact a Chemistry Academic Advisor right away.

CHEM 199

Independent literature or laboratory research under the direction of a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty. 

  • Minimum of 90 units completed (including units transferred to UCSD, e.g. AP units) prior to the quarter of participation
  • Minimum of 2.5 cumulative UC GPA prior to quarter of participation
  • Work in lab 6-11 hours (2 units) or 12-15 hours (4 units) per week
  • To enroll, see How to Apply below and follow steps to submit your CHEM 199 application through the EASy System.

CHEM 196

Iintended for students interested in teaching and education in the sciences.Independent literature or classroom research under the direction of a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty.  

  • Minimum of 90 units completed (including units transferred to UCSD, e.g. AP units) prior to the quarter of participation.
  • Minimum of 2.5 cumulative UC GPA prior to quarter of participation.
  • Submit a completed Special Studies application through the online petition tool (NOT through EASy).

CHEM 197

The Chemistry Internship Program is a partnership between the UCSD Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Academic Internship Program. The program provides opportunities for students to find and gain academic credit for research-based internships in local companies/institutes/organizations.

  • Minimum of 90 units completed (including units transferred to UCSD, e.g. AP units) prior to the quarter of participation.
  • Minimum of 2.5 cumulative UC GPA prior to quarter of participation.
  • Minimum one quarter commitment.
Complete Learning Agreement must be submitted by the stated deadline. The Learning
Agreement and subsequent enrollment are subject to approval of the Academic Internship
Program and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

How to Apply - CHEM 99 or 199

STEP 1

Identify an eligible*, active UCSD faculty member and obtain their approval to participate in their lab.

(*Eligible faculty are those listed in the main alphabetical directory (Chemistry & Biochemistry and Affiliate Faculty) on our website, as well as Emeritus faculty.)

STEP 2

Complete 2 online safety trainings

  1. “UC Laboratory Safety Fundamentals” Training certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of completion
  2. “Annual Laboratory Hazards Training” Training certificate is valid for 1 year from the date of completion

To access this training, please login to uclearning.ucsd.edu with your Student Sign On. Once you have signed in, search for the course titles in the upper-left search box.

STEP 3

Complete the safety requirement form.

  1. Student signature
  2. Faculty member (PI) signature

Safety requirement form must be recently signed within the last 3 weeks from when you submit your application. It cannot be re-used from a previous quarter in which you have applied for CHEM 99 or 199. 

EH&S signature is not required for applications submitted FA20 or later. Virtual PPE fitting is still required. Please see details and instructions by clicking the safety requirement form link above.

STEP 4

Upload 3 files to the Special Studies online application (through EASy) to complete your application

  1. “UC Laboratory Safety Fundamentals” Training Certificate
  2. “Annual Laboratory Hazards Training” Training Certificate
  3. Safety requirement form

STEP 5

Wait for application decision

  • You will be notified when your application decision is finalized
  • Application requires several levels of approval and may be returned to the student for revisions as needed
  • Application may take up to 2 weeks to process. Most applications will be finalized between week 2 and week 4 of the quarter.
  • If approved, your petition will be routed to the Registrar who will add you to the course

IMPORTANT: If CHEM 99/199 has not been added to your schedule by Monday of Week 5 (Fall, Winter, Spring) or Monday of Week 3 (Summer Session), please contact a Chemistry Academic Advisor right away. 

Note: UCSD add deadline is Friday of Week 2. However, Special Studies petitions are exceptions to this deadline. If your application is approved after the add deadline has passed, your petition will still be routed to the registrar and add you to the course.

How to Apply - CHEM 197

  • Register with the Academic Internship Program (AIP) via InternLink.
    • Students must meet minimum eligibility criteria to access InternLink. If you are unable to login to InternLink, reach out to AIP at aipinfo@ucsd.edu, or through the VAC
  • Upload your resume, cover letter, and other required documents via InternLink.
  • Search for approved internships using the keyword "CHEM 197" and apply for positions.
  • If interested in your application, the internship organization will contact you directly for an interview.
  • If selected for an internship position, complete the Learning Agreement via InternLink. Please see Learning Agreement section below for more information.

Throughout the process, an AIP counselor is available to meet with students to assist with finding appropriate internships, resume/cover letter preparation, and the application and interview process.

Learning Agreement

Once an internship has been secured, the student must complete the Learning Agreement via InternLink.
The Learning Agreement must include:

  • Internship dates (start and end dates must align with the dates of the term: Week 1 –Week 10)
  • Internship schedule and hours
  • Internship supervisor contact information
  • Faculty advisor contact information.
    • If you do not have a faculty advisor, the designated UC San Diego CHEM 197 Faculty Advisor will be assigned, and you may leave this section blank.
  • Detailed description of internship project and responsibilities. Students must address the following:
    • What research question(s) will you address as your part of the internship/project?
    • Include necessary background information and significance.
    • How will you address these questions experimentally? Describe the methodologies, procedures, and tools/techniques you plan to use.
    • How will the experimental data be analyzed? Include any software or other tools to be used for data analysis not described above.
  • Means of Evaluation: Based on discussion with your internship supervisor, indicate and describe the nature of report, presentation or project you will produce for evaluation.
Once the Learning Agreement is complete:
  • Submit the Learning Agreement to AIP via InternLink.
  • AIP will review your Learning Agreement and, if no revisions are needed, will provisionally approve your application.
Upon AIP’s approval, your Internship Supervisor will receive an email requesting their electronic approval of the Learning Agreement.