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Concentrators are encouraged to do research in any area of the life sciences of interest. Many labs on the Cambridge campus as well as labs at other Harvard Schools (Medical School, School of Public Health, etc.) or affiliated hospitals host undergraduate researchers.
Concentrators should discuss the expectations for any for credit or not-for-credit research experiences with their PI and director mentor in the lab and fill out a CPB-MCB Research Contract. Instructions on how to submit it are included on the contract.
All concentrators must complete 1 semester of research (4 credits) to complete the Research requirement. This requirement can be satisfied by taking one of the research courses below. Note that these courses are only offered during term time, not during the summer.
LS/MCB 100: Experimental Research in Life Sciences
MCB 91: Research for Credit in Molecular and Cellular Biology
MCB 99: Laboratory Research for Honors Thesis
In LS/MCB 100, each semester several possible projects are presented, and students must choose from those options. In MCB 91 or MCB 99, students are responsible for finding their own lab and project. In order for a research project to be accepted for credit, it must be basic or translational research-based. Solely clinical research is not accepted for credit. Note that in semester where you are enrolled in either MCB 91 or MCB 99 you are capped at 4 courses (16 units). MCB 91 or 99 cannot be taken as a fifth class.
Students can also take EXPSTDY 1r (1 credit) to enable research or shadowing during the term or the summer. Please note that this course does not fulfill the Research requirement.
If you choose not to do research for credit, it is customary (and often required) for you to be compensated for your time and efforts. If funds are not available directly from your lab, there is also a variety of Harvard-associated and external options for funding available. See the “Resources” tab for more information.
A senior thesis is a year-long research for credit course worth 8 credits and is letter graded. Students must identify a faculty sponsor that is willing to host and mentor them latest by the end of Spring semester of Junior year (students may decide to start earlier) since the thesis proposal is due mid-July before senior year. Faculty sponsors must be a Harvard faculty or an affiliate of Harvard. Once your proposal is accepted, you may enroll in MCB/CPB 99AB. Students enrolled in 99AB are expected to work ~15 hours/week during term time. Research mentors are expected to provide training on both the science and writing. The undergraduate office will provide supplemental support by hosting a number of workshops and exercises aimed at improving the quality of presentation and writing.
A full list of MCB and CPB undergraduate theses is available here.
Trying to find a lab?
Talk to ADUS Dominic Mao, Associate Concentration Advisor Monique Brewster, or to the Co-Head-Tutors, about how to find a lab that matches your interests. You may also contact the Undergraduate Science Research Advisor, Kate Penner. The science education website also hosts useful information on how to get involved in research and a list of open undergraduate research positions.
Funding for Research
Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF) Office: The URAF Office handles Harvard undergraduate research funding and hosts several residential summer research programs. A full list of URAF independent research fellowships and programs is available here. Below are the most common URAF-sponsored funding sources & programs for our concentrators.
Harvard College Research Program (HCRP): Term-time and summer funding
Program in Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE): Summer funding and housing
Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH): Summer funding and housing
Herchel-Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program: Competitive summer research funding
Faculty Aide Program: This program is open to all Harvard faculty and provides 50% of undergraduate researchers’ pay (up to a $3,000 award/year). Awarded funds must be matched by the faculty.
Mignone Career Services (MCS): MCS supports a limited number of summer independent internships in the US, including summer research internships. More information is available here.
Pechet Fund: This MCB and CPB-specific fund helps support concentrators without other financial funding for Harvard summer research. In order to be eligible, concentrators must first apply to HCRP for summer funding.”