Undergraduate students interested in conducting research under the direction of a chemistry faculty member should:

1. Meet the minimum requirements as described in the prerequisites for the department’s research courses: Chem 201, 301, 401. (See the listings on the next page.) The most common time to consider application to a research group is after completion of either organic lab (CH354) or analytical lab (CH333) but students entering the program with an unusually strong chemistry lab background can begin research work concurrent with enrollment in the first quarter of organic chemistry lecture (Chem 351).



2. Identify a research area of interest with a particular faculty member. Pick up a copy of the "Research Opportunities" handout available in the department office (Chem Bldg 270) or check out the individual faculty web pages at the department’s web site (http://www.chem.wwu.edu) to obtain information concerning current research interests of chemistry/biochemistry faculty.



3. Contact the faculty member (or members, if you are considering more than one area) to discuss the possibility of joining his/her research group. Acceptance procedures into a research group varies from group to group. Some faculty will formally advertise openings in their research groups. Others accept students throughout the year, dependent on "space available."



4. After acceptance to a research group, stop by the department office and pick up the "Undergraduate Research Projects" handout, which will explain the administrative details. Then, during the registration period each quarter, pick up an "Undergraduate Research Permission Form" from the office. It must be completed with the assistance of your research advisor and returned to the department office before you can register for any research courses.

Return to Undergraduate Research Page