Suggested format for posting opportunities to Rice undergraduate researchers.
Posting subject line: [e.g. “Explore protein structure in the Jones lab” or “Cancer biology
internship in the Smith lab” or “Paid technician position in the Lee lab”]
Professor: [name, Ph.D., MD, etc.]
Departments: [primary and secondary depts.]
Institution: [full name, not abbreviated, e.g. Baylor College of Medicine]
Openings: [In this section you would answer the questions: How many openings? Starting when?
For what term (summer, fall, spring, multiple semesters)? Full/part time/hours per week? For
what, if any compensation*? If you are recruiting students for an internship, to what possible
projects would the student be assigned? Or, if the job will be a technician position, what tasks
would the student be given? What experience (if any) is required?]
Lab focus: [Briefly, what is your lab’s central problem/question/medical interest]
Techniques: [Does the lab use techniques typical to molecular biology, genetics, cell biology,
biochemistry, chemistry biophysics, structural biology, computational biology, bioengineering,
etc.? You could mention any techniques, model organisms, equipment, or other resources that
you think might attract a student to the lab.]
Location: [Where is your lab (street address, building, floor)? How far (walking distance) from
Rice?]
Environment/ Personnel: [What is the make-up of the lab? (e.g. “The lab is composed of
around 10 graduate students and postdocs,” or “We share an open lab space and participate in
joint lab meetings with the Chan lab,” or “We are a new lab, so the student would be advised
directly by the professor,” or “We have a very vibrant international lab,” or “Our postdoctoral
researchers have a lot of experience mentoring graduate students and undergraduates.”)]
Student research philosophy: [How do you see undergraduates fitting into your lab? What do
you see as your lab’s role in their training? What do you expect of them?]
To apply/Contact information: [What information do you want the student to send (resume,
prior experience, etc.)? PI name contact information. Link to your web page.]
Note: course credit for research performed in this lab requires prior approval from the instructor of a Rice
University course. Students should aim to apply to the instructor for course credit at least three weeks prior
to the start of the semester to ensure that their experience and proposed projects will meet the course
requirements and that there is sufficient time to complete the hosting institution’s paperwork and training.
International students must consult with the Office of International Students and Scholars before
applying for any off-campus positions.
Blue color denotes optional fields
*A word about unpaid internships: Students with limited means may not be able to afford to
volunteer during the summer, so when funding is available, it is best to offer some financial
compensation to attract and retain the most diverse group of future scientists. To avoid the
exploitation of our students, we ask that unpaid positions be research intern positions rather than
solely technician-like roles (e.g. glass-washing or media-making). When posting unpaid research
Suggested format for posting opportunities to Rice undergraduate researchers.
internships with/without course credit, we define them as “research intern positions” rather than
“volunteer” positions to more accurately reflect the educational nature of the apprenticeship. As
these positions are internships/apprenticeships and not work for hire, we also avoid the colloquial
use of the term, “work,” to refer to research. If there is no financial compensation for the student,
check to make sure your institution allows unpaid internships prior to posting. If the student is
participating in a project that would qualify as independent research in one of the Rice
departments, the students may be eligible to receive Rice credit for their research. Students must
apply to the relevant Rice course instructor to determine if they and their projects are eligible for
credit.