Independent Research

The opportunity to do basic research as an undergraduate is one of the special benefits of attending a university such as Stanford. Research gives a new perspective on the material learned in courses. It provides the motivation to learn some area of science in detail and understand its relationship to broader scientific questions.

In the Chemistry Department, a student does not have to be in the honors program in order to do independent research. About half of the chemistry majors are involved in research, and only half of these are in the honors program. Premedical chemistry majors are advised to undertake independent research.

Undergraduates interested in doing research (independent or honors) in chemistry can attend Chem 111 (w) or independently interview chemistry faculty to identify and select a suitable research opportunity. Chem 111 provides a survey of research programs in our labs. Such openings depend on available laboratory space and resources as well as a research problem suited to independent investigation at the undergraduate level. Faculty members who have expressed interest in serving as advisors for undergraduate research are listed below. Contact individual faculty members and see Faculty Research Interests for information.
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Undergraduate Research Advisors

Professor	Phone No.	Bldg/Room*	Email	Field**	Course Req.
Andersen	3-2711	M185	hca@stanford.edu	P	Chem 175 and Comp. Sci. background
Boxer	3-4482	K325	sboxer@stanford.edu	P/BP
Brauman	3-3023	M181	brauman@stanford.edu	P/O
Cegelski	5-3527	K351	cegelski@stanford.edu	P/BP
Chidsey	5-1751	S103A	chidsey@stanford.edu	P/O
Collman	5-0283	SS201	jpc@stanford.edu	I/O
Cui	5-9573	K313	bcui@stanford.edu	P/BP
Dai	3-4518	K125	hdai@stanford.edu	P
Du Bois	4-4557	L234	jdubois@stanford.edu	O
Fayer	3-4446	K113	fayer@stanford.edu	P
Huestis	3-2053	K309	whh@stanford.edu	BP	Chem 134
Khosla	3-6538	K389	khosla@stanford.edu	BO
Kool	4-4741	S102	eric.kool@stanford.edu	BO
Moerner	3-1727	SS12	wmoerner@stanford.edu	P
Pande	3-3660	Clark S295	pande@stanford.edu	P/BP	Chem 175 and Comp. Sci. background
Pecora	3-0681	SS106	pecora@stanford.edu	P/BP	Chem 171 or 173 or Bio lab experience
Solomon	3-9104	M141	solomone@ stanford.edu	I/P/BP	Chem 130
Stack	5-8736	SS103	stack@stanford.edu	I/O	Chem 130
Trost	3-3385	L306	bmtrost@stanford.edu	O
Waymouth	3-4515	S205	waymouth@stanford.edu	I/O	Chem 130
Wender	3-0208	L206	wenderp@stanford.edu	O
Yandulov	5-9651	SS102	yandulov@stanford.edu	I/P
Zare	3-3062	M133	rnz@stanford.edu	P/A
Bent	3-0385	SSS	bent@ chemeng.stanford.edu	P
Chen	5-3582	CCSR 3155C	jameschen@stanford.edu	BO
Cimprich	8-4720	Clark W350B	cimprich@stanford.edu	BO
Frank	3-4573	SSS	curt@ chemeng.stanford.edu	P
Herschlag	3-2402	BC B471a	hershla@ cmgm.stanford.edu	BO
Wandless	3-4005	Clark W350A	wandless@stanford.edu	BO

* BC = Beckman Center, CCSR = Center for Clinical Sciences Research, K = Keck, L = Lokey, M = Mudd, S = Stauffer I, SS = Stauffer II and SSS = Staufer III.

** A = analytical, BO = bioorganic, BP = biophysical, I = inorganic, O = organic, and P = physical.
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Depending on the particular research group selected, the undergraduate researcher is usually assigned an independent task on a larger project and may be supervised by the faculty member or, more commonly, by a graduate or postdoctoral student. The undergraduate is expected to do research, participate in weekly research group meetings, and attend the weekly departmental colloquium (Chemistry 300). Students who have not yet completed Chemistry 130 enroll in Chemistry 110. Once Chemistry 130 is completed, students enroll in Chemistry 190 (Introduction to Methods of Investigation), using the appropriate instructor name in Axess for the sponsoring faculty member, typically 3 units for each quarter of research. Each unit represents 4 hours of research per week.

Students typically start research by the end of the sophomore or beginning of the junior year. Many students, supported by University-sponsored fellowships, remain on campus over the summer between the sophomore and/or junior years and junior and senior years to work full-time on their research.

Research experience is very important for admission to graduate or medical school. You should have completed three quarters of solid research with the same research advisor by the time that advisor has to write a letter of recommendation for you for your application to graduate school.
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Faculty Research Interests

See Faculty Information
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Summer Research Opportunities

Stanford
Several different types of fellowships are available to Stanford undergraduates to do research in the Stanford Chemistry Department during the summer after their sophomore or junior year. Note that the proposals are generally due in March or the beginning of April.

Bing Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships
Funded from Bing Training Grants, administered by Professor Stack (stack@stanford.edu), Chemistry Department MC 5080. In summer 2006, $5,500 stipend. Research proposals must be to Professor Stack the first week of Spring Quarter. These research opportunities and guidelines are announced on ChemWeb about one month before the deadline.

URO Major Grants for Undergraduate Research
Funded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunitites office (x3-3828), for honors students only; up to $4,500 in 01/03 covering summer living expenses and up to 4 quarters of material expenses. An additional $1,100 in earnings replacement is also possible for students with a high level of financial need. Proposals are submitted by the student to URO by the first Friday of Spring Quarter.

URO Small Grants
Funded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunitites office (x3-3828). Up to $500 for material expenses. Proposals are submitted by the student and are due to URO in early Fall, Winter, or Spring Quarter. Qualified applicants who do not receive Major Grants are automatically reconsidered for a URO Small Grant, i.e., a second application is not necessary.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, you should take the initiative to talk to faculty members to identify appropriate projects and find a faculty sponsor. You may apply for more than one fellowship, but you can only receive one. From 40% to 100% of our worthy candidates receive fellowships depending on the size of the applicant pool. Students with fellowships or major grants are expected to work full-time on research during the summer, i.e., you should not be working a second job or taking courses.

Elsewhere
Each summer fellowships are typically available for summer research as well as study programs at various universities for students in their first year of chemistry through graduating majors. Check the hanging file by the undergraduate bulletin board on the second floor of S.G. Mudd. Fliers are posted as they arrive, so check periodically. Applications are generally due from mid-February to mid-March.

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