Navigating On-Campus Research as a Biochemistry Major
By Stephanie Oshiotse UA’28 and Jim Stellar
I began my journey of getting into a research lab in December of 2025. I knew that I absolutely wanted to get involved in some type of hands-on-work but I didn’t know necessarily how to or what type of research I wanted. From then on, Professor Stellar gave me a tip on how to get an opportunity to join a research lab. By cold-emailing professors. I know it’s scary right? Especially as a sophomore, I had no idea how I would even approach let alone email a professor that I was interested in their research. That’s when he suggested that I go through the faculty currently doing research and read projects and papers that they have worked on and written as well as going through their lab page.
This was a helpful tip. It helped me to become familiar with the type of work these professors were into and it helped me to envision whether I saw myself doing it or not. I didn’t discriminate. As a Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major, chemistry, biology, and physics all float my boat so I looked through the faculty page of the biology, chemistry, and physics professors actively doing work. And let me tell you. It was a LOT. But once I was able to narrow it down to a few in which I was very interested. I got right into reading a paper of theirs and drafting an email about how it interested me and aligned with my future aspirations.
After a no and a few ghosts, I got my first reply back from a chemistry professor. I got invited by them to meet their postdoctoral collaborator to discuss what they do in the lab and the type of work that they do. After that meeting, I am happy to say that I was given a position as an undergraduate research assistant under that postdoctoral fellow. Even though I am still in my beginning stages, it has been a great experience so far. I am currently doing bioinformatics and conducting simulations of small molecule proteins to see how they dock and interact with a certain molecule. These simulations can help propel the work for a drug therapeutic targeted toward Myotonic Dystrophy 1 (DM1), to help improve the lives of those who suffer with it.
I (JS) think this is perfect and a wonderful illustration of how when a student behaves like a real person (as opposed to a cog in the machine) good stuff can happen for their career. We already have a system in higher education for the transfer of knowledge through classes and majors. But we do not have as good of a system for connecting faculty and students in internships and work-related knowledge development.
I totally agree! UAlbany has all types of different areas in research that are bound to peak the interests of the UAlbany students that are looking for that type of experience. I am currently on the J-Board of the UAlbany Chemistry Club and we have talked about the gap between faculty searching for interested undergrads and undergrads who would like to do research. I have discussed this with my PI as well and I think there may currently be something in the works to help bridge that gap. What I do know is that the Minerva Center at UAlbany does hold workshops to help undergrads search for research mentors and join labs. This is a resource that every undergrad should know of and take advantage of. I have many friends that would like to get involved with research but they just don’t know where to start or the PIs they have reached out to, did not take them due to lack of experience or because of their year. Faculty and students alike need to come together to make this process easier and more accessible for both parties. I truly think this would bring about a more inclusive and interactive environment that can truly build on something already amazing.
I (JS) think that is great. Oh, and by the way, the same is true for connecting students to internships outside the university to try out various professions before they graduate so they can see what it was like. Don’t get me wrong. We do have a robust Career Services office, but students do not go there early enough and there are not enough people. I am thinking of the 22 years (10 of them as Dean of the College of Arts and Science) that I spent at a cooperative education school, Northeastern University. At my time there we had 55 people on salary who managed the interaction between our students and a whole group of companies, many of them local. At Northeastern, a cooperative education period was six months of paid full-time work that alternated with 6 months of full-time study. By the time a student graduated, they had experienced a variety of paid employments, which were typically deeper than internships. Here at UAlbany, when students are given a chance to be mentored, to have a lab in which to work, or to have an internship experience (especially paid), they mature faster. Bottom line, they have it in them to grow.
Absolutely. I (SO) can say that I am a product of such experience. Being able to observe how a real lab operates and the work each and every person puts in, helps me to understand what my role is and how I can equally contribute to the goals of the lab. I truly believe that no matter what type of research you are into, seek out an experience that can help solidify or expose you to what you may potentially do in the future. Whether it be volunteering, internships, or clubs, exposure is a great learning experience. For not only your future career but yourself as well. It is something invaluable, like you said Professor Stellar, every student has in them.
