The UF Department of Neuroscience offers research volunteer opportunities for students and trainees at all levels of their academic career, from undergraduates exploring the field for the first time to graduate and professional students seeking experience in a new research area. Volunteers work alongside faculty and their lab teams, gaining direct exposure to active neuroscience research at one of the nation’s top-funded neuroscience departments.
Whether you are looking to test a potential research direction, build laboratory skills, or contribute to ongoing science, volunteering in a UF Neuroscience lab is a meaningful way to engage with the discipline beyond the classroom. The steps below will walk you through finding the right faculty match and completing your application.
Step 1: Explore Research Areas
Our faculty conduct research across nine primary areas, including neural aging and degeneration, cognition, sensory systems, motivation and emotion, and more. Review the Research page to find the areas that interest you most, then browse our Graduate Faculty Mentor directory to identify one or two faculty members whose work you would like to learn more about.
Step 2: Contact a Faculty Member
Send a personal email directly to the faculty member expressing your interest in volunteering in their lab. Faculty are more likely to respond to students who have taken time to read about their research before reaching out.
Step 3: Apply to the Department
Once a faculty member has confirmed interest in having you volunteer, gather the following documentation and complete your application packet:
- Training: Log in to MyTraining and complete courses PBC810 and PRV800. Save a screenshot of your completed training transcript.
- Identification: U.S. citizens, provide a photo of the front of your driver’s license. Foreign nationals, provide photos of your I-94 (front and back), EAD, I-20, and/or DS-2019.
Then submit both of the following forms:
- Record of Volunteer Service (upload your training transcript and ID documentation here)
- Neuroscience Volunteer Emergency Contact Form
Both forms must be submitted for your application to move forward. After submitting, confirm any lab-specific requirements directly with your faculty supervisor.