We love working with undergraduate researchers!
Since the project started in 2011, we have worked with more than 300 undergraduate students from over 15 different departments and programs across VCU. You do not need to have previous research experience to join our team. Below is information about our 3 main programs. Please reach out to our Director of Undergraduate Research, Dr. Amy Adkins (adkinsae@vcu.edu), if you have any questions or if you would like more information.
Spit4Science research class. We teach a 3-credit undergraduate course each fall and spring semester. Students work with researchers at VCU in teams to develop research questions and analyze Spit for Science data! Activities also include meetings with faculty involved in the project and communicating with peers about our research. Registration in the course is by application only. Students from all majors are invited to apply and no previous experience is needed. Contact adkinsae@vcu.edu for an application.
Summer research fellowships. VCU Guided Research Experiences & Applied Training (VCU GREAT) is an 8 week, funded summer research training program for VCU undergraduates. It is supported by a team of Spit for Science faculty collaborators who offer experiential learning in alcohol research to include social determinants of health, the genetics of substance use, and related behavioral health outcomes. Fellows join a supportive research community in which they: spend one week in an intensive research skills “bootcamp” and then 7 weeks doing research with a faculty mentor; participate in weekly group sessions centered on preparation for further research, education, and career pathways; and learn about responsible conduct of research. VCU GREAT prioritizes undergraduate applicants who are second-year students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in health-related sciences. Applicants should be VCU students who are citizens or permanent residents, who will be enrolled as a VCU undergraduate the following academic year, and who are interested in graduate school. Applications are usually accepted January-February each year. Contact adkinsae@vcu.edu for more information.
Research fellowships in addiction science. Our Addiction Research Fellowships program is a year-long research training program for VCU undergraduates interested in addiction research and graduate school in the behavioral and biomedical sciences. Fellows spend a fall semester in the Spit4Science undergraduate research course (see above) and are then eligible to apply for funded spring research fellowships. Fellows join a supportive research community and also participate in responsible conduct of research training and career/professional development workshops and seminars. Previous fellows have done research with faculty across VCU including the departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Psychology, and Human & Molecular Genetics and the School of Social Work. Our program prioritizes undergraduate applicants from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in health-related sciences. Applicants should be VCU students who are citizens or permanent residents, will be enrolled as a VCU undergraduate for at least one additional academic year, and who have an interest in attending graduate school. Applications are usually accepted March-April each year. Contact adkinsae@vcu.edu for more information.
To view and download research posters from student collaborators, visit our Scholars Compass page here.
Annalise Hassan presents her fellowship research done in Dr. Mike Miles' lab in VCU's Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology.
Delani Warner worked with Dr. Karen Chartier (School of Social Work) to investigate protective factors against alcohol use.
Karen Saint Fleur (left) and Mehwish Safdar (right) did research in Dr. Chelsea Williams' lab in the Department of Psychology.