Path 2

Overview

Path 2, Advanced Independent MIMG Research, allows for students to fulfill the MIMG Major research requirement with their independent MIMG research in a UCLA faculty mentor’s laboratory.

If approved for Path 2, students engage in two-quarters of letter-graded research (through 4-unit contract courses 196A and 196B) and concurrently participate in research seminars (180A and 180B) with other Path 2 students. The 2-unit seminars are designed to help students acquire in-depth and broad knowledge about their research project. Students achieve this goal by evaluating relevant scientific literature, as well as orally presenting and formally writing about their research progress.

Students must be eligible and apply for Path 2 their junior or senior year. Students also should discuss the application process with faculty mentors, together designing a research project to be described in the proposal submitted with other Path 2 application materials.

Path 2 Eligibility Requirements

Must be an MIMG major.
GPA of 3.00 or higher (both major and UCLA).
Experience volunteering/working in a MIMG faculty member's lab (or other approved lab) for a minimum of 10 hours per week for at least 10 weeks by the time of starting Path 2.

Eligible students must apply for Path 2 (see application details below). Path 2 is competitive and not guaranteed.

Finding a Path 2 Faculty Mentor

Please see the MIMG Undergraduate Research Guide for steps, resource, and tips on connecting to independent MIMG research in a faculty mentor's lab.

Students need to take the initiative in the search for a faculty mentor, taking the time necessary to consider multiple faculty members and their research areas.
Students must select an MIMG Faculty mentor, choose a pre-approved faculty mentor or petition for their faculty mentor to be approved for Path 2. Students working with non-MIMG faculty should please email MIMG advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu with their UID and Principal Investigator (P.I.)/faculty mentor for approval information and next steps.

Fulfilling Major Requirements via Path 2

Students interested in an independent research experience in a MIMG faculty member‘s laboratory may fulfill their MIMG major research requirements by completing at least two consecutive quarters of faculty-mentored research (196A the first quarter and 196B the second quarter) alongside concurrent research seminars (180A the first quarter and 180B the second quarter).

The Path 2 courses essentially replace the Path 1 Research Immersion Courses. This option is well-suited for students who develop an interest in research after completing requisite courses in Chemistry and Core Biology. Students who pursue this path are encouraged to begin no later than their third year. Exceptions may be made for transfer students or if space permits.

Students must meet the eligibility requirements and apply for Path 2; admittance is not guaranteed for all eligible students. Students must enroll in Path 1 Research Immersion Courses (a two-course series) within their degree timeline as a back-up for Path 2 (i.e. if graduating in Spring, students must enroll in MIMG 109AL during first-pass for the Winter quarter to allow for completion of 109BL in Spring).

Path 2 Courses

MIMG 180A — Scientific Analysis and Communication I

Students read and discuss scientific articles and give presentations, introducing research topics using relevant primary literature. Class activities also highlight critical aspects of the research process, including record keeping, ethics, laboratory safety and citizenry, mechanics of scientific writing, diverse approaches to research, and project responsibilities and ownership. Emphasis is on students acquiring in-depth and broad knowledge about their research projects, improving oral and written communication skills, and developing a full appreciation of the process of doing good science and becoming skilled researchers.
Enforced co-requisite: course 196A.

MIMG 180B — Scientific Analysis and Communication II

Students give presentations similar to research symposium talk in which speakers discuss project goals, methodological approaches, results, and conclusions. Emphasis is on learning how to write research papers as well as prepare and present scientific posters. The end goal is for students to produce deliverables that demonstrate research achievements and lead to publications. These experiences should create a sense of pride for the work accomplished as skilled researchers.
Enforced co-requisite: course 196A.

MIMG 196A — Research Apprenticeship I

Designed for undergraduates who are interested in pursuing inquiry-based and hypothesis-driven research experience in the laboratory of a faculty mentor. This is a guided research course that must be performed in conjunction with a seminar (MIMG 180A) and it is followed by a continuation research course (course ). The technical aspects of the course will vary depending upon the specific laboratory; however, all students will learn how to apply the scientific method, that is: propose a hypothesis, identify experiments to address the hypothesis, perform experiments and analyze results. Students also will learn how to record information from experimental activities into laboratory notebooks, to present their research in laboratory meetings, and to write a research progress report.
Enforced co-requisite: course 180A.

MIMG 196B — Research Apprenticeship II

This course follows 196A with the objective to expand the scope, increase the depth and implement independence in research. Undergraduates should perform this course in the same laboratory where they had performed 196A to facilitate learning and implementation of the goals stated previously. The course must be taken in conjunction with a seminar (MIMG 180B). The technical aspects of the course will vary depending upon the specific laboratory, however, all students will use the scientific method (learned in course 196A) and continue the same experimental scope proposed, but with additional degree of independence in technical and intellectual aspects of the research. Students will present their research in laboratory meetings and write a final research report.
Enforced co-requisite: course 180B.

Plan 2 Application

There are two Path 2 application cycles annually for two Path 2 cohorts (Fall application and Winter application to begin Path 2 the proceeding quarters).

The Path 2 application will be available Week 1 - Week 5 of Fall 2025 quarter (to begin the two-quarter series Winter 2026 quarter and finish in Spring 2026 quarter).

There will be an additional application available Week 1 - Week 5 of Winter 2026 quarter (to begin the two-quarter series Spring 2026 quarter and finish in Fall 2026 quarter)

Submit the following forms via the Path 2 Application (link available Week 1 Fall 2025) or via email (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) by noon, 12:00 pm on Friday of Week 5 of the preceding quarter in which you plan to begin Path 2.

Research Project Proposal (see Guidelines and Proposal Sample - PDF), approved by the faculty mentor.
Undergraduate Researcher Acknowledgement Form, signed and completed.
Faculty Mentoring Agreement, signed and completed.

MIMG students with a Degree Expected Term of Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will be required to enroll in MIMG 103AL during first-pass for Winter 2026 quarter as a back-up for Path 2. Path 2 results will be shared as soon as possible, usually Week 8 or Week 9 of Fall quarter.

Path 2 application materials are sent to students via email through the MIMG Listserv. To subscribe to the Undergraduate MIMG listserv, please email MIMG Advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu with your UID and preferred email address.

Review Process and Outcomes

These application materials will be reviewed by the departmental curriculum committee. Students and faculty advisors will be notified of approval status within 2–3 weeks of submitting an application. It is advised that students have a back-up plan for the subsequent quarter (i.e., enroll in classes assuming they will NOT be approved for Path 2).

If the application is approved, then the MIMG Undergraduate Advisor will share next steps for 196A and 180A enrollment via email.
If the application is not approved:
- Senior MIMG students must fulfill major requirements via Path 1 while ensuring for a timely graduation (i.e. enrolling in MIMG 103AL for first-pass for Winter quarter prior to Spring graduation).
- Students can apply to Path 2 multiple times within their Degree Timeline (i.e. if graduating in Spring 2027, students have 3 chances to apply in Fall '25, Winter '26, and Fall '26).

Application Policies

The Path 2 application is a two-quarter commitment. Both Faculty Mentors and students alike must ensure that both are ready to fulfill all Path responsibility and requirements. Students should not apply if they are uncertain and should contact MIMG Advisors for guidance on Path 2 as needed (email undergrad@.microbio.ucla.edu with your UID).
Students must discuss their Path 2 application with their approved faculty mentors, together designing a research project to be described in the proposal submitted with other Path 2 application materials.
Graduating MIMG students will be required to enroll in Path 1 courses during their first pass of enrollment as a back-up. Path 2 is competitive and not guaranteed.
Students must be working with an MIMG faculty member or pre-approved Path 2 faculty mentor. The student must first check with the MIMG Advising Team (email undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) to see if the faculty in question has already been approved for MIMG's Path 2.
The policies and requirements described here supersede those on the 196 contract itself.

Quarterly Path 2 Report Departmental Submissions

If students are enrolled in an MIMG 196A or 196B Path 2 course, students must submit a report to the MIMG Department quarterly. This is a departmental copy only, as Path 2 coursework is graded by 180A/B instructors and faculty mentors.

Path 2 students will receive instructions via email to submit the Path 2 progress report quarterly no later than 5:00 PM Friday of Finals Week. For any questions or clarifications, students should please email MIMG advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Path 2 different than Path 1?

Path 1:
- All MIMG students are automatically enrolled in MIMG Path 1. In Path 1, students engage in authentic research experiences with our research immersion lab courses. These are courses that you enroll in, where you'll be collaborating with other MIMG students under the guidance of teaching faculty to conduct authentic research projects. You can learn more about MIMG lab courses/research experiences within our major here.
Path 2:
- Path 2 requires that students already be connected to independent research opportunities with approved faculty or MIMG faculty at UCLA and requires an application. If students are conducting MIMG research in an MIMG lab or other approved lab, students can apply for “Path 2” to apply this research to our major (effectively replacing the Path 1 lab courses).
  - Getting Connected to Independent Research
    - We recommend checking out our MIMG Undergraduate Research Guide for steps and resources to reach out to UCLA labs for the purpose of engaging in undergraduate research.
    - MIMG does not place our students in labs. Students must independently apply and/or contact labs and faculty directly. MIMG advisors can meet with students to share guidance and check in about progress as helpful to students.
- Path 2 effectively replaces the Path 1 lab courses. MIMG advisors recommend Path 2 for any MIMG students conducting independent MIMG research as it can not only enhance your research experience but also reduce your course load. With Path 2, you are getting academic credit for the lab research you are doing already in your PI's lab (vs. taking on a new research project in the Path 1 courses).

Can students complete both Path 1 and Path 2?

No, MIMG students will only complete either Path 1 -OR- Path 2 but cannot complete both.

If a student is/has been enrolled in Path 1, they are not able to apply to Path 2. Similarly, if a student is/has been enrolled in Path 2, they are not eligible to enroll in Path 1 courses.

Students may complete Path 1 & MIMG Departmental Honors -OR- Path 2 & MIMG Departmental Honors, however. Please note that Departmental Honors is a separate application process and has unique eligibility requirements.

Can I work with non-MIMG faculty for Path 2?

Students must be working with an MIMG faculty member -OR- a pre-approved, Path 2 faculty mentor.

Please check with the MIMG Advising Team (email undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) to see if the non-MIMG PI/faculty mentor has already been approved for MIMG's Path 2.

If the UCLA faculty mentor/PI has NOT already been pre-approved, the student must petition for their approval with the following process:
- A letter from the student explaining why they want to engage in MIMG's Path 2 with their specific mentor (previous experience with the mentor is an example).
- A one-page outline/brief proposal for the project that the student will be researching.
- The petition materials must be submitted to undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu no later than the first day of instruction.
- The departmental Curriculum Committee will review the petition. In addition to working on a topic that is relevant to the MIMG major, the Curriculum Committee also looks at the qualifications of the proposed mentor and will only approve the petition if the mentor has the experience and a record of independent research accomplishments deemed comparable to those of a typical MIMG professor.
- If the faculty is approved, the student will proceed with filling out and submitting the 199 contract
The policies and requirements described here supersede those on the 196 contract itself.

Please reach out to MIMG Advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu with your UID for any clarifications on Path 2 policies and options.

What exactly are the Path 2 courses?

Path 2 is a two-quarter commitment. Each quarter, students will enroll in 1 seminar course and 1 contract course (representing your research in your PI's lab).

Quarter 1 of Path 2:

-MIMG 180A (2-units) A 2-hour/week seminar with other Path 2 students)

-MIMG 196A (4-units, upper-division) A "contract course", essentially academic credit for the research itself in your lab. You are required to dedicate 12-16 hours/week in the lab (which you may be already doing!).

Key Deliverables:

Research progress report.

Quarter 2 of Path 2:

-MIMG 180B (2-units) A 2-hour/week seminar with other Path 2 students)

-MIMG 196B (4-units, upper-division) A "contract course", essentially academic credit for the research itself in your lab. You are required to dedicate 12-16 hours/week in the lab (which you may be already doing!).

Key Deliverables:

Research paper, presentation, and poster. Students will showcase poster and research at the MIMG Undergraduate Research Symposium (Friday of Week 10 of the quarter).

Does Path 2 have to be completed in consecutive quarters?

Yes. Path 2 is a two-quarter commitment for two, consecutive quarters. Each quarter, students will enroll in 1 seminar course and 1 contract course (representing your research in your PI's lab).

We currently have two Path 2 cohorts available each academic year (Winter quarter - Spring quarter and Spring quarter - Fall quarter). We do not have options for Path 2 over summer sessions.

How competitive is the Path 2 application?

Path 2 is competitive and not guaranteed. Students must meet minimum eligibility criteria to apply.

Students can apply to Path 2 multiple times within their Degree Timeline (i.e. if graduating in Spring 2027, students have 3 chances to apply in Fall '25, Winter '26, and Fall '26). Assuming students continue to meet eligibility and continue advanced, in-depth research projects, students' chance of acceptance generally increases with each application.

The research proposal (or rather, project itself) is the most important aspect of the application. The Path 2 application review committee are looking for advanced, in-depth research projects. The committee will also consider the student's lab and/or degree progress as appropriate.

How can I increase my chances of getting accepted to Path 2?

The research proposal (or rather, project itself) is the most important aspect of the application. The Path 2 application review committee are looking for advanced, in-depth research projects.

Ensure your research proposal meets the Path 2 Research Proposal Guidelines and Sample.
Ask your PI/faculty mentor and/or your Direct Research Supervisor for feedback about your proposal (i.e. request meeting, share via email, or work collaboratively).
Consider what distinguishes your project and research (unique factors, complex methods, potential impact of results).
Review your proposal for clarity.
Give yourself (and your PI/faculty mentor) ample time to review and finalize the proposal.

When can I apply to Path 2?

Students can apply to Path 2 once you meet eligibility requirements:

GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Have completed -OR- are in the process of completing a Research Acquaintance (RA) experience in a MIMG research laboratory or other approved lab. The RA may be a 99/SRP, 199 (Letter grade only), or volunteer research experience in a lab for a minimum of 10 hrs per week for at least 10 weeks. Students do not necessarily need to be enrolled in an SRP-course to prove volunteer experience.

Can I achieve both Path 2 and MIMG Departmental Honors?

Yes. Students can apply for and achieve MIMG Departmental Honors in addition to either Path 1 or Path 2. MIMG's Path 2 and MIMG Departmental Honors require separate applications.

Departmental Honors

Students can apply for and achieve MIMG Departmental (Dpt.) Honors in addition to either Path 1 or Path 2.
With MIMG Dpt. Honors, students complete 3 quarters of research (that may overlap with Path 2 research or may be separate quarters). In addition, students will take the Honors Seminar course (191H) during Winter of their senior year. Last, students will submit a thesis for their research project within the approved timeline (i.e. by May of senior year).
The faculty Honors advisor, Dr. Miller, will determine student’s admittance to Honors. It is a separate application to Path 2. Generally, students should aim to apply by their junior year (i.e. by Winter quarter of junior year).
Students admitted to both MIMG Dpt. Honors and MIMG's Path 2 can potentially "overlap" research requirements. For example, instead of needing 5 total quarters of research to achieve Path 2 and MIMG Dpt. Honors (196A, 196B, 198A, 198B, 198C), students could achieve both with 3 total quarters of research (in addition to seminar requirements, thesis requirements, etc.). Students must consult MIMG Advisors for approval (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) in advance if admitted to both.

How can I find a lab?

Getting Connected to Independent Research

We recommend checking out our MIMG Undergraduate Research Guide for steps and resources to reach out to UCLA labs for the purpose of engaging in undergraduate research.
MIMG does not place our students in labs. Students must independently apply and/or contact labs and faculty directly. MIMG advisors can meet with students to share guidance and check in about progress as helpful to students.
Please keep in mind that, to apply to Path 2, students must be working with an MIMG faculty member or another pre-approved faculty mentor.
If students are interested in a minor and research, we also recommend exploring the Biomedical Research Minor. This minor requires that you complete an intro course and apply to the minor within their approved timeline. If admitted to the minor, students will be placed in a faculty member’s lab directly.

Is Path 2 "better" than Path 1?

Both Path 1 and Path 2 are ways to engage in authentic MIMG research and advance key skills. Both paths help students achieve the MIMG undergraduate learning outcomes. (If interested, please note this study which concludes "no significant differences in affective gains by path".

Students should consider their goals, interests, and capacity when determining which path is "best". If students have a goal of getting involved in independent MIMG research (or are already involved in independent MIMG research), we recommend Path 2.

There are multiple ways to highlight your Path 1 and Path 2 experiences for future applications. We recommend students connect with Career Advising if looking for guidance on ways to highlight your experiences for applications, resumes, and more.