Students who plan to fulfill the MCDB Laboratory Requirement with independent research must apply for and complete two consecutive quarters of research seminars, MCDB 180A and 180B, taken concurrently with MCDB 196A and 196B.* The seminars will focus on presentation and discussion of research literature and each student’s independent research project. They are designed to enhance students’ research experience. The seminars expose students to the process of scientific discovery by providing hands-on experience applying the scientific method.

• MCDB 180A is taken concurrently with MCDB 196A.*
• MCDB 180B is taken the following quarter, concurrently with MCDB 196B.*
• The two-quarter series (MCDB 196A/180A and MCDB 196B/180B) are typically offered twice per year in Fall/Winter and Winter/Spring.

*Note to fourth-year students who plan to complete MCDB Departmental Honors (MCDB 198A-C) but also want to fulfill the MCDB Lab Requirement with independent research: If you are entering your fourth year and would like to fulfill your Lab Requirement with independent research, but you also want to be eligible for Departmental Honors, which requires MCDB 198A-C, then you may take MCDB 180A and 180B alongside either MCDB 198A and 198B or MCDB 198B and 198C, instead of MCDB 196A and 196B.

How will MCDB 180A/B and 196A/B be Applied towards my Major Requirements?

• MCDB 196A (or MCDB 198A or 198B) (4 units) is accepted as a Category 1 elective for the MCDB major.
• MCDB 196B (or MCDB 198B or 198C) (4 units) fulfills the MCDB Laboratory Requirement when taken alongside MCDB 180B.
• MCDB 180A (2 units) and 180B (2 units) are accepted as Category 1 electives for the MCDB major.

Who is Eligible to Apply for MCDB 180A/B and 196A/B?

You are eligible to apply if…

• You are conducting research with an MCDB-approved faculty research mentor included on the MCDB-Approved List of Faculty Research Mentors;
• You have completed LIFESCI 7A, 7B, 7C, 7L (formerly 23L), and 107;
• You have completed or are completing at least one quarter in the lab either as a volunteer or enrolled in SRP-99 or 199;
• You have a minimum 3.0 overall and major GPA. (If you do not have a major GPA at the time of application, then your major prep GPA must be at least 3.0);
• You are not working for pay in your faculty mentor’s lab while receiving academic credit for your research.

How do I Apply for MCDB 180A/B and 196A/B?

Deadline to Apply for the Fall/Winter Offering: 5:00 PM on the second Friday of August

Deadline to Apply for the Winter/Spring Offering: 5:00 PM on Friday of Week 6 of Fall quarter

The following forms must be submitted by the applicable deadline:

1. Undergraduate Researcher Application & Acknowledgement Form
2. MCD BIO 196A Contract (Instructions on how to create the contract are located on the Application & Acknowledgement form).
3. Research Project Proposal
4. Faculty Mentoring Agreement

ONLINE SUBMISSION FORM: https://forms.gle/kHqk2LLwFcAD731U9

Note: If you plan to take MCDB 198A-B or MCDB 198B-C alongside MCDB 180A and 180B, please create an MCDB 198A-C contract instead of an MCDB 196A contract. In addition, your proposal should also be a year-long proposal instead of a two-quarter project proposal. Please follow the proposal guidelines for MCDB 198A-C: https://www.mcdb.ucla.edu/mcdb-198a-d-proposals/.