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To find chemistry research at the University of Washington, identify a faculty member whose work interests you and contact them directly about openings, prerequisites, and supervision. A research placement does not automatically grant access to a laboratory: once a host agrees to take you, you and the supervisor must arrange any required training and authorization for the specific space.
How do I find a chemistry lab at UW?
Start with a research area, not a room. UW Chemistry advises students to review faculty profiles and lab websites, then contact faculty at the listed contact information. Reading publications or talking with chemistry instructors and teaching assistants can help you narrow your interests and make a specific inquiry. The department notes that it may take more than one inquiry to find an arrangement, and contacting a lab is not a placement guarantee. See the UW Chemistry undergraduate research guidance.
- Choose a direction. Read about research that genuinely interests you and identify what draws you to it.
- Find potential supervisors. Compare faculty research profiles and lab sites; consider more than one plausible match.
- Ask about fit and availability. In your initial conversation, ask whether the group is taking students, what prerequisites apply, what work you might do, who would supervise you day to day, and what schedule is expected.
- Agree on the arrangement. Clarify whether the opportunity is for academic credit, paid work, or another program. Requirements and availability depend on the particular project.
UW recommends research by junior year as a useful general target, but students can approach faculty earlier. Students still taking general and organic chemistry may have fewer options; some may be suitable for CHEM 199 or CHEM 299 projects. The department recommends a 3.0 GPA, but does not describe it as an absolute requirement: motivated students are encouraged to contact faculty regardless of GPA. Ask the supervisor or an adviser about project-specific prerequisites.
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How can I get research experience at UW?
A faculty-led project is one route, but it is not the only one. UW’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) maintains a database of faculty seeking student researchers; check it periodically because listings change. Chemistry also points students to summer research awards, NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Clean Energy Bridge to Research, the UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center, Academic-Year Research Accelerator, and other UW-area opportunities. Eligibility, deadlines, funding, and structure vary by program. Consult the current UW Chemistry internships and summer programs list and the OUR database.
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| Route | How it works | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty-led research | Contact a faculty member about a project in their group; arrangements and mentorship are project-specific. | Opening, prerequisites, supervisor, schedule, and whether the work is for credit or compensation. |
| Cohort or program opportunity | Apply through a listed summer, REU, center, or academic-year program. | Current eligibility, application deadline, funding, time commitment, and whether a faculty match or placement is provided. |
| Research in another department or center | Explore interdisciplinary and other UW-area listings as well as Chemistry labs. | Who supervises the work, how any credit applies to your degree, and which facility’s access rules govern. |
If a lab has no opening, ask whether the faculty member can suggest another group or program. No university-wide vacancy count or placement rate is established by the department’s guidance, so there is no reliable basis for predicting how quickly an inquiry will lead to a position.
Can I earn CHEM 499 or BIOC 499 credit?
If you and a faculty advisor decide to pursue independent-study research credit, settle the project description, number of credits, schedule, deliverables, and deadlines with the advisor before submitting the applicable CHEM 499/BIOC 499 form. The department’s guidance says one credit represents approximately three hours of effort per week; students commonly take two to three credits per quarter over two or more quarters, but the actual workload is individualized. Some techniques require longer blocks, so agree on a workable schedule directly with the supervisor.
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The form described by the department caps credits at 12. Registration is in the supervisor’s department, even if that is not your major, and requires faculty permission and an add code from that department. Check the current quarter’s form and course schedule before registering. The department grades Chemistry and Biochemistry research credit Credit/No Credit.
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Degree applicability depends on the student’s program. UW says biochemistry majors may apply CHEM 499 or BIOC 499 toward the science elective requirement; research in another department may require a petition. Chemistry-major rules vary by degree path and honors or distinction status, so verify current requirements with an adviser rather than assuming research credit counts toward a particular major requirement.
As a general policy, UW Chemistry says students receiving credit for Chemistry Department research should not also be paid for that same work. The department notes exceptions and funding possibilities, including Mary Gates Endowment Research Grants. Ask an adviser about the rules for your specific project and any funding route.
How do I get access to a chemistry lab?
Facility access is a separate step after a research host has agreed to work with you. Do not assume that a faculty conversation, research-credit registration, or a student ID alone authorizes entry. For Chemistry Department-managed spaces in Bagley Hall (BAG) and the Chemistry Building (CHB), UW says keys and access authorization are issued through the department via Key Connect, which requires a UW NetID. Researchers granted access or keys must complete Health and Safety Orientation and sign Chemistry Policies & Procedures; key borrowers also sign a Statement of Responsibility. Follow the live Chemistry Building Keys instructions and Building Access guidance, since access procedures may change.
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- Confirm the specific space. Ask your supervisor and the space overseer which access process and safety requirements apply to the room or facility.
- Complete required training and paperwork. Follow the department’s current safety, policy, and responsibility requirements before access is issued.
- Use the stated access channel. For managed Bagley Hall and Chemistry Building spaces, the department identifies Key Connect for access authorization and keys. The Building Access page also directs students to the Chemistry front office in Bagley Hall 109 for keys or cards for Bagley Hall, the Chemistry Building, and the Chemistry Library Building; it lists an Initial Key Application and authorization from both the supervisor and the space overseer.
- Follow after-hours rules. If you have after-hours or weekend building access, carry the required Husky Card and do not loan or share access credentials.
If you do not have a UW NetID, the department directs you to the Chemistry front office in Bagley Hall 109 for information.
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UW College of Arts & Sciences describes the Chemical Sciences Building as a planned facility for laboratory, meeting, collaboration, office, and active-learning space. Its project page lists 104,500 gross square feet and projects construction to begin in fall 2026, with completion in winter 2029. These are published plans and forecasts, not evidence that the building is currently open or that it offers student placements. The page also says more than 6,500 UW students take Chemistry courses each academic year and describes existing facilities as spread across buildings and floors; it presents improved collaboration and accessibility as goals of the project. See the College of Arts & Sciences Chemical Sciences Building project page.
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