Join the Schoeffler Lab!

Interested in working with us?

We're always interested in talking to new potential members of our team. It's easy to get started in the lab. Start by looking around this site and getting familiar with our work. If the questions we're asking don't sound all that interesting to you, then this might not be the lab for you. But if you're curious, it's easy to get started.

"I was fortunate enough to work remotely in the Schoeffler Lab, where I was able to use my coding skills to answer meaningful scientific questions. This experience was a key factor in solidifying my desire to pursue a PhD."

Requirements

Loyola students are eligible to work in the lab as volunteers, for course credit, or for pay. There are no course prerequisites or GPA requirements. Anyone who is dedicated and interested is welcome. If you enjoy asking questions and aren't afraid to learn new things, you have most of what you need to be successful.

New students who join the lab generally follow this path:

1. Trial period: For one semester, sit in on lab meetings, shadow current lab members, and participate in the lab Journal Club and/or the lab Bioinformatics Workshop.

2. Shared Project Period : You can begin course-credit or paid work by taking on a shared project, as one becomes available. You may work with a more senior student as you develop expertise.

3. Independent Project Period: Students working on a thesis in Chemistry, Biological Sciences, or Honors might be ready to take on a more involved independent project.

The lab is generally full, but there is no waiting list. Projects are not awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to those who are shadowing or attending lab meetings. Not all projects are right for all students, so when projects become available, they are given to the students who are best suited to be successful and who have demonstrated a commitment to the lab.

Expectations

All members of the lab are expected to:

• attend lab meetings

• present journal club articles

• present research updates

• help keep the lab organized and clean

• participate in shared reagent preparation

What You'll Learn

As an undergraduate research laboratory, the Schoeffler Lab focuses on projects that combine student development with fascinating, relevant scientific questions. Depending on the project, you might gain experience in:

• Quantitative analysis

• Navigating the scientific literature

• Coding

• Writing and Graphic Design