HOW TO Join the Lab

Ph.D. Students

We recruit most of our Ph.D. students through the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. As such, interested students are encouraged to apply for entrance into the biomedical engineering graduate program. Students can be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program with only a Bachelor’s (B.S.) degree. Applications are due in December to begin the program in August. Further information on the application process can be found here. If you are interested in joining the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab as a Ph.D. student, you are encouraged to contact Dr. Nichols directly via e-mail.

M.S. Students

We support M.S. students interested in gaining unpaid research experience for course credit. We primarily recruit M.S. students pursuing thesis and non-thesis research projects through the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering. Students from other departments, such as those completing internships through the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology or seeking research experience through the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, are also welcome in the lab. If you are interested in joining the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab as a M.S. student, you are encouraged to contact Dr. Nichols directly via e-mail.

Undergraduate Students

We support hard-working undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about the musculoskeletal system and the study of human movement. Prior research experience is not required to join the lab. Students are also not required to have completed any specific courses. You just need to be curious and willing to learn! Note, you also need to have time and energy that you can dedicate to research. Undergraduate students are expected to spend approximately 10 hours per week working on their research.

We accept new undergraduate students into our lab during the Fall and Spring semesters. Interested undergraduates will be interviewed between the 2nd and 4th week of the semester. If you are interested in joining the lab during the Fall term, you should express interest between Aug. 15 – Sept. 10. If you are interested in joining the lab during the Spring term, you should express interest between Jan. 1 – Jan. 20.   To express interest in joining the lab, please contact Dr. Nichols directly via e-mail. In your e-mail, please include (1) your major, (2) expected graduation date, (3) a brief statement [2-5 sentences is sufficient] explaining why you are interested in biomechanics research, and (4) a copy of your resume attached as a PDF.