Collaboration is essential to modern biological research, and the ability for scientists to be an effective member of a diverse team is critical for professional and personal growth. Modeling collaborative research in an undergraduate course provides an opportunity for students to learn how to navigate inclusive collaborations successfully. Undergraduate biology students have likely never engaged in collaborative research prior to starting their coursework, and it may be the first time students are working with individuals from different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. For students to become successful research collaborators, educators must provide a framework for students to recognize their own assets and appreciate the contributions of all stakeholders. Here we provide a narrative demonstrating challenges to student research collaboration, an analysis of these challenges, and specific recommendations for teaching effective collaboration.