Independent Research Projects for IB Majors (IB 290 and IB 292*)
*Effective fall 2005, course numbers will
change to IB 390 and IB 490.
Integrative
Biology majors are encouraged to conduct independent research in the laboratory
of a faculty member. If you are interested in getting involved with research,
follow these steps:
-
Visit the Biological Sciences Advising page
on the
undergraduate research process.
-
Scan through the list of SIB faculty and their research interests; identify several possible labs
in which you would be interested in working.
-
Approach the professor directly (either through phone, office visit, or
email). Take time to personalize any email message to give the professor a
reason for following up on your request.
-
The professor will tell you if there is room in the lab for an undergraduate
student, what kind of work is expected, and the time commitment for the number
of hours credit. You need also to discuss with the professor whether to
sign up for IB 290 (IB 390) or IB 292 (IB 490) (see details below).
-
SIB Policy: You can have NO MORE than ten (10) hours of IB 290 (IB
390)/IB 292 (IB 490)
credit counted toward your degree.
Integrative Biology
290
(effective fall
2005, IB 390 Introductory Research)
Course Title:
Special Problems
Course
Catalog Description: Laboratory and/or field research and/or reading
supervised by faculty members in the School of Integrative Biology. May be
repeated. Approved for S/U grade only.
Course
Credit: 1 to 5 semester hours; no more than a combined maximum of 10 hours
of IB 290 (IB 390) or IB 292 (IB 490) may count toward graduation for IB majors. These hours will
not be counted as advanced hours in the majors.
Course
Objective: This course will introduce students to independent reading
and/or experience in lab and/or field research under the supervision of a
faculty mentor in SIB.
Integrative
Biology 292
(effective fall 2005, IB 490 Independent Study)
Course Title:
Individual Topics
Course
Catalog Description: Laboratory and/or field research supervised by faculty
members in the School of Integrative Biology. A written report is required.
May be repeated. Offered for letter grade
only.
Course
Credit: 1 to 5 semester hours; no more than a combined maximum of 10 hours
of IB 290 (IB 390) or IB 292 (IB 490) may count toward graduation for IB majors. These hours will
not be counted as advanced hours in the majors.
Course
Objective: This course will provide an advanced individual research
experience under the supervision of a faculty mentor in SIB.
Other
Considerations
-
Students
intending to apply to graduate with distinction must be registered in IB 292
(IB 490)
at least one semester as they write a written report and receive a
letter grade.
-
Students in the
Howard Hughes program must sign up
for IB 292 (IB 490) because a letter grade is required.
Research with non-SIB Faculty
IB majors who wish to obtain IB290/IB292
credit for work done during the academic year with advisors outside of SIB must
have an "advisor of note" in an SIB department before the project
is undertaken. This advisor is obtained in the following way:
-
The student and
the outside research advisor develop a research proposal. The student writes a
2- or 3-page statement that describes the nature of the project: the
questions to be asked, the general methods to be used, etc. The student signs
the proposal and the advisor signs the proposal to indicate his/her approval.
-
The student
presents the proposal to the School of Integrative Biology Associate Director
for Academic Affairs (286 Morrill Hall).
-
The proposal is
referred by the Associate Director to the Head of the SIB department most
closely related to the proposed research.
-
The department
head assigns a departmental faculty member (the "advisor of note") to examine
the proposal, the credentials of the outside advisor, the time that the
student will spend on the project, etc. That faculty member is
responsible for certifying the academic worth of the project to be undertaken
by the student and will negotiate with the outside advisor how much credit
will be assigned for the project. The student will enroll for IB 290/IB
292 credit under the call number of the "advisor of note," for the agreed upon
amount of credit. The "advisor of note" will read the final report prepared by
the student and, based upon the report and a written critical evaluation from
the outside advisor, will assign the IB 290 (IB 390)/IB 292 (IB 490) grade for the project.
-
If the student
wishes to submit the written report to the Integrative Biology Distinction
Committee to be considered for graduation with distinction in the Integrative
Biology major, the paper must be submitted with a letter of approval from the
"advisor of note" and a letter of evaluation from the research advisor.
| 