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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
An alternative way to satisfy the Biology
Department's experiential requirement is
undergraduate research (BIO 499). Undergraduate
research involves hypothesis formulation, review of the
biological literature within a particular focus area,
independent data collection, analysis, and
interpretation. This research project is conducted
under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty
member of the Biology Department.
BIO 499 is open to students at all levels who have a
minimum GPA of 2.5 and the permission of the
supervising faculty member, the student's academic
advisor, and the Biology Department Chair.
During any one semester, a student can sign up for 1,
2, 3, or 4 hours of research. Generally, it is expected
that a student will spend a minimum of 3 hours per week
for each credit of research. So, students who have
signed up for 4 sh of research should spend 12 hours
per week working on their research. In addition to the
research time, you will be expected to have a 1-hour
progress meeting with the supervising faculty member
each week. Students may earn a maximum of 12 sh of
credit for BIO 499 before graduating from Elon
University.
One of the primary responsibilities of scientists
conducting research is to communicate their findings.
Many of our students have presented their research to a
variety of professional audiences including the
undergraduate research forum at Elon University (SURF),
the North Carolina Academy of Science, the Association
of Southeastern Biologists, and the National Council on
Undergraduate Research. The research of Elon students
has also been published in Bios, the journal
of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor
Society, the Southeastern Naturalist, and the Journal
of Phycology.
Procedures for Enrolling in Bio 499
1. Identify a research question that intrigues you.
For many students, the independent projects they
conduct in their laboratory courses act as a
springboard to new questions and more ambitious,
longer-term studies. Other students find it difficult
to develop their own research ideas without a little
assistance. In this case, you might want to approach
one of the faculty and ask them to help you further
define research areas which may be of interest to you.
Areas of particular interest to Elon Faculty are listed
in the next section. But remember, it is important that
you be responsible for the direction of the research.
If you feel ownership for the research then you will do
more, learn more, and grow more.
2. In the semester before you wish to
conduct the research, identify a faculty member who has
experience or interest in your chosen research field.
Discuss your plans with this professor in terms of your
questions, hypotheses, possible experimental
approaches, and any special supplies or equipment you
might need. Secure his or her permission to act as the
faculty supervisor of your research project.
3. With the help of the faculty member you have
secured to supervise your research, you should develop
a written proposal for your projected research project.
This activity will help you to clarify your research
goals, consider what methods or procedures you will
learn, and determine what equipment and supplies you
will need to obtain. This proposal will help you in
applying for Elon University Undergraduate Research
Program grant or a Rawl’s grant. Additional
financial support is also available through the North
Carolina Collegiate Academy of Science and the Beta
Beta Beta Biological Honor Society for students
who are organized and apply for funds in the semester
prior to initiating research. You must also fill out
the 499 Registration form which is available from the
Undergraduate Research Director's Office (
http://www.elon.edu/urp/Dreamweaver/Faculty.htmwith
) the assistance of your faculty mentor. You, the
mentor, your academic advisor, and the Biology
Department Chair must sign this form.
4. During preregistration week, bring the completed
499 form to the Registrar’s Office to enroll in
Bio 499. The final deadline to turn in a 499 form to
enroll in undergraduate research is 4:00 PM on the
Friday of the second week of classes. The section
letter corresponds to a specific faculty member so make
sure you designate the correct section. For instance, a
student who signs up for research under Dr. Haenel
might enroll in Bio 499-A during a particular semester
while another student working with Dr. Vick might
enroll in Bio 499-D. Check the Course Schedule to
ensure that you have the correct section.
5. On the first day of classes during the semester you
are to do your research, contact your faculty
supervisor and schedule a regular meeting time each
week. Start work immediately and build your research
time into your class schedule. But, don’t be
surprised when you find yourself spending more time on
your research than you expected.
Bio 499 Academic Requirements
The specific requirements for each research project
will be determined by the faculty member supervising
the research. These requirements should be made clear
to the student before the student registers for Bio
499. Typically, the minimal requirements will
include:
• a research notebook that completely and
carefully documents the progress of the research with
dated entries. The research questions, hypotheses, and
experimental design should be completely explained. All
data collected by the student should be recorded in the
research journal along with their observations,
questions, ideas for future experiments, data analysis
results, and interpretations of the data.
• a research paper that not only communicates the
student’s findings but relates them to the
current state of scientific knowledge
• any other requirements specified by the faculty
research supervisor prior to the initiation of the
research.
Grading Criteria
As in any other course, the grade will be determined
by the supervising faculty member who evaluates the
performance of the student. The student should ask what
criteria will be used in grading during one of their
discussions with the faculty supervisor before starting
the research. Typically, the student’s grade will
be based upon the following criteria:
• faculty evaluation of student’s progress
and intellectual growth
• research journal
• research paper
• other criteria that the faculty supervisor and
student have discussed
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