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What
are the benefits of
independent undergraduate research?
 In
order to be "science literate" in the 21st century, isn't
it sufficient to read the textbooks and take the required
classes?
 Textbooks
necessarily give a condensed and sometimes distorted impression
of how science is really done. Our undergraduate research
programs offer a golden opportunity for you to find out what
science and biology are really all about. You will join a
research team investigating an important scientific problem.
You will learn to critically read the scientific literature
on your chosen research topic and to formulate hypotheses.
You will learn to design and carry out experiments to test
the validity of your hypotheses. In short, you will actually
"do science."
The
range of research topics available in the Biological Sciences
is bewildering. How will I ever be able to make the choice
that is best for me?
A
good place to begin is with the departmental WEB page, which
has descriptions of each faculty member's research. More important
than the research topic, however, is the compatibility between
student and advisor. Learning to do science: designing experiments,
mastering good laboratory techniques, analyzing data and writing
reports, are skills that can be applied to any area of science
and to most aspects of your life. We have a formal process
designed to bring together interested student researchers
and potential research advisors for the summer research program
through personal interviews. In addition, many students discover
research opportunities by word-of-mouth or by informally approaching
individual faculty.
If
I participate in the summer research program, how much interaction
will I have with my advisor? Won't he or she be away for most
of the summer?
Most
faculty in Biological Sciences work in their laboratories
during the summer, advancing their research. Faculty members
participating in the undergraduate summer research program
personally guide students admitted to their laboratory. Becoming
an integral part of an active research group is a most rewarding
experience.
Do
I have to wait until after my junior year to become involved
in laboratory research?
You
need to have sophomore or junior standing to enroll in our
summer research program. However, even freshmen can get started
in the research laboratory through student work opportunities
(SWO) and the student federal work-study (FWS) program.
What
is the difference between the summer research program and
a laboratory class? How can I be sure I won't be performing
a dull, repetitive task? Since I am only a beginning researcher,
what creative input will I have?
In
the summer research program, you will be attempting a project
where the outcome is unknown. You will get a taste of both
the excitement and frustration of scientific research. Once
immersed in the research project you will find that seemingly
disparate concepts taught in several courses connect to produce
a coherent picture for a research goal. If you are to advance
your project, you must become a problem solver, and an independent
learner. You will be guided in this effort by frequent discussions
with your advisor and with the other members of the research
group.
How
does the summer research program work?
Application Process: Meetings are held in the fall
semester to explain the summer research program. Interested
students fill out an application during the spring semester.
After perusing the departmental WEB site, they list 3-4 faculty
with whom they are interested in doing research. The participating
faculty interview students, after which both the faculty and
students rank their choices. Faculty are matched with interested
students based on the rankings of both parties by a faculty
committee.
Research
Project:
Step
1: Designing the project. Usually the faculty
advisor will have a project in mind that is of appropriate scope
for undergraduate research. The faculty member will explain
the background and assign some pertinent readings. In the beginning,
the student will receive explicit suggestions on how to begin.
The student will have increasing input in the design of experiments
as the project evolves. Step
2: Research. The student will be assigned space and
resources in the research lab. They will be provided with
protocols and advice as needed by more experienced members
of the research group. Expect some surprises! The data obtained
in original research often do not support the hypothesis.
The most interesting aspect of science is trying to figure
out what the data do mean, formulating new hypotheses, and
designing the experiments to test them.
Step
3: Presentation of results. Students will present
the results of their research at the end of the summer in
a symposium for the participating students and faculty.
Related
Activities: A number of activities are planned to enrich
the summer research experience and advance the skills of the
participants. These include a journal club, in which the students
take turns presenting papers from the scientific literature
to the group. There are also seminars and discussions with
scientists at various levels, which afford an opportunity
for the student to ask questions about careers in science
and how best to enter them. Social activities include picnics
and attending baseball games at the new Miller Park.
Stipend: Students selected to participate in our undergraduate
summer research program receive a 10-week stipend.
Suppose
I am unable to remain in Milwaukee over the summer. Are there
other opportunities for independent research?
There
are a variety of opportunities for independent research. The
most popular of these is Bio. 195, an independent research
course that is developed as a contract between the student
and the individual advisor. The student receives 3 academic
credits for this course. Many of the students who participate
in summer research choose to continue the project as a Bio.
195 course in the following semester.
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