By becoming a member of a research group, you will gain a depth of knowledge in an area of Biology that cannot be offered through classes at the University. You may also participate in conferences outside the University or establish personal contacts, which will be of benefit in future years. Many students engaging in research are encouraged to report their findings at local or national scientific meetings and publish their results in international scientific journals. Independent study with our Biological Science faculty generates a perspective often missing in classroom education.

Students who elect to write a senior thesis in Biology work for two semesters under the guidance of a faculty director on a project of their choice, with the goal of contributing something original and valuable to the scientific community. A senior thesis student presents and defends their work in front of a committee of three faculty in the spring of their senior year.

While a senior thesis is required to earn an Ho​nors Degree with Distinction, students outside of the Honors College can also complete a senior thesis. Students interested in writing a thesis typically become involved in research by the spring of their junior year.​

Although students interested in a research experience are encouraged to identify mentors in their sophomore year, students can do so in the junior or, more rarely, in the senior or freshman year. Each faculty member has his/her own criteria for accepting students into their lab. Most require a minimum grade point average, some a minimum time commitment and others specific courses. To begin the process, consult our lists of faculty mentors for a statement of faculty research interests and requirements.

Please DO NOT contact professors without first having submitted an undergraduate research interest form.

Undergraduate Faculty Mentor List

undergraduate research interest form

Once you have identified potential faculty sponsors, please submit an undergraduate research interest form. This form helps us find a place for you in a laboratory but does not obligate you to do research. Because the demand for research projects exceeds the number of openings in some laboratories, we recommend you identify three faculty members whose research interests you. Once the application has been reviewed, the Director of Undergraduate Research in the Department of Biological Sciences will submit your application to individual faculty and notify you of available positions. You will then be asked to make an appointment with one of the mentors. This will give you the chance to determine if the research project and the laboratory situation is right for you. You must let the faculty member and the Director of Undergraduate Research know your choice within two weeks of the interview.