Research Experience
In today’s fast moving environment of scientific breakthrough and innovation, the modern STEM student needs more than just book-smarts, they need hands-on experience with research. The type of experiences that yield a fully formed young investigator who is competent in hypothesizing, designing and trouble-shooting experimental studies. Importantly, once data are obtained, the scientist must be able to effectively interpret the results and communicate them in a way that moves the entire field forward. Research experience also connects our undergraduates to a larger scientific community, one including graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and research professionals.
The Biology department at Boston College offers undergraduates the opportunity to fully participate in research activities through Advanced Lab Courses, research in a faculty lab, or off-campus research.
Research for Credit
Undergraduate research is worth 3 credits, can take place on or off campus, and requires the permission of the supervising faculty member. Typically, students begin pursuing research during the fall semester of their Junior year and continue through the spring semester of their Senior year. A truly useful research experience will often require a minimum of 15 hours/week, and some faculty will require students to work in the lab over the summer. The time commitment may increase as the student assumes more responsibility for designing experiments and generating data. Two semesters of undergraduate research for credit may be substituted for one Biology advanced elective, with permission from the Biology Department.
Undergraduate students have multiple opportunities to become involved in research: Advanced Lab Courses, research in a faculty lab, or off-campus research. For more information about these opportunities please see below.
Once an opportunity has been found by a student, the student must bring the Undergraduate Research Contract Form to the Biology Department for approval either before or during the course registration period.
**Note that paid positions, both on and off-campus, do not count towards university credit.
Undergraduate Research Contract Forms
As students approach their senior year, they have the opportunity to take an Advanced Experience Lab. These labs are taught at ratios of 12:1. The nature of these small courses allows quick adaptability by both the instructor and department to ensure a cutting-edge, high impact research experience.
Students in these classes focus on a specific research theme and work together to develop a research proposal and design experiments to test their hypotheses. The ultimate goal of these classes is to publish student results in a research publication. With the help of funding from the National Science Foundation, these classes have been designed to give students an experience similar to that of a research lab.
Some examples of recent laboratory courses include:
- BIOL 4810 Research in Molecular Microbiology Lab
- BIOL 4830 Research in Molecular Biology Lab
- BIOL 4870 Research in Molecular Genetics Lab
- BIOL 4880 Research in Biomechanics Lab
- BIOL 4890 Investigations in Cellular Re-Programming
- BIOL 5450 Advanced Lab in Cellular Imaging
Students may work directly with a faculty member in BC laboratories on a range of research projects, many of which are supported by grants from federal agencies or private research foundations. Undergraduate research projects require significant commitment from both students and faculty.
In order to apply for one of these positions, students are urged to contact individual faculty members who are conducting research in their areas of interest. Before applying, students are urged to investigate the research of faculty members by looking at the papers that faculty have recently published. View listing of faculty members.
In order to receive biology major credit for the advanced experience requirement students must be enrolled in undergraduate research for two semesters. Students who get involved in undergraduate research early, often work in the lab for four or more semesters.
Students who perform Undergraduate Research will also participate in the Biology department's annual Undergraduate Research Day, which is held in May of each academic year.
Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the many research opportunities that are available off-campus in biomedical institutions around the Boston area.
Students conducting research off-campus may be eligible to receive course credit for their research if they meet the following guidelines:
- The student must be working in a biological laboratory.
- The student must be assigned to a particular project in the laboratory with proper supervision.
- The student is expected to be working in the laboratory for a minimum of 10-12 hours per week.
- The student is expected to contribute to the research decisions, including the presentation of data, and be a viable member of the research team.
- The student cannot receive payment for work during the school year if he/she is receiving course credit.
Students who meet these guidelines and wish to pursue research for credit in an off-campus laboratory should visit the Biology Office, Higgins 355 for next steps.
Undergraduate Research Day
Research Opportunities
For on-campus research, students will need to make contact with an individual faculty member who will agree to supervise you in his or her laboratory. To find a faculty member, look at their research activities and see if you are drawn to specific areas of interest. You can contact professors, visit their labs, and talk to your peers to help make your decision. As a special honor, students can be selected by professors to serve as a paid Undergraduate Research Fellow. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the many research opportunities that are available off-campus in biomedical institutions around the Boston area.
Once an opportunity has been found by a student, the student must bring the Undergrad Research Contract Form to the Biology Department for approval either before or during the course registration period.
Note that paid positions, both on and off-campus, do not count towards university credit.
Undergraduate Research Contract Forms
Senior Thesis Program
Students working in a faculty laboratory who wish to write a thesis may sign up for Biology Senior Thesis, with support and approval of their laboratory advisor.
- The decision will be at the discretion of the faculty research adviser and there is no minimal GPA requirement.
- The decision or intent should be made early in senior year; the student will sign up for the Biology Senior Thesis Research (BIOL4962) in their final semester.
- All Senior Theses must be turned into the Department by the last day of classes to receive credit for the Senior Thesis course.
- The Department will prepare format guidelines and a timeframe for completing the thesis by the semester deadline.
- All students completing a Senior Thesis will be recognized at Undergraduate Research Day.
- Theses completed and turned in by the designated deadline will be considered for the Balkema Prize, judged by a faculty committee to be “Best Senior Thesis”
Students participating in the Senior Thesis Program may also be eligible to apply for the Scholar of the College Program. Students who are accepted in this program will register for a six-credit Advanced Independent Research course (BIOL 4921) each semester of their senior year.