Undergraduate Research 101 (BIOL 495)

Course Scheduled: Spring 2016 (second-half semester)

Credits: 0.5 credit

Grading: S/F only

Instructor(s): Kevin Quinteros (kevinq@iastate.edu) and Erin McCall (elmccall@iastate.edu)

In this BIOL 495 section, students will learn about doing research as an undergraduate student.  Interested in learning how to get started in a research lab or in the field?  Not sure what kind of research you might like?  Ask any and all questions in this second-half semester course.

Iowa State University is a major research institution, and students in the Biology Program are encouraged to take advantage of this as part of their program of study.  Participation in biology-related undergraduate research at ISU can earn you biology credit. BIOL 299 is appropriate for introductory, closely supervised research experiences, while BIOL 499 is used for more independent research. BIOL 499 qualifies as advanced biology credit.  

In order to arrange a BIOL 299/499, students must first identify a research opportunity on campus that interests them.  Students will learn how to seek out these opportunities during  biology orientation, but they are also welcome to discuss this with their academic advisor or staff in the Biology Student Services Office (103 Bessey Hall).  The research program must have a biological science component, and most commonly, students will identify research opportunities with faculty in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) or the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB).  Once a research opportunity has been identified and secured, students may request that the faculty member arrange a BIOL 299/499 and serve as their instructor for the course.   

Requirements

The minimum time commitment is 30 to 45 hours (e.g., 2 to 3 hours per week for the 15 weeks of a semester) per credit.  BIOL 299 may be taken for 1 to 2 credits.  While BIO 499 may be taken for 1-3 credits.  We recommend that students arrange 1 or 2 credits of BIOL 499 in a given semester to balance other time commitments.  The BIOL 499 course is repeatable, but only 6 credits may be applied as advanced biology coursework*, and no more than 9 may be applied towards graduation.

* A maximum of 7 credits total from BIOL 480, BIOL 481, BIOL 490, BIOL 491, BIOL 494, and BIOL 499 can be applied towards advanced biology course requirements

Activities

Students work on a laboratory or field research project under the supervision of the BIOL 299/499 instructor or an appropriate person designated by the BIOL 299/499 instructor.  The work carried out by the student should include a substantial component of actual research and should not be limited to chores such as washing glassware or cleaning field equipment.  Research must also pertain to the biological sciences.  

Students should provide a final report of activities in a written document, an oral presentation, or a poster presentation, as determined by the BIOL 299/499 instructor.  It is strongly recommended that the BIOL 299/499 instructor review at least one draft version of the report as the student develops the final report. 

Registration and Deadlines

Students should aim to register for the BIOL 299/499 at or before the beginning of the semester they are doing the research, though other options may be possible.  The student and instructor must agree on and complete a BIOL 299/499 contract before registering for the course.  As part of this contract, the student and instructor will decide whether the course will be graded or taken satisfactory/fail.  The format of the reports, as well as deadlines for submissions of drafts and the final report, are set by the BIOL 299/499 instructor in consultation with the student.  Completed contracts should be returned to Dr. Warchola warchola@iastate.edu

BIOL 299 Contract Form.pdf

BIOL 499 Contract Form.pdf

The Importance of Research in a Program of Study

Sciences are often thought of as bodies of knowledge, or a collection of facts and data that tell us about the world.  Learning this body of knowledge is a major focus of science majors and an important component of science education, including Biology.  But all of those facts and figures came from somewhere, and the heart of the sciences is action and practice: doing research!  Engaging in undergraduate research provides students with a fuller perspective of sciences, and also provides valuable experience that is similar to what they can expect to be doing on the job once they graduate.  Students considering graduate or professional schools are strongly encouraged to get involved in a professor’s research lab, as this experience helps build a competitive portfolio for program applications.  Biology-related research experiences done with Iowa State faculty can also count directly towards a student’s degree requirements in Biology.

Getting Involved in Research

As a major research institution, there are plenty of opportunities to engage in undergraduate research at Iowa State for the students who are interested in doing so.  The Biology Program alone has around 60 faculty members between its two departments (EEOB & GDCB), most of whom have research labs; several other departments on campus also offer biologically-focused research opportunities.  

Students can reach out to Dr. Norah Warchola, Experiential Learning Coordinator who can assist you with finding a suitable research opportunity. 

You can also reach out to your advisor for assistance in locating a suitable research opportunity.  Research opportunities are sometimes posted on bulletin boards in science buildings such as Bessey Hall, but usually students need to do some networking on their own.  A good place to start is by looking at the faculty pages on the EEOB and GDCB website and learn more about what various professors are doing in their labs.  Then, use those networking skills to make introductions, express interest, and see if there are lab openings available.  

Credit for Research Experiences

Biology-related research experiences with Iowa State faculty can count directly towards Biology degree requirements.  Students can earn credit for introductory research experiences by signing up for BIOL 299, while more senior students, or those with prior experience can register for BIOL 499.  More information about setting up a BIOL 299/499.