Senior Research Thesis
BIOC 498/498H
Required for the B.S. Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
The Senior Research Thesis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics is designed to provide the student with laboratory experience. Participation in research helps in choosing careers, develops mentoring relationships with faculty and other members of research groups, and is the best way to learn science. Students in the Honors College can use the senior thesis for both the B.S. Degree and for the required Honors Thesis. A minimum of two semesters of laboratory work (including a minimum of 6 units total of BIOC 498/498H credit) are required.
Students are responsible for making their own arrangements with a faculty mentor. It is recommended that students identify a mentor no later than the semester before the senior thesis research is to begin and preferably two semesters before. For guidance on the selection process refer to Approach to Selecting a Thesis Advisor.
The student with the aid of the chosen mentor must write a Senior Thesis Prospectus of not more than two pages that includes: 1) a statement of the problem, 2) background information, 3) methods to be used, 4) expected outcomes, and 5) references. Students can sign up for credit through the BMB office in BSW 362B4 after obtaining signatures from the proposed faculty mentor and one of the members of the undergraduate committee. Students wanting to work in laboratories of faculty who are not in the BMB Department must obtain permission from a member of the undergraduate committee. The process of obtaining approval of the Senior Thesis Research Thesis must be completed prior to the start of the first semester of research. This would normally be in the spring semester of your junior year.
There are to be no exams for BIOC 498(H). After one semester of research, students must submit a revised Prospectus to a member of the undergraduate committee. At least 2 weeks prior to the completion of classes for the second semester, the student must submit a thesis in “scientific paper format” (see guideline) for approval by the sponsor and by a member of the undergraduate committee. The thesis is not only the documentation of your research project, but also a scientific writing assignment. it is expected that the faculty research sponsor will work with the student on the final version of the writing. Before submission of the senior thesis, the faculty sponsor must sign the title page of the thesis (with date), signifying approval of the thesis for both scientific content, scope of the thesis, and writing style. The student should then bring the thesis to an undergraduate committee member for their approval and signature. The committee member will only approve the thesis after they have read the document. Once approved by the committee member the thesis is turned in to BMB student program office.
Students graduating in the spring semester must also present a poster of their senior thesis at a special presentation sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics during the last week of classes.
Format and Scope of the Senior Thesis
Senior
Research Thesis Approval Form
Participating
Research Faculty
Undergraduate
Program Committee |
