 |
 |
![](http://www.swarthmore.edu/images/spacer.gif"){kind=spacer} |
|
Conducting Bio 094 research projects in the Purrington LabFor general information about conducting Independepent Research (for credit) in the Department of Biology, please refer to the Biology Majors Handbook. Please also see, "Gratuitous advice on weaseling into a research lab," and "Current and future projects in the Purrington Lab." Before students may register for a Bio 094 credit with me, students must (1) complete certain course requirements, (2) develop a full-length project proposal, and (3) demonstrate the feasibility of their experimental protocols (i.e., conduct a preliminary experiment, analyze and graph data). If preliminary experiments are not encouraging, students must delay the onset of their project for another semester. Also, during the semester prior to the Bio 094 research project, students are expected to help the current Bio 094 students (in the entire Deparatment, not just in my laboratory) with their write-ups and presentations: offer to peer-evaluate, attend practice talks, etc. Projects may be conducted during the academic school year (overview shown below, left) or during the summer (overview shown below, right). For both scenarios, students must complete a 10 page write-up of their results. Under certain circumstances, students must also make a 20-min oral presentation to the members of the Department (all 10 faculty will assign the grade).
Bio 94 projects typically involve at least 10 hours/week
in the laboratory or field. A successful Bio 094 project is largely dependent
on sticking to a schedule so that you have plenty of time to think
about your data, prepare a written report, and prepare an oral presentation.
A typical schedule (exact dates change each year) for "paper + presentation" Bio 94s conducted during the school year is as follows:
Students conducting research in my laboratory must meet with me weekly to update me on progress, to ask questions of me, and to show me their laboratory notebooks. Each Bio 94 project will be assessed on project creativity, perseverence during experimentation, laboratory and greenhouse cleanliness, legibility and completeness of laboratory notebook, adherence to above schedule, and, of course, on the quality of the write-up (and presentation, if made). Please note that Faculty leaves (sabbaticals) occur every fourth year, during which Bio 034 and and Bio 134 will not be offered (unless a leave replacement is present); I am unavailable to mentor Bio 094 projects during this time. Please see the Department's "Projected Courses" for information on faculty leave schedules; consult Darlene Bramucci (dbramuc1@swarthmore.edu) for more current version of schedule, if you have questions. Students in my laboratory are expected to attend the Senior Comprehensive Lecture Series each Friday during the Fall semesters (note: this series, "Bio 097," is required of all senior Biology Course Majors). Attendance is required so that students can become familiar with different strategies of data presentation, learn how to pitch a topic as "interesting," and broaden their perspective in biology. Students are encouraged to meet the visiting speakers, or to join host faculty member at lunches. "Some modest advice for graduate students" (Steven Stearns):
|
