Senior Project Information

Guidelines for Senior Projects for the Class of 2022 – Fall Semester

August, 2021

On-Sequence Comps for 2021-2022

 Experimental Senior Project

Projects that involve generating and/or working with data

Non-Experimental Senior Project

Projects that involve engaging deeply with a topic and interacting with this topic in a unique way
Planning stage
  • Discuss experimental plan with 1st reader; decide on experimental vs. non-experimental plan by Friday, August 27
  • Complete ARC/IRB forms (as needed)
  • Complete lab safety training
  • Order materials
  • Begin field/lab/data work
  • No formal proposal
  • Discuss proposal idea with 1st reader; decide on experimental vs. non-experimental plan by Friday, August 27
  • Get approval for project from 1st and 2nd readers; meet with readers on or before Friday, September 10
  • Draft proposal

Written work

(1st semester)
  • Progress report (written background; experimental plan–aims, methods; summary of results) due Friday, November 19
  • Meet with 1st and 2nd readers to discuss first semester work by Wednesday, December 8
  • Proposal due Friday, October 1
  • Meet with 1st and 2nd readers to discuss proposal and decide on expected product by Friday, October 22
  • Progress Report (including the decided-upon expected product for first semester) due Wednesday, December 8 to 1st reader

Written work

(2nd semester)
  • Primary paper (IMRAD organization) on research project due Friday, April 8, 2022
  • Meeting with 1st and 2nd readers to discuss paper to be completed by Friday, April 29, 2022
  • Review article on research topic demonstrating command of background material, understanding of vital questions in the field, and suggestions for experimental approaches for those vital questions due Friday, April 8, 2022
  • Meet with 1st and 2nd readers to discuss paper by Friday, April 29, 2022

Presentation

(2nd semester)

  • Biology Symposium talk on research project (~15 minutes) May 2-4, 2022
  • Biology Symposium talk on research project (~15 minutes) May 2-4, 2022
Final submissions
  • Abstract to Department Coordinator, thesis to Pelletier (D-Space), copy to 1st reader by Thursday, May 5, 2022
  • Abstract to Department Coordinator, thesis to Pelletier (D-Space), copy to 1st reader by Thursday, May 5, 2022

Off-Sequence Comps (finishing Fall 2021)

 Experimental Senior Project

Projects that involve generating and/or working with data

Non-Experimental Senior Project

Projects that involve engaging deeply with a topic and interacting with this topic in a unique way

Written work

(2nd semester)
  • Primary paper (IMRAD organization) on research project due Friday, November 12
  • Meeting with 1st and 2nd readers to discuss paper to be completed by Friday, December 3
  • Review article on research topic, demonstrating command of background material, understanding of vital questions in the field, and suggestions for experimental approaches for those vial questions due Friday, November 12
  • Meeting with 1st and 2nd readers to discuss paper by Friday, December 3

Presentation

(2nd semester)
  • Biology Symposium talk on research project (~15 minutes) December 6- 7
  • Biology Symposium talk on research project (~15 minutes) December 6- 7

Final submissions
  • Abstract to Department Coordinator, thesis to Pelletier (D-Space), copy to 1st reader by Wednesday, December 8
  • Abstract to Department Coordinator, thesis to Pelletier (D-Space), copy to 1st reader by Wednesday, December 8

Grading scheme for Bio 600

Non-Experimental

  • Proposal (30%)
  • Progress towards the project (50%)
  • Final progress report (20%)

Experimental

  • Progress report, written portion (40%)
  • Progress towards the report (60%)

Grading scheme for Bio 610

Non-experimental and experimental

  • Written project (1/3 of grade)
  • Scientific Scholarship during research, which the department defines as intellectual curiosity, persistence, flexibility, and participation in the senior seminar (1/3 of grade)
  • Oral defense of project in the committee meeting (1/6 of grade)
  • Senior Symposium presentation (1/6 of grade – not graded by 1st Reader)

Research Resources

Ordering Information

Other Information