Undergraduate Research in Biology Application

Deadline: Students and mentors must submit their summer 1 application and approval forms by Friday, May 23 (11:59pm). For summer 2, applications and approval forms are due Thursday, July 3rd (11:59pm). Process: This application should be completed with the help of your Biology research mentor (or outside research mentor and Biology faculty sponsor. The application is more in-depth as you get further in the research sequences. After submission, your mentor (and sponsor if applicable) will need to approve your application via the email link they are sent. Your application will then be reviewed by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. If approved, undergraduate program staff will register you for the course and send you a confirmation email.

Note: This application does not save your responses if you close the tab. You may wish to work in a separate document and then copy & paste your answers when you're ready to submit.

Biology Research Guidelines

The Biology Research Guidelines should be reviewed with your research mentor (and Biology faculty sponsor if applicable) prior to submitting this application. These guidelines outline the responsibilities and expectations of each party. Please read the following responsibilities for students participating in Undergraduate Research in Biology.

Responsibilities of the Student:

Application: The online application for Undergraduate Research should be filled out with the help of your research mentor (and Biology Department faculty sponsor if applicable). Your research mentor (and sponsor, if applicable) must electronically approve your submitted application. After review and approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, you will be registered for the research course indicated in your application and you will receive an email confirmation.
Research: Research projects must involve laboratory research appropriate to the Biology degree. During the academic year, freshmen and sophomores are expected to devote a minimum of 2-3 hours/week per credit to the project, and juniors and seniors are expected to devote 3-4 hours/week per credit to the project. During either summer term, these numbers are doubled to account for the condensed nature of the summer terms. Other research-related obligations like lab meetings may count towards this time commitment. Please note: you are not permitted to be paid (e.g., through UROP) and receive academic credit at the same time.
Biology Faculty Mentor/Sponsor: To find a Biology faculty research mentor, you can review and contact faculty listed on the Biology website, ask your assigned academic advisor for suggestions, or talk with TFs in your courses. If you find a research mentor outside of the Biology Department, you and your mentor must identify a Biology faculty member with related research interests to serve as your sponsor and liaison between the Biology Department and your outside mentor. You can find a sponsor by looking through the list of faculty on the biology website and identifying someone who is doing similar research.You are expected to meet with your Biology faculty mentor/sponsor on a regular basis during the semester (at least 2-3 times) to discuss expectations, your research progress, and any issues or questions that you may have regarding your research experience.
Grading: Your research mentor (and sponsor, if applicable) should outline the grading requirements with you before the semester starts. At the end of the semester, your Biology faculty mentor will assign your grade (if working in an outside lab, your Biology sponsor will consult your outside research mentor before assigning the grade).
HUB requirements: Students earn general education credit (Hub units) while performing Undergraduate Research. The Hub units earned will build with each continuing semester or research. The specific Hub units are described separately for each course.

Please enter your intitials to confirm you have read the responsibilities of students participating in Undergraduate Research in Biology:*

Student Information

Name*

First Last

BU ID*

Major*

If other, write your major here:

BU Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Hidden

Will you be conducting research remotely?

Yes
Yes, but I have met with the Biology DUS to discuss my project and it was approved.
No

Please contact Professor Dean Tolan (tolan@bu.edu), Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biology, about the details of your remote research project. You should schedule a Zoom meeting with Professor Tolan, preferably at a time when your research mentor can also attend. You are expected to discuss the details of your remote project with your research mentor prior to the meeting with Professor Tolan.

You will not be able to submit this application until you have reviewed your remote project with Professor Tolan. If you would like to continue working on your research proposal in the meantime, please save your answers in a separate document.

Course Information

Semester*

Please choose the semester you will be conducting research.

Fall
Spring
Summer 1
Summer 2

Fall/Spring Time Commitment*

In fall and spring semesters, freshmen and sophomores are expected to dedicate 2-3 hours per credit per week and juniors and seniors are expected to dedicate 3-4 hours per credit per week to their research. Research-related work, like attending lab meetings, can count towards the time commitment. Students should not dedicate more hours to research than they can manage with their coursework and other obligations. Students are encouraged to work with their mentor to develop a research schedule that meets the minimum time requirements and respects the student's other obligations.

I will comply with the Undergraduate Research time commitment.

Note: If you are continuing the same Undergraduate Research project from fall to spring, you need to submit a new application for the spring.

Summer Session Time Commitment*

In summer sessions the amount of hours students are expected to dedicate to their research is 6-8 hours per credit per week. Therefore, students should dedicate a minimum of 12-16 hours a week for two-credit research and 24-32 hours a week for four-credit research. **Please also note that there is a cost per credit for research for credit over the summer, as you will be registered for a summer course.**

I will comply with the Undergraduate Research time commitment.

Note: If you are intending to continue the same research project from Summer 1 to Summer 2, you need to submit a new application for Summer 2.

Class Year*

***Please note that the class year is based on your planned graduation date, not the number of credits you have.***

First Year
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Credit Selection*

2 credits
4 credits

Are you applying for Honors Research (BI 401 and/or BI 402)?*

Yes
No

What is your major?*

Note: if your major is not on this list, you are not eligible for Honors Research in Biology.

Biology
Behavioral Biology
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, & Genetics
Neurobiology

What is your GPA?*

A GPA of 3.5 is required for Honors Research in Biology. You can check your GPA in the Student Link under Academics then Classes. You will find it at the bottom of the "Cum GPA" column.

If your GPA is less than 3.5, but may increase to 3.5 next semester, you can reapply then.

Are you starting Honors Research with BI 401 or BI 402?*

Please note that BI 401 is optional, but students intending to only take BI 402 must have completed an alternative research pathway prior to taking BI 402. Honors students will defend their thesis the semester that they’re enrolled in BI 402. Alternative research pathways include a semester of 4-credit research for credit (BI 350/351/352/450/451/452/453), or a semester of UROP, or a petition from a research mentor describing other significant research effort and accomplishments by the student in their lab. If you are enrolled in BI 401 you will be automatically enrolled in BI 402 the following semester as long as you maintain a 3.5 GPA. If you are planning to take a semester off between BI 401 and 402, notify Anne Hildebrand (ahild89@bu.edu) or Melissa Mele (mmele@bu.edu).

BI 401
BI 402

Would you like to take BI 497 (fall) or BI 498 (spring)?*

Honors students must also write and defend an original thesis on their research and be registered for BI 497 or BI 498 to work on writing and defending their thesis. Please note that these are identical seminars worth 2 credits each and students will only take 1. The only difference is when the seminars take place (BI 497 in the fall and BI 498 in the spring). It is recommended students take BI 497 if possible to give the most time to work on their theses.

BI 497
BI 498

Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript.*

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Honors Research Requirements*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating in BI 401 and BI 402 are required to attend lab meetings. Honors students must also write and defend an original thesis on their research in front of a faculty committee and be registered for BI 497 or BI 498 to work on writing and defending their thesis. Successful completion of BI 401 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. Successful completion of BI 402 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation, and Writing-Intensive. Successful completion of BI 497 or BI 498 will earn a single Hub unit in Digital/Multimedia Communication. Please review the BI 401 and 402 Hub Guidelines.

I understand the above statements.

Have you done research for credit or full-time summer UROP in a previous semester?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BI 350, BI 340, or full-time summer UROP?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BI 341 or BI 351 previously?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BI 341 or BI 351 previously?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BI 340 or BI 350 previously or done full-time summer UROP?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BI 341 or BI 351 or BI 451 previously?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BI 352 or BI 452 previously?*

Yes
No

Your research course is BI 140*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count toward biology electives or toward the three-lab requirement. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BI 140 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BI 141*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count toward biology electives or toward the three-lab requirement. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BI 141 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BI 240*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count toward biology electives or toward the three-lab requirement. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BI 240 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BI 241*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count toward biology electives or toward the three-lab requirement. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BI 241 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BI 340*

Two-credit junior research will not count toward biology electives or toward the three-lab requirement. This research will count toward graduation credit. Students in BI 340 are required to attend lab meetings in their lab. Successful completion of BI 340 will earn a single Hub unit in Research & Information Literacy. Please review the BI 340 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 340 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 341*

Two-credit junior research will not count toward biology electives or toward the three-lab requirement. This research will count toward graduation credit. Students in BI 341 are required to attend lab meetings and give oral presentations on their research to their lab. Successful completion of BI 341 will earn a single Hub unit in Oral/Signed Communication. Please review the BI 341 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 341 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

You may not take BI 341 more than once, so you must now enroll in 4 credits instead of 2.

Your research course is BI 350*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students in BI 350 are required to attend lab meetings and give oral presentations on their research to their lab. Successful completion of BI 350 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. Please review the BI 350 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 350 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 350*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students in BI 350 are required to attend lab meetings and give oral presentations on their research to their lab. Successful completion of BI 350 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. Please review the BI 350 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 350 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 351*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating in BI 351 are required to attend lab meetings and take a lead in the lab and make creative contributions to projects. Successful completion of BI 351 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Please review the BI 351 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 351 to indicate you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 352*

Please note that BI 352 is a 4-credit course. Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating in BI 352 are required to attend lab meetings and produce a final lab report on their research. Successful completion of BI 352 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Creativity/Innovation, Writing-Intensive. Please review the BI 352 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 352 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 450*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating BI 450 are required to attend lab meetings and give oral presentations on their research to their lab. Successful completion of BI 450 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. Please review the BI 450 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 450 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 451*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating in their first semester of senior research are required to give oral presentations on their research at lab meetings. Students participating BI 451 are required to attend lab meetings and take a lead in the lab and make creative contributions to projects. Successful completion of BI 451 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Please review the BI 451 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 451 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 452*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating in BI 452 are required to attend lab meetings and produce a final lab report on their research. Successful completion of BI 452 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Creativity/Innovation, Writing-Intensive. Please review the BI 452 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 452 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BI 453*

Up to two 4-credit research courses may be counted as biology electives. One of these two courses can apply towards the three-lab requirement. Students participating in BI 453 are required to attend lab meetings and produce a final lab report on their research. Students in BI 453 have a co-requisite of BI 497 (fall) or 498 (spring) and will be registered for one of these seminar courses to work on presenting their research. Successful completion of BI 497 or BI 498 will earn a single Hub unit in Digital/Multimedia Communication. Please review the BI 453 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BI 453 to indicate you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Check the box below to confirm you understand that you will be registered for BI 497(fall) or 498(spring)*

I understand that I will be registered for BI 497 or BI 498 in addition to BI 453

Briefly describe your past research experience.*

List which Research for Credit courses you've taken, how many semesters of full-time summer UROP you've done, whose lab you've worked in, what you learned from each lab experience, and why you want to work in the lab that you've chosen for next semester.

Mentor/Sponsor Information

Any faculty member in the main section, Postdoctoral Associate Lecturers, or affiliated faculty section of our Biology Faculty webpage may act as a research mentor or sponsor. Faculty without a lab can still act as a sponsor for outside research.

Biology Faculty Mentor/Sponsor*

Biology Faculty Mentor/Sponsor Email*

Will you be doing research outside the BU Biology Department?*

Yes
No

Outside Mentor Name*

This should be the faculty member or principal investigator in charge of the lab. Do not list grad students or post-docs.

First Last

Outside Mentor's Department or Institution*

Outside Mentor Email*

Have you signed BU's Intellectual Property Policy?*

All students participating in BU research must read the Intellectual Property Policy found here and then sign and return this form to Melissa Mele (mmele@bu.edu) Anne Hildebrand (ahild89@bu.edu) or Erin Mullins (erinem@bu.edu). Not applicable for non-BU research.

Yes, I signed it in a previous semester.
Not yet, but I will read the policy, sign, and return the form before starting my resarch.
My research is non-BU research.

Will you be doing research with human subjects?*

Yes
No

CITI training and IRB approval are required before conducting research with human subjects.

Date CITI training completed*

IRB #*

Date of IRB Approval*

Will you be doing research with vertebrate animals?*

Yes
No

IACUC training and approval is required before conducting research with animals.

Date IACUC training completed*

IACUC Protocol #*

Date of IACUC Approval*

Research Information

Please note the following information on your research proposal should be written in your own words. Your mentor and you should be actively collaborating on your proposal and developing rough drafts, although they should not write any portions of your application, nor should you include anything directly copied from one of their papers or grant proposals without proper citations. Doing so will be considered academic misconduct and treated accordingly.

Use this field to upload a separate document with your Honors Research proposal if it will not fit in the spaces provided in this application.

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Research Project Title*

Provide an abstract.*

A brief scientific abstract is between 150-250 words and should give an overview of what your research will entail. An abstract typically includes information on the background of this research, materials & methods used, and expected results.

Describe the research problem.*

This section should be about 100-500 words. It should describe background information of the previous work by your mentor and other scientists underlying the scientific question and its significance to the field of biology. Use in-text citations for any statements of fact that are not common knowledge (see Cited Sources section below).

Clearly state your hypothesis.*

This section should be 1-2 sentences.

What research methods will be used for this project?*

This section should be about 100-500 words. It should begin with a clear “if-then” sentence as follows: “If (restate the hypothesis) is true, then (state what will happen if you perform this experiment).” This is followed by a brief discussion of the methods being employed, needed controls, etc. Use in-text citations for any sources for methods or reagents previously developed (see Cited Sources section below).

How will the data be collected and analyzed?*

This section should be about 100-500 words. It will require you to describe the format the data will be collected in (e.g., measurements taken through an electron microscope). This could include a description of the expected result if your hypothesis is supported. Be sure to describe how your data will be analyzed so as to confirm or reject any of your hypotheses. This section should end with a description of the next steps for each outcome. Use in-text citations for any proposed analytical methods previously developed by other scientists in the field (see Cited Sources section below).

Cited Sources*

This section should include a minimum of 3 citations (with in-text citations throughout the Problem, Methods, and Data Analysis sections, if applicable). This section should NOT be a simple bibliography list. It should be connected to the in-text citations in the aforementioned sections. The style can be either footnotes, citations numbers, or author-date.

Assessment Questions

The following questions are required but are only for Biology undergraduate program assessment and improvement. Your answers to these questions will not affect the approval of your proposal. Answer them to the best of your ability.

Will your project involve more than one area of biology or other scientific disciplines?*

Your project would be considered interdisciplinary if you will communicate/collaborate with other scientists/lab-mates in other disciplines.

Yes
No

Check the box for all the scientific disciplines your research draws from:*

If more than one box is checked, you should communicate/collaborate with scientists/lab-mates in the other disciplines.

Behavior
Ecology
Evolution
Biochemistry
Cellular and molecular biology
Genetics
Neuroscience
Physiology
Other

Other:*

Please explain.*

Select the scientific discipline your research is based in:*

Will you use statistical methods to analyze your data?*

Yes
No

Describe what type of statistical analysis program you will be using.*

Does the project employ computational modeling and/or simulation?*

Yes
No

Describe what type of computational modeling/simulation program you will be using.*

Have you published or presented on this research project previously?*

Yes
No

Check all options that apply to you.*

Peer-reviewed publication
First-author publication
Co-author publication
Lab presentation
Poster
Symposium talk
Other

Please explain.*

Have you talked to your research mentor about this project being published or presented?*

Yes
No

Check all options that have been discussed.*

Peer-reviewed publication
First-author publication
Co-author publication
Lab presentation
Poster
Symposium talk
Other

Please explain.*