Undergraduate Research in BMB Application

Deadline: All Fall 2024 applications are due Friday, September 6, 2024 at midnight. Mentor approval forms due Tuesday, September 10th 2024 at midnight.

Process: This application should be completed with the help of your BMB research mentor (or outside research mentor and BMB faculty sponsor. 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 Chair of the BMB Research and Honors Committee. If approved, Anne Hildebrand 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.

Recent Changes to Undergraduate Research and Honors Research in BMB

Undergraduate Research in BMB and Honors Research in BMB were recently restructured following inclusion in the BU Hub. For a summary of changes, please see this document.

BMB Research Guidelines

The BMB Research Guidelines should be reviewed with your research mentor (and BMB faculty sponsor if applicable) prior to submitting this application. These guidelines outline the responsibilities and expectations of each party. There is also additional information on the "Return to Research" plan affecting research in the 2020/2021 academic year. Please read the following responsibilities for students participating in Undergraduate Research in BMB.

Responsibilities of the Student:

Application: The online application for Undergraduate Research should be filled out with the help of your research mentor (and BMB Program faculty sponsor if applicable). Your research mentor (and sponsor, if applicable) must electronically approve your submitted application. After review and approval by the Chair of the BMB Research and Honors Committee, 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 BMB degree. During the academic year, you are expected to devote a minimum of four (4) hours/week per credit to the project. During either summer term, you are expected to devote a minimum of eight (8) hours/week per credit. 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.
BMB Faculty Mentor/Sponsor: To find a BMB faculty research mentor, you can review and contact faculty listed on the BMB website, ask your assigned academic advisor for suggestions, or talk with TFs in your courses. If you find a research mentor outside of the BMB Program, you and your mentor must identify a BMB faculty member with related research interests to serve as your sponsor and liaison between the BMB Program and your outside mentor. You are expected to meet with your BMB 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 BMB faculty mentor will assign your grade (if working in an outside lab, your BMB 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 initials to confirm you have read the responsibilities of students participating in Undergraduate Research in BMB:*

Student Information

Name*

First Last

BU ID*

BU Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

BMB GPA*

A BMB GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Your BMB GPA can be found in Degree Advice in the section header "CAS Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology."

Course Information

When will you be conducting research?*

Fall
Spring
Summer 1
Summer 2

Fall/Spring Time Commitment*

In fall and spring semesters students are expected to dedicate 4 hours per credit per week to their research. Research-related work, like attending lab meetings, can count towards the time commitment. Therefore, students should dedicate a minimum of 8 hours a week for two-credit research and a minimum of 16 hours a week for four-credit research. 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 still 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 their 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 still need to submit a new application for Summer 2.

Class Year*

First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year

Credit Selection*

2 credits
4 credits

Are you applying for Honors Research (BB 401 and BB 402)?*

Please note that Honors Research in BMB requires a 3.5 BMB GPA. If your BMB GPA is less than 3.5, but may increase to 3.5 next semester, you can reapply then.

Yes
No

Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript.*

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Please note: Students enrolled in BB 401 and 402 will also be enrolled in BB 497 in the fall and BB 498 in the spring. These are the Honors seminar courses each worth 1 credit, and will count towards graduation credits, so please plan accordingly.

Honors Research Requirements*

BB 401 or BB 402 may be counted as a BMB elective. If both BB 401 and 402 are completed, these courses can instead count as the BMB Advanced Lab Elective. Students participating in BB 401 and BB 402 are required to attend lab meetings. Honors students must also write and defend an original thesis on their research and be registered for BB 497 and BB 498 to work on writing and defending their thesis. Successful completion of BB 401 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. Successful completion of BB 402 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation, and Writing-Intensive. Successful completion of BB 497 and BB 498 will earn a single Hub unit in Digital/Multimedia Communication. Please review the BB 401 and 402 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 401 and 402 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Have you done research in a previous semester?*

Prior research experience can include full-time summer UROP or research for credit.

Yes
No

Have you already done junior or senior research, or full-time summer UROP?*

Yes
No

Have you completed BB 341 or BB 351 previously?*

Yes
No

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

Yes
No

Have you completed BB 352 or BB 452 previously?*

Yes
No

Your research course is BB 140*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count as a BMB elective. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BB 140 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BB 141*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count as a BMB elective. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BB 141 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BB 240*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count as a BMB elective. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BB 240 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BB 241*

First year and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count as a BMB elective. These courses will count toward graduation credit. These courses do not fulfill any Hub units. Please enter BB 241 to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

Your research course is BB 340*

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

Your research course is BB 341*

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

Your research course is BB 350*

If not using senior research courses for the advanced lab elective requirement, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students in BB 350 are required to attend lab meetings and give oral presentations on their research to their lab. Successful completion of BB 350 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. Please review the BB 350 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 350 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BB 351*

If not using senior research courses for the advanced lab elective requirement, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students participating in BB 351 are required to attend lab meetings and take a lead in the lab and make creative contributions to projects. Successful completion of BB 351 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Please review the BB 351 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 351 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BB 352*

If not using senior research courses for the advanced lab elective requirement, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students participating in BB 352 are required to attend lab meetings and produce a final lab report on their research. Successful completion of BB 352 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Creativity/Innovation, Writing-Intensive. Please review the BB 352 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 352 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BB 450*

Two semesters of senior-level research (BB 450/451/452/453) may be used to fulfill the advanced lab elective requirement. Alternatively, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students participating BB 450 are required to attend lab meetings and give oral presentations on their research to their lab. Successful completion of BB 450 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral/Signed Communication. 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. Please review the BB 450 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 450 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BB 451*

Two semesters of senior-level research (BB 450/451/452/453) may be used to fulfill the advanced lab elective requirement. Alternatively, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students participating in their first semester of senior research are required to give oral presentations on their research at lab meetings. Students participating BB 451 are required to attend lab meetings and take a lead in the lab and make creative contributions to projects. Successful completion of BB 451 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Please review the BB 451 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 451 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BB 452*

Two semesters of senior-level research (BB 450/451/452/453) may be used to fulfill the advanced lab elective requirement. Alternatively, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students participating in BB 452 are required to attend lab meetings and produce a final lab report on their research. Successful completion of BB 452 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Creativity/Innovation, Writing-Intensive. Please review the BB 452 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 452 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

Your research course is BB 453*

Two semesters of senior-level research (BB 450/451/452/453) may be used to fulfill the advanced lab elective requirement. Alternatively, students can use one semester of four-credit research to fulfill a BMB elective. Students participating in BB 453 are required to attend lab meetings, produce a final lab report on their research, and be registered for BB 497 or BB 498 to work on presenting their research. Successful completion of BB 497 or BB 498 will earn a single Hub unit in Digital/Multimedia Communication. Please review the BB 453 Hub Guidelines. Please enter BB 453 to indicate that you have reviewed the Hub Guidelines.

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 on our BMB Faculty webpage may act as a research mentor or sponsor. Faculty without a lab can still act as a sponsor for outside research.

BMB Faculty Mentor/Sponsor*

BMB Faculty Email*

Will you be doing research outside the BU BMB Program?*

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 (if at BU) or Institution (if outside of BU)*

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 Anne Hildebrand (ahild89@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.

Briefly describe your preparation and interest in performing undergraduate research with your chosen mentor.*

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 biochemistry and molecular 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 BMB 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 discipline?*

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.

Other:*

Please explain.*

Select the area of study that most closely matches your research:*

Other:*

Please explain.*

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

Please explain.*

Check all options that have been discussed.*

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

Undergraduate Research Application (Updated 3/2023)

Recent Changes to Undergraduate Research and Honors Research in BMB

BMB Research Guidelines

Responsibilities of the Student:

Student Information

Course Information

Mentor/Sponsor Information

Research Information

Assessment Questions