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Biological Sciences Department

Senior RFT at the Department of Biological Sciences

On this page you find more detailed information about the Reflective Tutorial for Seniors (Senior RFT) at the Department of Biological Sciences. For all students who declare their major after February 2009 a research project during their Experiential Component of the Reflective Tutorial in Biology (BI/MI 400E) is mandatory. This research can be done in the laboratory of one of the professors of the department, or during an internship in a research institution with an on-site supervisor and with a faculty supervisor from the department. Further details can be found in the Guidelines for the Senior Learning Community in Biology/Microbiology/Biopsychology which is handed out to every new major and which can be downloaded below. In the frame of the Reflective Tutorial in Biology (BI 400) seniors will elaborate a thesis that must follow a particular format (see guidelines). The guidelines and templates for the thesis can be downloaded below.

Downloads:

Guidelines for the Senior Learning Community (pdf file)  Download
Thesis Front Cover Template (MS Powerpoint file)  Download
Thesis Body 1 Template (roman page numbers; MS Word file)  Download
Thesis Body 2 Template (arabic page numbers; MS Word file)  Download
Thesis Back Cover Template (MS Powerpoint file)  Download


After a student declares her/his major, it is strongly recommended to collect information about the research areas of the professors of the department and to contact them for possible research collaborations. To better tailor a senior project to the wishes and capabilities of a student, some professors require students to spend at least one semester of research in their lab (usually in the frame of BI/MI 493/494: Undergraduate Research) before they enter into BI/MI 400E under their supervision.

 

Please note:  Students doing research should be aware that limited funding is available, thanks to biology and microbiology alumni.  A simple form outlining the research and projected costs should be completed and submitted to the department chair for approval.