Resources: Independent Research

Research experience is a valuable part of a biology education. It helps students understand what being a biologist involves and provides some practical laboratory training. Most undergraduate students who have done research say that it has helped them make an informed choice about their future career goals. However, it is very difficult to get research positions without previous experience. Therefore, the Biology Colloquium is offering its students the opportunity to do research. No prior experience is required. Some of the research locations that our students have been placed at in the past include the Field Museum, the Institute for Tuberculosis Research and a variety of labs here at UIC.

Give students a basic understanding of research principles
Help students make informed choices about their future educational and career goals
Help students develop positive attitudes toward the process of research
Create an opportunity for positive interaction between students and researchers
Build a bridge between classwork and research

On the first day of BioS 196, fill out the student information sheet and be sure to hand it in by the end of the class.
Come to the Biology Colloquium Office (SES 3360) on the announced day to read through the listing of independent research opportunities and to choose a faculty member you would like to work with.
It will then be your responsibility to contact and meet with that faculty member to work out the details of the research.
Finally, you will need to see your undergraduate advisor who will formally register you for the course.
Remember that all this has to be done by the end of the second week of the semester!

For More info, contact the Independent Research Coordinator

Introduction to Research (BioS 199) is a 1 hour credit course that is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory depending on several criteria. Students are expected to contribute between 6-8 hours of labwork per week. At the end of the semester, students are to write a 3-5 page report on their research experience. Satisfactory completion of the course depends on the number of hours spent on labwork and on the quality of your report (as evaluated by your faculty research advisor, the BCQ faculty advisors, the BCQ student coordinators, and the BCQ independent research coordinator).

We are always looking to expand our list of sponsors so that we can present our students with a wide variety of research opportunities. Our students' interests are broad and include ecology, genetics, molecular biology, zoology, and biochemistry just to name a few. We also have a large number of students that are interested in the various health fields such as medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and optometry. If you are willing to assist the Biology Colloquium by offering research positions or even giving a small group seminar or a large group lecture, consider filling out our Faculty Interest Form.