Undergraduate Research in Biology

Students may register for BIOL 294, 494 or Honors research, BIOL 499.

Students will need to contact the faculty of interest, and meet with them. If the faculty member agrees to take you in their lab, you can register. If you are registering for Honors Research, you and the PI must decide on the title of your research project. *You will need the title to register*.

Research must be performed on the Purdue WLF campus.  During your first semester of research, please register for 1-2 credits. Students can register for 1-4 credits thereafter, for a total maximum of 9 graded credits during their undergraduate time. Expect to work 67.5 hours of time per credit, which is 4.5 hours per week. It is about 9 hours per week during an 8 week summer term. Lab time is dedicated to research, but may also include lab meetings, literature reviews, animal care, media preparation and other tasks as determined by the research director.

Majors in Biological Sciences can choose mentors in or outside the department. Students from other departments can only select faculty from Biological Sciences. Outside majors are not eligible for BIOL 497/499.

Biol 294: Appropriate for first and second year majors in Biological Sciences and students in other majors.  You must have at least a 2.5 overall GPA.

Biol 494: Appropriate for junior and senior majors from Biological Sciences who have completed the biology “core” and have taken at least one semester of organic chemistry.

Biol 497/499: BIOL 499 is a corequisite for Biol 497 and students should register for 49900 first. It is most helpful when students enroll in 49900 prior to the academic year in which they plan to take 49700. Enrollment in 49900 marks the beginning of their honors research pathway. Restricted to students with at least sophomore status in a Biological Science major with a minimum 3.0 GPA. To receive the Biology Honors degree at graduation, students in the Biology Honors research program must have a 3.0 minimum GPA and complete the following:

1. Submit a thesis and have it approved
2. Present their work twice at a scientific meeting in their discipline or at the Purdue                 Undergraduate Research Symposium
3. Complete Biol 497 twice (in spring of junior and senior year).

 

How to Register: Biol 294Res or Biol 494Res / Add One Credit

STEP 1

1. Log into myPurdue. Verify the settings in the upper right corner are set for upcoming semester.
2.  Go to the Register for Classes card, then select Scheduling Assistant.
3. On the Class Schedule page, and select Add/Drop Classes (lower left).
4. Type in BIOL 29400 RES or 49400 RES. A short drop-down menu should appear; click on the course you want.
5. Click on the magnifying glass icon at the end of that line. On the pop-up select the tab List of Classes.
6. Click the box next to your research advisor's name, then click Select on the upper right.
7. You will get a Registration Error. In the pop-up box, enter the following:  
   • "I am working for Dr. (name) and would like (number) credit(s)".
   • Enter the title of the project in the comment box, and a brief description of about 3 sentences.
   • If the faculty member of interest is not listed, please email UGBioResearch@purdue.edu, and identify the instructor we need to add.
8. Click Submit Schedule. This will send the approval for the class and number of credits to your research professor.
9. NOTE: this will register you for ONE credit. Once the one credit is on your schedule, continue to Step 2.

STEP 2 of 2: How to Request More than One Credit of Research

1. Go to myPurdue and open Scheduling Assistant, then confirm you have one credit of either BIOL 29400RES or 49400RES.
2. Go to the List of Classes Tab, and click “Grade Modes & Credits”
3. In the pop-up that will appear, click on the drop-down and select the number of credits you want to take.
4. In the second pop-up, confirm the credit change and click Submit Changes.
5. You should then go back into Scheduling Assistant in a day or two and confirm that credits (and title, professor, etc.) are correct.

How to Register: HONORS RESEARCH BIOL499

1. Log into myPurdue. Verify the settings in the upper right corner are set for upcoming semester.
2.  Go to the Register for Classes card, then select Scheduling Assistant.
3. On the Class Schedule page, and select Add/Drop Classes (lower left).
4. Register for Biol 497.
5. Register for Biol 499. A short drop-down menu should appear; click on the course you want.
6. Click on the magnifying glass icon at the end of that line. On the pop-up select the tab List of Classes.
7. Click the box next to your research advisor's name, then click Select on the upper right.
8. You will get a Registration Error. In the pop-up box, enter the following:  
   • "I am working for Dr. (name) and would like (number) credit(s)".
   • Enter the title of your research project and a brief description of 3 sentences.
   • If the faculty member of interest is not listed, please email UGBioResearch@purdue.edu, and identify the instructor we need to add.
9. Click Submit Schedule. This will send the approval for the class and number of credits to your research professor.

STEP 2 of 2: How to Request More than One Credit of Research

1. Go to myPurdue and openScheduling Assistant, then confirm you have one credit of either BIOL 499HONRES.
2. Go to the List of Classes Tab, and click “Grade Modes & Credits”
3. In the pop-up that will appear, click on the drop-down and select the number of credits you want to take.
4. In the second pop-up, confirm the credit change and click Submit Changes.
5. You should then go back into Scheduling Assistant in a day or two and confirm that credits (and title, professor, etc.) are correct.

 

 

Contact the Biology advisors in Haas for further information or contact UGBioResearch@purdue.edu.