Undergraduate Research at TRU

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Undergraduate Research at TRU

• What is research ? Why would I want to do it?

What options do I have for incorporating research
into my degree?
Application and admission
How do I find a supervisor and a project?
Timelines
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What is research?
Answering a question about how the world works
Original - No one else knows the answer!
Will involve
Asking an interesting researchable question
Library work for background- what is already
known?
Experimental design - how to answer the question
Hands on work - lab and/or field
Analysis, interpretation, and presentation of
results
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Why would I want to become involved with research?
Interest in a specific project
Active learning/ semi-independent
Challenging/exciting
One on one interaction with faculty
Experience research before committing to a
Masters or Ph D program
Resume building
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What options do I have for incorporating research
into my degree?
Honours Programs (Biology, Chemical Biology, NRS)
Directed Studies
126 credits required for graduation
BIOL/CHEM/PHYS 448-3 generally one
semester project
BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 398-1 BIOL/CHBI/NRSC
498-2 Honours Seminars
Included in 120 credits required for graduation
BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 499-6 Honours Thesis
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Options for Research admission requirements
Directed Study

• -A course designed to allow students to
  undertake an investigation on a specific topic as
  agreed upon by the faculty member and the
  student. Permission of the supervisor and
  co-supervisor required.
• generally B or better in most appropriate
  prerequisite course
• application to departmental committee, including
  proposal with outline of costs

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Options for Research admission requirements
Honours Program

• - GPA of at least 3.0 (3.33 for NRS)
• - at least B- in all required Majors and
• English courses in years 1-3 of the program
• Permission of supervisor and co-supervisor
• Application to departmental committee,
• including proposal with outline of costs
• - BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 398-1 or equivalent

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Options for Research evaluation
Directed Studies

• Evaluation Based on
• written report
• poster presentation
• lab/field skills

Specific results of the study are not as
important as the students initiative, effort,
and creativity in carrying out the project and
the quality of written report and poster
presentation.
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Options for Research evaluation
Honours Program

• Evaluation based on
• written proposal
• written thesis and oral defense
• poster presentation
• lab/field skills
• participation in seminar activities

Specific results of the study are not as
important as the students initiative, effort,
and creativity in carrying out the project and
the quality of written report, oral defense and
poster presentation.
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Honours vs 448?

• The Honours advantage BSc (Hons)
• - more prestige
• more favorably regarded for entrance/scholarships
  to grad school
• more independence with research project
• more recognition for hard work
• Downside
• more work expected (research, oral defense)
• more credits more time
• more credits more expensive
• more stringent entrance requirements

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Finding a Supervisor and Research Project
Talk to potential supervisors - your
professors, Department Faculty- (see Department
Web sites for research interests) - personal
contacts with other qualified people
(Ministries, Wildlife Park, Employers) (co-superv
ision with faculty member required) Attend TRU
Science Seminars (Thurs. 1230, S373) and/or
Environmental Studies Seminar (Mon. 1230)
and/or Introduction to Research Seminar (Thurs.
1230)
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Finding a Supervisor and Research Project

• Remember
• Supervisors can only take a limited number of
  students they are looking for the individuals
  who will do the best job, or will get the most
  out of the project.
• -There is a formal application process for all
  Honours Programs and some Directed Studies
  (Biology) .

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New Seminar Course

• BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 398- Introduction to Research
• (Winter 2006- scheduled Thurs 1230-120, S373)
• -Open to 3rd year students contemplating a
  research project. Required for Honours programs.
• The goal is to prepare students for writing a
  research proposal for a 4th year research
  project.
• - The seminar will focus on formulation of a
  research hypothesis and production of a research
  proposal.

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New Seminar Course

• BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 398- Introduction to Research
• Presentations by faculty and current Honours
  students on their research interests-
• overlaps Science seminar series
• Social evening to meet potential supervisors
  and talk with current students
• attend Honours talks and poster session in March

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Things to do before the project starts (3rd year)
Enroll in BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 398
Find a supervisor and agree on a project
Apply for admission (by April 15)
Complete research proposal, animal care or human
ethics protocols
Plan your courses in consultation with B.Sc.
Advisor
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Timelines- 3rd year Students (Biology Department)
April 15 Student to submit request for
Honours/Directed Studies to Eric Littley, with
preliminary research proposal By May 1
Departmental committee meets to review
applications and decide on tentative
acceptance final acceptance by May 30 May
15 Final Research proposal submitted, with list
of materials, equipment, space, supplies
needed, and a budget - Supervisor takes
initiative on generating realistic budget and
other requirements. - Supplies/space/resources
requirements to be reviewed by the supervisor
with the appropriate lab faculty - Department
will cover research costs of an average of 150
per student, in addition covering the cost of
producing the poster.
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Timelines
Second year students
- Start talking to potential supervisors and
attending seminars - For Honours, plan last two
years to fit in 126 credits
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Sources of funding
CUEF- Comprehensive University Enhancement
Fund see http//www.tru.ca/cuef/ NSERC/SSHRC/CIH
R- 16 week undergraduate fellowships availble for
students working for grantholders Supervisors
grants Co-op workterms
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Interested?
Register for BIOL/CHBI/NRSC 398- (Science
students see Eric Littley NRS Students see Gary
Hunt) 1st meeting will be Thurs. Jan 19 1230-
120 pm Room TBA Questions? See Mairi
MacKay mackay_at_tru.ca