Honors

Honors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

In Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, Honors is a culminating research experience for senior BMB majors. It is the means whereby a student may do more intensive original research, become well acquainted with primary literature on a particular topic in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and successfully formulate appropriate conclusions based on data generated and relate these to the current published literature. Honors research offers an excellent introduction to graduate study in that it employs the full resources of library and laboratory.

Preliminary Activity

A student considering application for Honors must take a minimum of two credit-hours of research (BCMB 451 or 452) or an equivalent experience by the end of the second semester of the junior year; or carry out research with the faculty sponsor during the summer before the senior year. Through this research, the student, with the guidance of his or her faculty sponsor, will select a research topic of mutual interest, develop a preliminary definition of the project (including testing potential techniques employed in the research), and prepare a proposal for submission to the Program Committee by the start of the following fall semester.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Honors work, a student must have a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative and major GPA at the time of application for Honors work.

The Proposal

The project must address a question in biology of an original nature, and the proposal must outline the project, describe the significance of the project, and specify the methodology chosen for the study. A bibliography must be included, and a suitable scientific format must be used. The readers (2 faculty from within the program committee and one outside of the committee) for the project’s thesis must be specified in the proposal as well. Readers may include faculty outside of the college.

The proposal will be reviewed by the Program Committee faculty and must be approved by the majority of the members. The student will be notified of the Program Committee’s decision within two weeks. If accepted for Honors, the student must be enrolled in Honors Research in the fall and spring semester, so that the student will have completed a minimum of 6 hours of Honors Research at the end of the senior year.

Evaluation

By the end of March, the candidate for Honors must submit a credible thesis. To receive Honors, this thesis must be judged by three readers to be of high quality. The three readers are to be the faculty sponsor, a second faculty member on the Program Committee, and one outside the Committee. If the thesis is satisfactory, the student will be expected to present this work publicly at a scientific meeting either as a poster or presentation. This presentation will be evaluated by the thesis committee and must also be judged to be of high quality by the majority of the members. As determined by the faculty sponsor, the student’s overall performance in the Honors work must be at least at the A- level. Finally, to receive Honors, a student must have maintained the minimum of a 3.5 cumulative and major GPA.

A general timeline for Honors work is below:

Due Dates for Honors Projects

Wednesday, Second Week Sept.
First draft of proposal is due to sponsor and second readers by 3:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday, Third Week Sept.
Second draft is due to sponsor and second readers by 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Fourth Week Sept.
Proposal is due to the Program Chair by 3:30 p.m. (original and 3 copies)
 
Wednesday, Fourth Week Sept.
Program faculty meet and discuss proposal

Monday First Week Oct.
Student, advisor, and readers are notified by the Program Chair of the faculty’s decision (accepted, rejected, or revisions required)
 
Monday, Second Week Oct. 
Revised proposal is due to the Program Chair by 3:30 p.m. (original and 3 copies)

Wednesday, Third Week Oct.
Program faculty meet and discuss proposal

Wednesday, Fourth Week Oct.  
Student, advisor, and readers are notified of final decision (accept or reject)
 
Second Week January
Mid-course assessment: a statement by the advisor indicating whether the student is making satisfactory progress is due to the Program Chair by 3:30 p.m.
 
Second Week March
Draft of honors essay is to be delivered to second reader

Last Week March
Honors paper is due to the Program Chair by 3:30 p.m.
(original and 3 copies)
 
First Week April
Student and advisor are notified of committee′s decision (approved, rejected, or revisions required)
 
Third Week April
Revised paper is due to the Program Chair by 3:30 p.m. (original and 3 copies)
 
Fourth Week April
Student and advisor are notified of the committee′s final decision
 
First Week May
Final copy of Honors paper is due to the Program Chair by 3:30 p.m. (original and 3 copies)