Undergraduate Research Symposium

Under the guidance of one or two scientific mentors, each REU student performs an independent research project of her or his own design. From discussions with other REU Site Directors it is clear that the independence we give our students in formulating their own research questions is unusual among REU programs in biology. Students do not work in a vacuum, but rather receive a great deal of support and guidance from their mentors and other scientists, post docs, graduate students and research staff. The length of our program (12 weeks versus the more typical 10), our philosophical convictions concerning teamwork and mentor-student relationships, and the proven success we've had in the past all support this approach.

Once students delineate a research question and associated hypotheses, they select appropriate methods and develop a research plan. An informal presentation of research plans is made in week 2, with students and mentors receiving constuctive feedback. A written proposal is completed by the end of the third week. This is reviewed by their mentor(s) and at least one of the Project Directors. Students implement and complete the project on their own, ending with analysis and report writing.

Students write abstracts and give a 15 minute presentation in a formal Undergraduate Research Symposium at the conclusion of the program, attended by staff, students and scientists from the surrounding community (typically 45-75 in attendance). Students write final research papers during the subsequent fall that are collated and published in an online Undergraduate Ecology Research Reports publication edited by the Project Directors. This publication not only gives our students experience in seeing their work carried to completion, but also is useful in promotion and recruitment.