Undergraduate Research
Overview
Undergraduate research is one of the most powerful ways for students to learn. Working with a faculty member who is a practicing scientist, a student can gain experiences not offered by regular courses and can learn first-hand the demands of biological research. Faculty mentors can also provide career information in their area of expertise and write helpful letters of recommendation when students apply to graduate schools or professional programs. Additional information on undergraduate research at Buffalo State College is available from the campus Office of Undergraduate Research.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Biology
A) BIO 495 Independent Project or BIO 499 Independent Study.
All students can obtain credit for undergraduate research by registering for BIO 495 Independent Project or BIO 499 Independent Study. Please consult the biology faculty web pages and any accompanying information regarding undergraduate research if you would like to learn more about research opportunities in the department. Faculty members can be contacted directly by phone or email using the information on these web pages. Pam Cercone in the biology office (SC314) is also available to offer support and advice to students wishing to participate in undergraduate research. Please give yourself plenty of time to discuss research projects with faculty members if you are considering registration in BIO 495 or BIO 499. Both of these courses require formulation of a project and written permission from the faculty member who will supervise the work.
B) Summer Research Fellowships
A campus-wide Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Program supports undergraduate student research in the summer months. Students are expected to complete eight weeks of full-time research and creative activities. The USRF fellowships provide a student stipend of $2500, a faculty stipend of $1000, and up to $500 for travel, supplies, and/or equipment to support the project. This program is open to Buffalo State College undergraduates only. Applications for funding summer research through the program are usually due in March. Please contact faculty members directly to discuss this unique opportunity.
In addition to campus-wide programs, many faculty members supervise summer research. In some cases, credit can be received for undergraduate summer research. In other cases the work is done on a voluntary basis or as part of large externally funded project. Please contact faculty members directly if you are interested in conducting summer research.
