Morimoto Undergraduate Research Seminars
Morimoto Undergraduate Research Seminars are held every
week. This seminar series is organized by and for the
undergraduate students working in the Morimoto Lab to
provide an opportunity to present and discuss their
own research work.
The MURS group for Summer
2007
Front row: Silvia McCandlish, Chris D'Angelo, Lalith
Polepeddi, Tyler Cornelius, Micahel Schieber, Lindsay
Allan
Back row: Carrie Clendaniel, Erin Roberston, Jenn
Tsau, Happy Thakkar, Matt Fishman, Rikki Gaber, William
Bae, Kadir Carruthers
Your MURS Questions Answered
Why do undergrad research?
Participating in undergraduate research both reinforces
and enhances what students learn in the classroom. Undergraduate
research offers the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge
that are not available in a traditional classroom. One
is able to obtain hands-on experience and a greater
in-depth understanding of the field in which they are
interested. Also, in order to graduate with honors,
one has to write a senior thesis. Students can write
their thesis using the data they have gathered during
their time in the lab. The entire experience will help
one decide if they enjoy research and if they would
like to pursue it further in the future. Undergraduates
who participate in research are at the forefront of
science, take part in discoveries, and find it to be
one of their most rewarding and exciting experience
as an undergraduate.
Why at the Morimoto lab?
Research in the Morimoto lab is a particularly enriching
experience. Although it is very challenging and there
are high expectations, this is only because undergraduates
are treated as equals and are given a level of freedom
and choice that requires a higher degree of responsibility.
In the Morimoto lab there are graduate students and
postdoctoral fellows from all over the world who are
very knowledgeable in their fields. As an undergraduate
researcher you will have the opportunity to learn from
them, but you will also be treated as a peer. A particularly
exciting aspect of working in the Morimoto Lab is that
although you will begin by working with a postdoctoral
fellow or a graduate student, you will have the opportunity
to choose a project that interests you.
What is a thesis and how does a thesis come
about?
A thesis is a culmination of your research in which
you will tie together all your experiments, discuss
the background literature on your project and present
and discuss data. The thesis should define the central
question and its place in the context of what was previously
known, discuss the experiments to be carried out, analyze
and discuss the results of the experiments, and discuss
the significance of the research as well as possible
future directions for related research. Students must
complete a thesis in order to graduate with honors.
Getting grants to support your research
Northwestern University undergraduate research grants
offer students the opportunity to fund their own research.
Grants are available throughout the year although most
students choose to apply for a summer grant. With the
guidance of your research mentor, you must write a proposal
and submit it to the Undergraduate Research Grants Committee,
or one of the other grants offered such as the Erwin
Macy award. The proposal should define the question
or focus of your research, describe the methods that
will be used, and explain the importance of the issues
that will be addressed. Summer research grants provide
up to $3,000 to cover student living expenses and research
costs and specify that there must be at least eight
weeks of fulltime research. Academic year grants provide
up to $1,000 for students pursuing a research project
(usually in 398 or 399) with the supervision of a faculty
member. In addition to Northwestern University, undergrads
may apply for outside grants and scholarships on a national
level.
Fellowship Links:
Research Grants For Undergraduates (Academic Year and
Summer)
http://www.northwestern.edu/undergrad-research/
Undergraduate Research Scholarships in WCAS
http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/advising/awards/research.html#macey
Scholarship Awards in Biological Science
http://www.biosci.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/opportunities.html
What do Northwestern undergrads do with their
research experience?
Northwestern undergraduates use their research experience
to pursue and develop their interests in the sciences.
Although most students will go on to graduate school
to pursue research further, some use their experience
and apply the skills they have learned to other fields,
such as medicine, patent law, and industry.
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