MCDB Departmental Honors Program

Why do Honors Research?

Honors research in MCDB provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in world-class original research. This experience gives students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in lecture classes to unsolved problems in biological research. Graduation with Departmental Honors from MCDB is recognized as an outstanding accomplishment, and the experience gained from having done original research provides a significant advantage for students who wish to go on to medical school, graduate school, or a position in industry.

What are the qualifications for graduation with Departmental honors in MCDB?

• You should have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 as well as a 3.3 or higher in all courses required for the MCDB major.  (this requirement is sometimes waived for students who have done exceptionally well in their research)    

• You should have at least two semesters of undergraduate research.  This can be independent study credit or equivalent research experience.  The quality of research must be equivalent to a B or better. 

•   You must perform original research under the guidance of a faculty member, and write an Honors Thesis.  Students wanting credit for their thesis should register for MCDB 4990, Honors Thesis, during the semester they plan to defend their thesis. 

• You must defend your thesis orally in front of a three member committee that typically consists of your faculty sponsor/thesis advisor, the MCDB Honors Representative, and a faculty member in a department other than MCDB.  (www.colorado.edu/honors/graduation.html)     

What do you have to do and when?

•       Find a faculty member to sponsor your research.  You can find out about the research interests of individual faculty members by going to the MCDB Faculty page.  Students have graduated with MCDB honors for research performed in other departments (e.g., Chemistry and Biochemistry, Psychology, Environmental Biology, Integrative Physiology).

•       Be sure your research data will support an Honors Thesis.

•       File an application with the University Honors Program Office (Norlin Library Room N410) before the deadline (which is in the semester before you are to graduate).  Applications, deadlines, and additional information are available from the Honors Program office or on their website (www.colorado.edu/honors/graduation.html).

•   Contact members for your defense committee when you begin work on your thesis.  The defense committee should be set up at least three weeks before the defense date.  You are also responsible for reserving a room for your defense.

Undergraduate Research Funding

Cancer Research Fellowships (http://www.uchsc.edu/cancer/students)

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) (http://Colorado.edu/Research/UROP)

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) ((http://Colorado.edu/Research/UROP)

Biological Sciences Initiative (BURST) (http://www.Colorado.edu/Outreach)/BSI/undergrad/burst.html)