Undergrad: The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

mcb The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign logo The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Main Navigation

Undergraduate Research in MCB

General Topics:

Forms:

NOTE: All forms must be processed in room 252 Davenport hall. The deadline to add MCB 290 and MCB 492 is the 10th day of class each semester. Students may not be allowed to add either of these courses after this deadline.

MCB Undergrad Research Resources

Video Of Undergrad Research Information

Learning More about Undergraduate Research

Succeeding at Research: MP3 Podcasts Undergraduate Research Workshop Handouts (PDF)

Undergraduate Perspectives on Research

Video Interviews with Undergraduate Researchers:
Undergraduate Lab Experience:
Articles by Alex Crofts (SP09 graduate MCB)

MCB UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Many undergraduate students in the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) carry out research in laboratories across the Illinois campus. The experience offers the excitement of cutting edge science and the opportunity to hone skills in analytical thinking and communication using scientific concepts and language. Undergraduate research can give you intensive practical knowledge as you work closely with scientists who do research full-time using state-of-the-art technology. It is an indispensable gauge of whether graduate studies may offer you a viable postgraduate goal. Irrespective of your career plans, your training in molecular and cellular biology stands to benefit substantially from the research endeavor.

All Students in the Biological Sciences (undeclared), MCB, MCB Honors or Biochemistry are eligible to enroll for MCB 290 credits. Note that students in the Biochemistry Specialized Curriculum should adhere to guidelines for research laid out for that major. Students pursuing MCB 290 independent Study must be in good academic standing, with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher. The research endeavor is often time intensive and necessitates strategies to ensure that a student can sustain the balance between their coursework and laboratory
studies.

Setting up an Undergraduate Research Position

To ensure that you reserve enough time to fully develop your research experience as an undergraduate, you are encouraged to look for a faculty mentor before your junior year. Hence, many students begin to search for a laboratory position during the spring of their sophomore year. However, you may start earlier if your program and academic performance allow for it. Be aware that your timing may depend on the individual professors with whom you wish to work, who sometimes differ in their preferences regarding completed courses and time commitments for students who work in their research program. The Search for MCB Undergraduate Research provides practical aspects to consider and suggested steps for your search process.

MCB 290 research may be conducted in any research professor’s program on the UIUC campus that entails aspects of molecular, cellular, physiological or biochemical studies. Note that work carried out in a non-MCB lab requires prior approval in the MCB Core Curriculum Office, 252 Davenport Hall.

Using the MCB 290 Student Profile Database

If you plan to contact MCB professors during your search for a research position, we recommend that you submit an electronic resume to the MCB 290 Student Profile Database. Your on-line resume may be completed at any time and will remain active in the database for six months. During your search, this allows you to provide uniform information to all MCB professors whose research is of interest to you and also offers convenient, on-line filing of your MCB 290 paperwork if you receive permission to work in an MCB lab. The MCB 290 Student Profile Database Handout provides instructions and tips to help you make the most of your profile. Questions regarding the MCB 290 Profile Database can be directed to mcb290help@life.illinois.edu.

MCB 290 Independent Topics

If you are a biological sciences or MCB student in good academic standing you can seek to receive MCB 290 Independent Topics credit for research conducted in an MCB or other approved laboratory at Illinois. Students in the Biochemistry Specialized Curriculum should consult information specific to that major. With the permission of any Illinois professor whose research entails molecular, cellular, physiological or biochemical studies, you may enroll in MCB 290.

During a 16 week semester, one credit hour of MCB 290 is earned for each 5 hours per week in the lab. (For 8 week summer sessions 1 hour of credit is earned for each 10 hours per week in the lab). Although a limit of 10 credit hours of MCB 290 can be applied towards the 120 hours needed for graduation, you are encouraged to continue your research for as many terms as you wish. All MCB 290 semesters (even beyond 10 credit hours) and their assigned letter grades will appear on your academic record and count in the calculation of your GPA.

The steps necessary to enroll in MCB 290 depend on your major and whether you will be conducting research in an MCB or Non-MCB lab on the Illinois campus. See the MCB 290 Independent Research Credit Handout for details regarding your eligibility and instructions for completion of the requisite paperwork to receive MCB 290 credit hours.

While the majority of students in research receive MCB 290 credit hours for their studies, some paid research opportunities are occasionally available. To explore further, check the positions posted on the University's Virtual Job Board, advertised in the MCB weekly e-newsletter, Road MAP, or speak with your faculty mentor. Note that MCB 290 credit for independent research cannot be combined with other sources of academic credit or payment of any kind.

MCB 492 Senior Thesis

Completing at least two consecutive semesters of MCB 290 Independent Topics under the guidance of the same professor will qualify you to enroll in MCB 492 Senior Thesis in your last semester before graduation. Not every student who conducts MCB 290 research chooses to culminate his or her research experience with a thesis. Those who do so submit their thesis for a grade and possibly for distinction consideration. As indicated below under Graduating with Distinction in MCB, you may qualify to submit your research thesis to the Distinction Committee. Discuss with your faculty advisor what is advisable and possible for your project. Further instructions for both the MCB 492 Senior Thesis and Graduation with Distinction are outlined in the MCB 492 Senior Thesis and Graduation with Distinction Handout.

Graduation with Distinction in MCB

To provide recognition of senior students in the MCB major, who have demonstrated excellence in both their academics and in research, the MCB Distinction Committee, composed of MCB faculty members, evaluates the quality of their accomplishments and may award the graduation honor of "Distinction in MCB" in one of three categories: Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction. Successful completion and submission of the MCB 492 Senior Thesis and a minimum GPA of 3.25 are required in order to be eligible for graduation with distinction. Complete information regarding criteria for each level of distinction and instructions for application and evaluation procedures can be found in the MCB 492 Senior Thesis and Graduation with Distinction Handout.

Video on Thesis Format and Process by Dr. Brenda Wilson

Submission Deadlines for Senior Thesis and Graduation With Distinction

In order to be considered for Graduation with Distinction in MCB you must submit, by the indicated deadlines, an Intent to Submit a Thesis Form, followed by your final research thesis, to Ms. Diane Tsevelekos in room B103 Chemical Life Science Lab. See MCB 492 Senior Thesis and Graduation with Distinction in MCB Handout for complete instructions on the submission of your Senior Thesis to the MCB Distinction Committee.

Graduation Date Intent to Submit Thesis Form Deadline Distinction Thesis Submission Deadline
Fall 2012 Monday, November 5, 2012 Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Spring 2013 Friday, March 8, 2013 Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Summer 2013 Friday, July 12, 2013 Friday, July 26, 2013

Letter of Evaluation: Your faculty research advisor must submit the original and three copies of his/her letter of evaluation of your research to Ms. Diane Tsevelekos, B103 Chemical Life Science Lab, no later than the appropriate submission deadline listed above.

No theses will be accepted after the listed submission deadline. If you miss the deadline, you will NOT be considered for graduation with distinction, but you may still receive credit for having completed a thesis. If you miss the deadline, but wish to receive credit and a letter grade for MCB 492, you may still write and submit a thesis (original) to Ms. Diane Tsevelekos, B103 Chemical Life Science Lab, by the last day of classes for the semester that you will be graduating, but only with prior approval of your research advisor and the chair of the Distinction Committee. A letter from your research advisor approving your thesis must also be submitted along with your thesis.

Graduation Date MCB 492  Thesis Submission Deadline
Fall 2012 Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Spring 2013 Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Summer 2013 Thursday, August 1, 2013