Catalyst Seminar
BSCI 279C
Spring 2007


Class schedule:
 

Date Topic, readings and assignments
Jan. 25 Why? The role of undergraduate research experiences in your professional development

Student Survey Part 1

Readings for Feb. 1: Genetically altered foods 

Assignment for Feb. 9: Write abstract and keywords for a Science or Nature paper written by a UM faculty member

Feb. 1 What? The philosophy of research and the scientific method

Readings for Feb. 8:
Ch. 1-2
Ch. 3 (optional; understanding statistics)
Ch. 5, pp. 111-120 (editing)
Ch. 6, pp. 122-126 (writing summaries)
Ch. 8, pp. 208-209 (writing an abstract)
 

Feb. 8 How? Finding the right kind of undergraduate research opportunity

Peer review of abstract assignment

Abstract assignment due

Assignment for May 4: Faculty profiles

Readings for Faculty profile assignment:
Ch. 4 (Citing sources)
Ch. 5 (Revising)
Ch. 7 (Writing essays and term papers)

Feb. 15

Faculty research presentations

Feb. 23 Final revision of abstract due

Faculty research presentations

Mar. 1

Faculty research presentations

Mar. 8 Faculty research presentations
Mar. 15 HHMI Undergraduate Research Symposium
4:00 PM     Colony Ballroom, Stamp Student Union

Assignment: Interview two HHMI Undergraduate Research Fellows

Mar. 22 Spring Break - no class
Mar. 29

Ethics in science

Readings for today's class
     Scientific ethics - from a faculty web site
     Mentor vs. Protege - from the Chronicle of Higher Education

Readings for Apr. 6:
Ch. 6, pp.126-129 (writing critiques)
Ch. 9 (writing a research proposal)
Appendix G. Sample Form for Peer Review

Apr. 5 Visit by Camille Stillwell, National Scholarships Office

How to write a great grant proposal 

The grants review process 

Grant review panels 

Assignment for Apr. 19: Read, evaluate and discuss proposals; make funding recommendations

Apr. 12 Wrap up

Student Survey Part 2

Faculty profile outline (list of papers and the thread that links them) due

Apr. 20 No class

Grant review panel assignment due

Apr. 26 No class
May 3

No class

Faculty profile assignment due