Undergraduate Research
Through undergraduate research, students can get
involved in the research program of a faculty member
and gain experience
conducting real scientific studies.
Bridgewater State College and the Department of Biological Sciences support undergraduate research in multiple ways:
· Students can receive course credit for undergraduate research by taking BIOL396 or BIOL497.
· Funding for undergraduate research is available through the Adrian Tinsley Program and the Shea Scholarship Program, both administered through the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Interested in undergraduate research? Interested in the kind of research I do? If so, I’ll be happy to discuss your research interests with you. All you need to do is send an e-mail to cbloch@bridgew.edu to arrange an appointment. It will be helpful to me if, in your e-mail, you include:
· a list of biology courses you’ve taken or are taking,
· a brief description of your interests and goals.
The reason I’m asking for these documents is so I
can understand your background and make our meeting as productive as
possible. So don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of experience yet!
After all, that’s what undergraduate research is for: learning
and gaining experience. Similarly, don’t be discouraged if you don’t
yet have clear and specific research ideas. It’s a mentor’s job to help
you take your general interests and focus them into more specific
questions.
Many students don’t try to get involved in undergraduate research because they feel like they don’t have a strong enough science background or because they think for some reason they aren’t “good enough.” Remember that every researcher had to start somewhere! If you are enthusiastic and motivated, you’ll probably be fine.
Still unsure whether you’re ready? Check out my expectations for undergraduate research students:
What I expect of UR students working with me
What my UR students can expect from me
Current and Past Undergraduate Researchers
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· Danielle Byer (Fall 2007): diversity of intertidal invertebrates of Cape Cod, Massachusetts
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· Katelyn Cadoret (Spring 2010-present): body size and species packing of granivorous rodents |
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Caroline Curtis (Fall 2006-Spring 2008):
(1) effects of pyrethroid |
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· Danielle Davis (Fall 2008-Spring 2009): tests of a non-invasive sampling method for terrestrial gastropod diversity
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· Nate Hains (Fall 2010-present): metacommunity structure of leaf litter invertebrates in forest fragments in southeastern Massachusetts |
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· Joseph Kewley (Fall 2007): effects of compost fertilizers of differing carbon-nitrogen ratios on plant growth
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· Chris Perry (Spring 2010-present): effects of habitat fragmentation on woodland snails |
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· Chris St. Andre (Spring 2009): abundance and diversity of amphibians in southeastern Massachusetts ponds |
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· Daniel Schepis (Spring 2009): demographic and dietary analysis of eastern garter snakes |
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· Adam Stewart (Fall 2007): effects of species and abundance of macroinvertebrates on rates of litter decomposition |
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Jennifer Thomas (Fall 2006-Spring 2008):
nematode parasites of the tropical snail Caracolus caracolla |
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insecticides on freshwater invertebrates in southeastern
Massachusetts; (2) microhabitat preferences of the tropical
whipspider Phrynus longipes
For additional information on undergraduate research at BSC, visit the Office of Undergraduate Research.