Below is a list of Biological Sciences faculty who may have openings for undergraduates who need mentors. For more information, please contact those faculty in whose research you are interested.
Research Labs Accepting Inquiries |
Mentors |
Research Interest |
Contact |
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Bordenstein, Seth |
Genetics of animal-microbe interactions, Evolution of intraceullar bacteria, Genomics and function of bacteriophage Infectious speciation. |
e-mail |
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Broadie, Kendal |
Genetic dissection of nervous system development, function and plasticity |
e-mail |
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Catania, Ken |
Mammalian sensory systems with a focus on cerebral cortex organization, function, and development. |
e-mail |
|
Chung, Chang Y. |
Signaling Pathways Regulating Cellular Motility and Cytoskeleton |
e-mail |
|
Eichman, Brandt |
Structural biology of DNA repair and replication machinery |
e-mail |
|
Fanning, Ellen |
DNA replication and damage repair in mammalian cells |
e-mail |
|
Friedman, Katherine |
Maintenance of chromosome ends by telomerase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. |
e-mail |
Funk, Daniel J.
|
Speciation; ecological specialization; phylogenetic diversification; molecular evolutionary genetics; herbivorous insect biology, ecology, and evolution |
e-mail |
|
Gamse, Joshua T. |
Left-Right Asymmetry in the Zebrafish Brain.
|
e-mail |
|
Graham, Todd |
Protein transport, sorting and organelle biogenesis |
e-mail |
|
Hillyer, Julian |
Insect immunity; biology of disease-causing pathogens in mosquito vectors. |
e-mail |
|
Janetopoulos, Chris |
Polarity during cell migration and cellular division |
e-mail |
Johnson, Carl H. |
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Biological Clocks |
e-mail |
|
McCauley, David E |
Population-Level Studies in Plants and Insects |
e-mail |
|
McMahon, Douglas G. |
Molecular neurobiology of the visual and circadian systems of the retina and brain. |
e-mail |
|
Miller, David |
Molecular Neurobiology, Neural Specificity, C. elegans, Developmental Biology, Gene Regulation, Genetics, Genome, Genomics, Mutation, Neuroscience, Receptor, Signal Transduction, Transcription Factor |
e-mail |
|
Page, Terry |
Neurobiology of circadian rhythms |
e-mail |
|
Patton, James G. |
Alternative splicing and the control of gene expression; vertebrate microRNA function; gene therapy |
e-mail |
|
Rokas, Antonis |
Phylogenetics, Molecular Evolution, Comparative Genomics, Origins of Multicellularity in Eukaryotes, Evolution of Genetic Pathways in Fungi |
e-mail |
|
Rollins-Smith,Louise |
Innate Immune Defenses. Developmental and Comparative Immunology |
e-mail |
|
Singleton, Charles |
Cell-environment communication during development. |
e-mail |
|
Stubbs, Gerald |
Molecular structure of viruses, particularly filamentous plant viruses; protein crystallography, fiber diffraction |
e-mail |
|
Webb, Donna |
Cellular Neurobiology, Signal Transduction Pathways that Regulate Adhesion and Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Migration and Synapse Formation, Neurobiology |
e-mail |
|
Zwiebel, Larry |
Molecular Genetics and Neurobiology of Olfaction in Drosophila and Disease Vector Mosquitoes |
e-mail |
View Labs Possibly Accepting Students
Majors in Biological Sciences are encouraged to carry out research projects for credit. Typically, students start with either an Introduction to Research (BSCI 280) in the sophomore year, or Directed Laboratory Research (BSCI 283) in the sophomore or junior year. Other sequences are possible; consult the catalog for prerequisites.
A typical progression is 280, followed by 283 then one or more semesters of 286, depending on the level of interest in research that a student has. 280 is an introduction to research intended for the student to become familiar with the principal current projects and publications of a research laboratory. This usually entails reading primary literature papers either from the lab or from labs doing very similar research. The student should learn about the aims and projects of the lab, the organism being studied, the significance and importance of the research, how it fits with other research in the field, what methods and techniques are used to address the questions being examined, and the current status of what is known and what is unknown in the field.
283, directed research, is taken after 280. This course is to provide the student with an opportunity to participate in original laboratory research including problem definition and experimental design, performance, and interpretation of results. This course attempts to provide experience in all of these areas culminating in a written presentation in the form of a scientific journal article. The research is performed under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor. It is expected that during the directed research semester the student will make a substantial intellectual contribution to the goals of part of the mentor's research program. The mentor will define the initial problem and design the first experiments to be performed by the student. As the semester progresses, it is hoped that the student will begin to develop the necessary skills to define a problem independently and to plan and carry out meaningful experiments.
286 is independent research and is taken after 283. Independent research is defined as scholarly activity that includes the conception and execution of a project by the individual student, with minimal input from the mentor. Although independent in activity, the student enrolled in an Independent Studies course has frequent and regular supervision by the sponsoring faculty member. Usually, the research expands and builds upon the research undertaken in the 283 course, and it is a continuing development of the independence shown in 283. Reading and writing are again important ingredients of independent study but this course also provides more opportunities for conceptualizing and demonstrating originality.
The Department of Biological Sciences has many opportunities for summer research. Students may be paid or they may carry out research for credit, and there are several specific summer research programs in which students may participate.
These programs offer exceptional opportunities to begin research or to continue a research project started during the school year. They are available to students at all levels, although some programs give preference to rising seniors. Most programs last approximately 10 weeks and include a stipend. All students in residence during the summer are encouraged to attend special summer seminars, designed to complement our various summer programs.
If eligible, students are advised to apply to more than one program. In all cases, students should first make arrangements with an individual faculty member or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Many labs within our department seek undergraduate research assistants to participate in ongoing research programs. As part of the research team you will gain valuable experience and have opportunities to interact with the research community. Research assistant schedules are usually flexible, and students who are enthusiastic about the research are frequently given the opportunity to work on their own projects. In addition, paid research positions can lead to research for credit in later years. You can apply for a paid undergraduate research assistant position by contacting a professor directly. If you do not have a specific lab in mind, you can search the Student Employment Office website for available positions.
Caution:
Research opportunities also exist in many Vanderbilt University Medical School Departments, but students are reminded that research in other departments cannot count toward Biological Sciences majors as there is no way for the department to evaluate said research. It is therefore not possible for a project begun on a paid or voluntary basis in another department to become an Honors project or a research project for credit toward the major. Doing research in Medical School labs are worthwhile experiences for students with interest in research; simply remember that such experiences will not count toward course credit.
Each semester, there are a number of teaching assistant positions available to senior and second semester junior students. Applicants must be majoring in Biological Sciences or a closely related field with a concentration of courses in Biological Sciences. Serving as a TA provides an opportunity for those considering graduate school or a career in teaching biology to gain experience. It is also an honor reserved for outstanding students in the department. For additional information about specific duties for each course, contact the lab coordinators: Dr. Denise Due (BSCI 100/ 105) or Dr. Steve Baskauf (BSCI 111).
If you would like to apply for a TA position, please submit an application to Leslie Maxwell in the Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B 351634.
Tutors are needed for the introductory and intermediate level BSCI courses. For information, click here.
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