The Laboratory of Genetics provides opportunities for undergraduate students to gain research experience through hands-on courses in participating labs:
GEN299 – Independent Study (Requires freshman or sophomore standing; up to 3 credits).
GEN699 – Special Problems (Requires junior or senior standing; up to 3 credits).
GEN681 – Senior Honors Thesis 1 (Requires honors candidacy; up to 4 credits).
GEN682 – Senior Honors Thesis 2 (Requires honors candidacy; up to 4 credits).
Students decide how many credits to take. Each of these courses can be taken multiple times.
These courses have special requirements for enrollment:
- The student should first reach out to faculty members of interest. You can find advice on finding and contacting a faculty advisor here. The student and faculty member should discuss projects and expectations, and agree on how a grade will be determined. Here is a suggested rubric.
- The student should then submit an Independent Study Request form online.
- The faculty member will add project details for final review by the student.
- Once the finalized form is processed, the student will receive permission to enroll in a particular section of GEN299 or GEN699.
See Frequently Asked Questions below.
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Whom should I contact if I have questions?
For help with course enrollment, contact Claire Minor.
For technical issues with forms, contact Nils Irland.
What is the deadline for enrollment?
The same course deadlines apply as with other courses.
Can I take an Independent Study course in the summer?
Yes, these courses are available in the summer. The usual tuition rules apply.
Do I need to complete safety training to work in a lab?
Yes. Everyone working in a biology lab must complete Biosafety Training, and renew their training when required. Additional training may be required for each lab. Biosafety training is not required for exclusively computational projects.
If I stay in the same lab do I still need to complete the form every semester?
Yes, you need permission to enroll each semester, and you may need to update your course option, credits, and project details.
Can I use an Independent Study course as a capstone?
Yes, with a companion course. The requirements are:
- Enrollment in 2 credits of GEN699/GEN681/GEN399, and
- Concurrent enrollment in GEN567, Research Companion Seminar (Req. prior completion of GEN466/GEN468/Biocore587).
After enrolling in Independent Study, students should contact the instructor(s) for permission to enroll in GEN567. Instructor information can be found in Course Search and Enroll.
Are there opportunities to present my research?
Yes. Here are some of the ways students can present their work:
Undergraduate Research Symposium
CALS Undergraduate Research Symposium
Can I conduct Independent Study while I'm on a research fellowship?
Yes. Several competitive fellowships are offered campus-wide and from the Laboratory of Genetics are available to support undergraduate research, and typically require enrollment in Independent Study or a similar course.