University of Iowa
Department of Biochemistry
4-403 BSB
Iowa City, IA 52242-1109 USA phone: 877-846-8569
or 319-335-7932
fax: (319) 335-9570
biochem@uiowa.edu

Department of Biochemistry

99:155 Undergraduate Biochemistry Research

Spring 2008

last update: March 4, 2008

ALL students who plan to receive a degree with honors MUST take at least six hours of 99:155 after 99:120/130/140

Students interested in doing 99:155 research should first determine which faculty members will be taking students into their labs and which semesters they will be available (see table below; "X" indicates availability). Information about each faculty member can be found by clicking the link in the table below, or by following the Faculty link on the Biochemistry home page . These web summaries may not address the specific projects available to undergraduates, but should give an idea about the type of research being conducted. Each student should meet with three to five faculty members (three is the minimum; more than five may be necessary to identify a good fit of research interests in some cases) to discuss possible projects with. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule appointments with faculty members. Students should e-mail a list of preferences for research laboratory to the current Honors Advisor, Bryce Plapp (bv-plapp@uiowa.edu) by April 11, 2008. This list should have the students name on it and state the student's first, second and third choices for laboratory in which to do research. Faculty members will give their preferences to the Honors Advisor by April 21. Student and faculty choices will be matched and laboratory assignments will announced on April 29th.

Please note: These assignments are binding only if:

a student receives a B- or better in each of 99:120, 99:130, and 99:140, and
an average of B or better overall for the three courses.

All Honors students are required to take at least 6 semester hours* of 99:155. In some cases, students who do not meet the grade prerequisites may be allowed to take 99:155 with the permission of a faculty sponsor and the approval of the Honors Advisor. Any student concerned about this is advised to discuss it in advance with the Honors Advisor.

* It is expected that for each semester hour of credit, the student will devote to research at least 5 hrs/week/s.h. during the fall and spring semesters, and 10 hrs./week/s.h. in the summer semester. How this is accomplished varies by laboratory and should be discussed with individual faculty members. Other expectations--such as participation in regularly scheduled meetings of the laboratory, maintaining a laboratory notebook and other records of research progress, and making regular presentations of progress to the advisor--should also be discussed.

Note the following policy on taking 99:155 outside the Department of Biochemistry:

Students who enroll for 99:155 are expected to conduct research in the laboratory of a Biochemistry faculty member. Exceptions to this rule will be made rarely, and on an individual basis. Students who wish an exemption should discuss the matter with the Honors Advisor. A brief description of the planned research project will be required to document that the student will have principal responsibility for his or her project, and that the project is biochemical in focus. The Honors Advisor will consult with the proposed research supervisor before making a decision.

Honors Thesis and Symposium

All students who wish to graduate with Honors in Biochemistry will write a paper and present a seminar on their work.

Faculty Available for 99:155 Research -- Spring 2008
Faculty (with link to research interests)	Openings Available	Summer	Fall	Spring
Kris DeMali	1	X	X	X
Adrian Elcock	1	uncertain	X	X
Pam Geyer	1	X	X	X
Theresa Gioannini	1	X	X	X
Shahram Khademi	2	X	X	X
Rama Mallampalli	1 or 2		X	X
Bryce Plapp	1	uncertain	X	X
S. Ramaswamy	1	X	X	X
Nancy Stellwagen	1	X	X	X
Todd Washington	1	X	X	X
Dan Weeks	1	X		X
Marc Wold	1 or 2	X	X	X