A Real World Experience For A Real World Experience For Biology Majors at CBU: Senior Biology Majors at CBU: Senior

ResearchResearch

Malinda E.C. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Malinda E.C. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Associate Professor

Biology, CBUBiology, CBU

August 17, 2000August 17, 2000

So you want a So you want a Career in Biology? Career in Biology?

Basic ParadigmBasic Paradigm

Freshman YearFreshman Year– Principles of BiologyPrinciples of Biology– Chemistry, Math, EnglishChemistry, Math, English

Sophomore YearSophomore Year– Biological Career ChoicesBiological Career Choices– Biology ElectivesBiology Electives– Chemistry, Physics, Social ScienceChemistry, Physics, Social Science

Basic ParadigmBasic Paradigm

Junior YearJunior Year– Junior SeminarJunior Seminar – Genetics, Applied Statistics, Chemistry,Social Genetics, Applied Statistics, Chemistry,Social

Science Elective, Religious Studies, Science Elective, Religious Studies, PhilosophyPhilosophy

Senior YearSenior Year– Senior ResearchSenior Research– Finish Biology Electives, other General Finish Biology Electives, other General

Education ElectivesEducation Electives

Biological Career ChoicesBiological Career Choices

This course is designed to introduce the This course is designed to introduce the wide range of opportunities available with a wide range of opportunities available with a biology degreebiology degree

First introduced in Spring 1999First introduced in Spring 1999 This class meets once a weekThis class meets once a week

– Students take and discuss results from the Students take and discuss results from the Meyers-Briggs ExamMeyers-Briggs Exam

– Outside speakers, field trips, students volunteer Outside speakers, field trips, students volunteer in two different areas of biologyin two different areas of biology

Examples of Student Examples of Student PlacementPlacement

Explorer Program Baptist Memorial HospitalExplorer Program Baptist Memorial Hospital

– Leslie McKeon, Director of programLeslie McKeon, Director of program PharmacyPharmacy NursingNursing SurgerySurgery Physical and Occupational TherapyPhysical and Occupational Therapy Clinical Laboratory and RadiologyClinical Laboratory and Radiology

– This program leads into Rehabilitation Specialist This program leads into Rehabilitation Specialist Positions at BMHPositions at BMH

Junior SeminarJunior Seminar

Seminar Series consists of Seminar Series consists of presentations from researchers from the presentations from researchers from the Memphis Area Memphis Area

Students meet and discuss research Students meet and discuss research with these investigatorswith these investigators

Students write a research proposal on Students write a research proposal on an area of interest with a mentor of their an area of interest with a mentor of their choicechoice

Senior ResearchSenior Research

In the summer between the junior and In the summer between the junior and senior year students conduct research. senior year students conduct research.

Research can be on clinical or basic Research can be on clinical or basic science topics and the research can be science topics and the research can be conducted in Memphis or at other conducted in Memphis or at other Institutions outside of Memphis.Institutions outside of Memphis.

This program allows students Real This program allows students Real World Experiences in ResearchWorld Experiences in Research

Senior ResearchSenior Research

Institutions that have had recent CBU Institutions that have had recent CBU studentsstudents– University of TN, MemphisUniversity of TN, Memphis– LSU New OrleansLSU New Orleans– St Jude Children’s Research HospitalSt Jude Children’s Research Hospital– Smith-NephewSmith-Nephew– University of MemphisUniversity of Memphis

What is next after the What is next after the Completion of Research?Completion of Research?

The students spend 250-300 hours The students spend 250-300 hours during the summer working on their during the summer working on their project.project.

In the Fall Semester of their Senior Year In the Fall Semester of their Senior Year they begin to write up a journal style they begin to write up a journal style research article. By the end of Fall research article. By the end of Fall semester they have a completed rough semester they have a completed rough draft.draft.

The last HurdlesThe last Hurdles

Spring semester Senior YearSpring semester Senior Year– Abstracts submitted for TN Academy of Abstracts submitted for TN Academy of

Science Regional Meeting--Feb.Science Regional Meeting--Feb.– TN Academy--MarchTN Academy--March– CBU Poster Session--AprilCBU Poster Session--April– Major Field Exam-- AprilMajor Field Exam-- April

West TN Academy of ScienceWest TN Academy of Science

Regional meeting involving Rhodes, Regional meeting involving Rhodes, Union, University of Memphis, CBU,and Union, University of Memphis, CBU,and LeMoyne Owen. LeMoyne Owen.

Papers are presented in the areas of Papers are presented in the areas of Biology, Chemistry and Biology, Chemistry and Physics/Physical SciencesPhysics/Physical Sciences

TN Academy 1998 TN Academy 1998 Union UniversityUnion University

Pre-Meeting Get TogetherPre-Meeting Get Together

TN Academy 2000TN Academy 2000

Key Note SpeakerKey Note Speaker

Poster Session Poster Session

CBU Poster SessionCBU Poster Session

Funding of ResearchFunding of Research

NIH and NSF grants from MentorsNIH and NSF grants from Mentors Research To Prevent BlindnessResearch To Prevent Blindness Pharmacological Association FellowshipPharmacological Association Fellowship Crane Vision FellowshipCrane Vision Fellowship MIRT Grant from NIHMIRT Grant from NIH

– International Sites of Clinical and Basic International Sites of Clinical and Basic Science ResearchScience Research

Potential Funding Sources NSFPotential Funding Sources NSF

The Results:The Results:

CBU Biology Graduates experience what CBU Biology Graduates experience what a Career in Biology is all about.a Career in Biology is all about.

Students have experienced all aspects of Students have experienced all aspects of presenting research results.presenting research results.

Better prepared for graduate training.Better prepared for graduate training. Laboratory and Clinical Experience.Laboratory and Clinical Experience. Experiences help in the decisions on Experiences help in the decisions on

what to do.what to do.

Field WorkField Work

Lab WorkLab Work

Visit the Lab More Often!Visit the Lab More Often!