|
|
|
| Contents: |
|
| Information for volunteers and 498 students |
The purpose of being a volunteer or 498 student is two-fold. First, you should gain something from the experience: a chance to learn new techniques used in biology, as well as the opportunity to see how a research project operates. Second, we should gain from your experience: that is, we should be able to use your help, the data you collect, your insight, suggestions, etc.
To make this operation a success all around, we have set up these guidelines:
Volunteers:
Volunteer help is great. However, it is only
worthwhile
to us if we can count on you. Otherwise, the time it takes us to train
you is not time well spent. So, please let us know how often you can
help.
Give us a schedule ! We can then decide what sort of activities are
most
appropriate. Please realize that while even small time commitments are
still helpful, we cannot train you to do more important (and often more
enjoyable) tasks if we only see you twice a month.
ZY
498 Students (Independent Study):
Doing research for credit is a great opportunity
for you to learn something valuable. You should realize however that
this
is not "free credit". In fact, an independent study project should be
both
rewarding and challenging. For this reason, you should understand that
much will be expected of you. How much will depend on how many hours of
credit you have arranged to get for your project, but as a general
guideline,
you should be prepared to spend about 24 hours per credit hour per
quarter
working. For example, if you take ZY498 for 5 credit hours, we will
expect
24 x 5 =120 hours per quarter of work out of you. This is about 12
hours
per week. This may include time in the lab entering data, or time in
the
field collecting data.
It is your responsibility to see that your hours
are met, and to work out a schedule which you will give us. Independent
study is just that, independent! You will be assigned to a graduate
student
in the lab, who will act as a mentor. This is the person to whom you
should
go for help first. This arrangement may be unlike what you are used to,
but provides an excellent opportunity for you to learn. Also realize
that
if you are new to the lab, you will most likely be given certain
projects
to do. However, the longer you stick around, the more independent you
will
become. Hopefully, you will eventually design and complete your own
project.
For these reasons, you may wish to consider taking only 1-3 hours
initially,
and increase your 498 hours in later quarters.
It is also your responsibility to keep yourself
current on what is going on in the lab. This means checking with Dr.
Hill
and the graduate students on a regular basis to see what needs to be
done.
It is not their responsibility to contact you. They already have plenty
to do!
The more time you can spend conversing with lab
members, the more you will learn. Feel free to attend lab meetings!
Student
evaluation:
You should keep in mind that an independent study
project is not an "automatic A". You will be expected to earn your
grade
in this "class" as with any other, and what it takes to earn that grade
will depend on your credit hours. But, as a general guideline, your
grade
will be based on the following criteria:
1) A final written paper based upon data that you
have collected or helped to collect. It should be written in the format
of a scientific journal, including statistical analyses of your data if
appropriate. As a general guideline, you should be thinking about
potential
projects and reading relevant literature within the first two or three
weeks of the quarter. You should have a draft of your paper finished
before
the end of the quarter for others to look over and improve. The grad
students
get busy at the end of the quarter as well, so if you wait until then,
they may not be available or as willing to help. We will help you with
all stages of the process, but do not wait until the last minute!!
2) An evaluation of your performance as a
researcher.
This will include evaluations of your reliability, and your effort and
willingness to learn new things.
Benefits
to students:
Research experience, whether as a volunteer or
for credit, is not only a great opportunity for you to learn, it is
essential
if you are considering continuing in this or a related field. Whether
you're
considering a job right after college, or more schooling such as a
master’s
degree, Ph.D.., or vet school, research experience is crucial. Please
keep
this in mind. If you are willing to put real effort into this project,
it may be the most valuable "class" you take in college!
Last Update August 2004