Research

Research and other internships are a wonderful way of getting hands on experience in your area of student interest. The Biology department encourages its majors to get involved with research/internships either on or off campus.

Credit can be applied (but not necessary) for research/internships, if desired, through two options.

• BIOL 495 Biological Research—Prerequisites: BIOL 241 and BIOL 242. (2 or 4)
• BIOL 496 Internship—Prerequisites: Biology major with at least junior standing and pre-approval by the Biology Department Chair. (2 or 4)

The Department informs majors of off-campus research/internships through the majors’ email list serve, the bulletin board near room 217, and the Biology Department website.

Health Professions

Biology students interested in health professions often take SCI 229 Internship/Seminar in the Health Professions an internship spending time "shadowing" a health professional. This provides insight into what is involved in practicing the day by day aspects of the profession. Biology students often find health professions internships in the states or abroad. See links on this site for further internship information.

Faculty/Student Collaborative Research

Wheaton College Biology faculty have designed their research projects so that undergraduate students can participate in a way that allows them to understand the processes involved in experimental design and to develop laboratory skills. During the academic year, students may become involved either as volunteers or for academic credit. They become familiar with a particular aspect of the mentors research and, with faculty input, write a proposal describing the background, rationale and proposed experiments.

Each student learns the necessary laboratory techniques from the mentor or from other students who have experience and are working in the mentor's laboratory. Students may do this program during any phase of their time at Wheaton but several have begun to participate in their freshmen year and have continued to do research until their graduation.

Before having this type of research experience, many students view biology as a series of topics or facts to be remembered but have little understanding of the scientific process that had been used to develop the current models of biological structures and functions. Most students, who have this experience, find that they have a better understanding of how science works including the limitations and applications or the scientific process. This understanding helps them to relate the scientific method to other ways of knowing and to their Christian faith.

Students are encouraged to present the results of their research at scientific meetings and to publish journal articles in collaboration with the faculty mentors. Several students have presented research results at the national meeting of the National Council for Undergraduate Research, the Argonne Science Symposium and the annual meeting of the Federation of Experimental Biologists. Some students are publishing papers with their faculty mentors. Click here for more information on Biology Faculty Research.

Wheaton College Science Division Summer Research

Students also have opportunity to work with faculty during the summer. Each summer the Science Division of Wheaton College provides opportunities for students to conduct funded research with Wheaton faculty members. Students work for 8-10 weeks during the summer conducting research with faculty mentors. They receive a stipend provided by various sources of funding to the College and free Housing provided through the College.

The Selection Process

During the academic year students have many opportunities to learn of the research being conducted by their professors, and often they may even be able to begin doing research with them. Students who are interested in participating in the Summer Research Program should contact faculty members directly and express their interest. If a faculty member has research opportunities available for the summer, the student and faculty member may jointly file an application for the Summer Research Program.

Benefits of Participating

Students who do Summer Research derive both short- and long-term benefits from their participation. Students learn important scientific concepts, master new skills, and get first-hand exposure to the world of scientific research. This experience enriches their education and also helps them to know if a career involving research might be right for them.

The long-term benefits include those that relate to success in the future. Students routinely find that it is beneficial to list research experience on applications for graduate school, medical school, jobs, and research opportunities at other institutions. Success in one area often leads to successes in other areas as well! Often, in addition to simply completing the project, students have the opportunity to present their research at scientific meetings or even to co-author a publication with their faculty mentor. Such accomplishments are well worth adding to one's resume.

A final benefit of conducting research is sharing in the process of discovery with other scientists. For faculty members at Wheaton, making a scientific discovery is more than just an academic achievement - it's a way of seeing God at work in his creation!