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Getting Involved
I am always on the lookout for
motivated students who are interested in getting involved in laboratory
research. If you are interested, the best way to start the process is
to contact me and set up a time that we can talk. In addition, plan to
apply through the Gonzaga Science Research Program for a position. See
the application forms and information here.
I am most interested in students who are curious about the world,
who are responsible and can work independently, and who are not afraid
to work hard to find answers to questions (see the Research
Option, below). I always like to have 2 or more research students,
but I usually have more requests than I can take. I am mainly limited
by the amount of space I have in my lab, the amount of time I have to
mentor students, and the amount of money I have for supplies.
No previous experience is necessary. If accepted, you might begin with a trial semester in which you begin to learn some lab skills and read background literature. Research during the school year requires about the same amount of time that a lab course takes (about 5+ hours per week). Veteran students may work 10-15+ hours per week, if desired.
There are several ways to make your research official. One is to sign up for BIOL 498 Independent Research, which can be a 1 credit (or more) course on your academic schedule. Full-time research in the summer can be up to 6 credits. Another is to do research as a Research Assistant and receive money through GSRP, our HHMI grant, the McDonald Work Award Program, or my own grants. See the application forms and information here.
Find out more about research opportunities at the Undergraduate
Research website and, for information about a wide range of
options, see the professional
and academic opportunities webpage.
The Research Option for Biology majors
If you are interested in research, you will want to get involved in this challenging and elite track for Biology majors. It involves getting research experience, presenting your results at a conference, taking math and statistics courses, doing science education outreach in the community, and writing up your research in the form of a thesis-like paper. See the Research Option website for all the details.
Applying for research positions
Undergraduate research at Gonzaga is currently supported by a grant from HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) for undergraduate science education and research, a Gonzaga program called GSRP (Gonzaga Science Research Program), the Robert and Claire Work Award Program, and others. For organization and administration of these programs, we have a central application process. If I am interested in considering your application, I will encourage you to apply for a position. There are forms for academic semesters and for full-time summer positions. See the application forms and information here.