Undergraduate Research

One of the great strengths of an undergraduate degree at MSUM in the Biosciences Department is the opportunity to become involved in faculty-mentored research. Many faculty maintain active research that involve undergraduate collaborators. With faculty permission, any student can become involved in research starting in their freshman year.

Why get involved in research? 

• Transition from learning about science to learning about being a scientist
• Formulate questions, collect and analzye data, and draw conclusions
• Present the results of your research to other scientists
• Strengthen your critical thinking and time-management skills
• Gain experience working as a member of a group
• Learn a variety of laboratory skills
• Learn how to teach others what you've learned
• Gain confidence in your academic and career goals
• Get to know your professors (and they will get to know you!)

What areas of research are available at MSUM?
Sara Anderson and Becky Andres: Population genetics of bees
Ellen Brisch: Developmental biology, motor protein function
Chris Chastain: Molecular genetics of photosynthesis in corn
Linda Fuselier: Stream fish ecology, population genetics of mosses and liverworts
"Mazz" Marry: Role of the plant cell wall in systemic acquired resistance
Dan McEwen: Effect of climate change on ecological dynamics of arctic wetlands 
Donna Bruns Stockrahm: Population ecology of small mammals, turtles, Canada geese
Mark Wallert and Joseph Provost: Mammalian physiology, cancer
Alison Wallace: Science teaching methods, plant ecology
Kathryn Wise: Microbiology
“Bee” Wisenden: Teaching methods in human anatomy, zebra mussel ecology
Brian Wisenden: Behavioral ecology of fish

How do you get involved?
Set up an appointment to talk with a faculty member about their research. There is no requirement that you have previous research experience to become involved. It is also not required that you have specific plans such as graduate school or med school etc. Some questions you might want to ask a potential faculty research mentor:

• What projects are available in their lab for you to join?
• What is the time commitment required?
• Will you be working with other students and if so, how many?
• What lab techniques/skills will you be learning?
• Are the available projects long term (i.e. more than 1 semester) or short term?
• What other expectations do they have? If you decide to get involved in a research project, then your faculty mentor will tell you about other details such as registration and meeting times.