Summer undergraduate research opportunities in the Department of Biological Sciences at Wellesley College, and undergraduate college for women, will be offered to ten students for the summer of 1988. Participants will be selected from junior Biology, Biological Chemistry or Psychobiology majors who have serious purpose and definite interest in independent work, have sufficient course preparation and have shown ability to think imaginatively and independently. Participants will be selected by the project director and faculty committee after evaluation of application forms designed to recruit the best qualified students for particular projects. The student will participate in all aspects of the investigation, from pursuing a literature review to carrying out experimental procedures and observations, continuing to analysis of data and determination of conclusions. She will formally and informally discuss the work with her advisor, and also will prepare several discussions with all fellow participants, both student and faculty, for weekly group seminars. This will encourage both experience with oral presentations and exposure to suggestions and criticism of others involved in research. Research reports at the end of the program will involve the writing of a paper, preparation of a poster for a poster session and also colloquia presentations to students and faculty during the next academic year. Throughout the summer program seminars will be presented by women scientists in research careers in academia, industry and medicine; at least one field trip to a biotechnology company will be taken.
