Biochem - Undergraduate Information

Biochemistry Undergraduate Research Opportunities

197 Projects
- BCH 190 and 197 are electives for Biochemistry Majors entering Fall 2000 or later.
- A minimum of 2 units of BCH 190 or 197 is required for graduation with a major in Biochemistry for those students who entered UCR prior to Fall 2000.
- A combined total of 12 units of 190-199 courses can be used towards the 180 cumulative units.
  
  Biochemistry 197 is the opportunity for students to carry out independent research under the supervision of a Biochemistry faculty member or a Cooperating Faculty member. These research opportunities assist undergraduates in obtaining research skills in defining academic interests and objectives, and in becoming part of the larger university research community.
  
  Prerequisites:
  
  Students must have attained Junior Status to participate in this program. Biochemistry 102 is a prerequisite for juniors, but not for seniors. With permission of the instructor, Biochemistry 197 may be taken more than one quarter. Only 9 units of 190 level courses (BCH 190, 197, 198I) can be used towards the Bachelor's Degree; if you intend to do research for more than one quarter, pace yourself. All 197 research projects require a written report to be placed in student's permanent file. Offered in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer quarters.
  
  Enrollment Procedures for Biochemistry 190 or Biochemistry 197:
  
  In addition to the above prerequisites each faculty member's personal prerequisites and their openings will be posted quarterly outside the Biochemistry Student Affairs Office in 1303 Webber Hall and available to Biochemistry Majors in ILEARN: Biochemistry Advisory Community (under documents).
  1. Familiarize yourself with the faculty member's research by reviewing their websites at http://www.biochemistry.ucr.edu/faculty/index.html.
  2. Approach a professor with whom you would like to work by email and follow-up with a phone call. Do this early, as the openings vary and are taken up quickly each quarter.
  3. To meet with any Biochemistry Faculty you must set up an appointment through the Biochemistry Undergraduate Student Affairs Office in 1303 Webber Hall. Please call (951) 827-4229 two days in advance of desired meeting. To meet with faculty outside the Biochemistry Department you should contact the professor directly.
  4. The "Green Slip" must indicate units and have the signature of the faculty supervisor each quarter you plan to enroll for BCH 190 or BCH 197. If you have not been approved by a faculty member and you enroll in section 001 (staff), you will be dropped from the course. Green slips are now available in "iLearn" under "Documents", instructions are on the form.
  5. After the second week of each quarter you must use an "Undergraduate Enrollment Adjustment" form to enroll. Call numbers change each quarter.
  6. Green Slips will not be accepted third week of quarter. Call numbers change each quarter.
  Picking a Project:
  
  Once the student has arranged for a spot in one of the research laboratories, the student and their research adviser will pick a suitable project. Things to be kept in mind in picking a project include: the amount of time student plans on putting into the project; the number of quarters that a student intends to take Biochemistry 197 (many students will take 197 for three or more quarters*, and thus can attempt a more challenging project); and finally the preparedness of the student for a research project is considered in picking the project.
  
  *Only 9 units of 190 level courses (BCH 190, 197, 198I) can be used towards the Bachelor's Degree; if you intend to do research for more than one quarter, pace yourself.
  
  Prospective 2004/2005 Graduates
  
  Students should plan to complete their research project before their final quarter to avoid any problems in finding a research adviser.
  
  What is Expected:
  
  A minimum of three hours of work per unit is expected in the lab. In addition students will be expected to attend lab meetings and journal clubs of the labs they are members of (provided other class commitments do not interfere). Students should obtain reviews and journal articles pertaining to their research project from their research adviser and others in the lab.
  
  Initially, students will be directed fairly closely, but it is expected that students will rapidly begin to participate in the planning of the research project. The more you put into your research project the more you will get out of it.
  
  Students may not receive pay for the time spent earning Biochemistry 197 credit.
  
  The Final Report:
  
  All students taking Biochemistry 197 must write a final report. At the end of the project a written report is due; the original should be submitted to your research adviser and a copy to the Biochemistry Undergraduate Student Affairs Office in 1303 Webber Hall.
  
  The report should be at least five (5) pages, typed, double-spaced and include the following:
  1. Title; for filing purposes in Student Affairs Office.
  2. Introduction; describe the project and briefly review the literature that led to or is important to your project.
  3. Materials and methods; describe the methods used in your project; give references.
  4. Results; include pertinent data as tables and graphs, describe your results verbally.
  5. Discussion; interpret your results and discuss your finding; do your findings extend the understanding of the project; do your results agree or disagree with other researchers?
  6. References
  Grading:
  
  Biochemistry 190-197 are letter graded courses (Biochemistry Majors must have a letter grade in order to apply the units towards the major). Your grade will be determined by your performance in the laboratory and at laboratory meetings. Keep in mind that Biochemistry 197 is an excellent chance for a faculty member to get to know you well enough to write a less superficial letter than that from an instructor in a large course. Probably no other professor you meet during your undergraduate career will have a better chance to appraise your abilities and intelligence; no letter to professional or graduate school admission committees will be more important than the one by your research adviser who has interacted with you daily for a quarter or more.
Minigrants
Preparation of a Minigrant Proposal helps prepare the student for their research projects by making them aware of the goals of the research project and acquainting them with the literature for the project. Your research adviser will help you prepare the Minigrant Proposal.
MARCU Program

MARC U* STAR RESEARCH TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS
IN THE BIOMEDICALLY-RELATED SCIENCES

The MARC U* Star (Minority Access to Research Careers) is a program at UCR supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The purpose of the program is to encourage minority students in the sciences to pursue graduate research in the biomedical sciences. The NIH grant expands research opportunities on campus for underrepresented minority students. The MARC program builds upon the Honors Program and CAMP to provide a four-year program for underrepresented students in Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Chemistry and Statistics, as well as Biomedical Sciences. MARC U* offers two programs, a Summer Pretrainee Program and the MARC U* Trainee Program.

The MARC U* Training Program is a 2-year fellowship program for students who are Juniors and Seniors and are interested in pursuing graduate research in the sciences. Trainees are selected in April to begin conducting research in July with a MARC Faculty Mentor on a project of interest. Tuition, insurance and fees will be paid by the MARC Program and the students will receive a monthly stipend. In the MARC Training Program, students are required to do an average of 12 hours per week of research during the fall, winter and spring quarters, and full time during the summer period. The program will also take advantage of summer internship programs at other universities. Along with research, students will attend biweekly MARC meetings, seminars, colloquia, and scientific conferences.

Trainees will attend a scientific meeting in their junior and senior years. The MARC U* program also provides information and materials on graduate opportunities and programs at UCR, at other California universities, as well as elsewhere around the country.

The MARC U* Research Summer Pretrainee Program is a 9-week summer research program for students who are between their Freshman and Sophomore year. It emphasizes biomedically-related research through exposure in a laboratory setting with a MARC U* faculty mentor during the summer period. This research is broad-based and includes faculty in the Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Chemistry and Statistics. A student chosen to participate in the summer program will not only receive research opportunities and a substantial stipend, but also an opportunity to participate in activities that will enrich their summer experience. Summer Pretrainee students will also have the opportunity to apply for the MARC U* Training Program, once they attain Junior status.
- Any questions should be addressed to the Program Director, Dr. Jolinda Traugh, or to Jo-Ann Heick either in person or by e-mail at MARCU@ucr.edu or you may stop by the MARC office in room 3410 Boyce Hall. Our website can be accessed at www.marcu.ucr.edu for additional information about the program.
Information packets and application forms are available through the MARC office located
in Boyce Hall (Room 3410) or from the Website:
www.marcu.ucr.edu