Ways of Knowing Biology
Research Experiences
UW-Madison is well-known for its research. In fact, it ranks fourth among all institutions in research and development. Madison's 39 undergraduate majors in the biological sciences reflect this diversity. Unfortunately, many students complete their academic career unaware of the variety of research that occurs around them. Ways of Knowing Biology can help you in your academic planning. You may decide to take a course you never knew existed, conduct research in an independent study project or consider doing a senior thesis. This is your chance to explore biological research that exists right here on your own campus.
Research Exploration
During Ways of Knowing Biology, you will participate in two Research Explorations. In these activities, you will be a guest in a faculty member's research lab or field site. You will spend one to three hours participating in the process through which scientists explore questions and search for answers. The discussion and research exploration groups are small, so don't hesitate to bring up issues that interest you. The professors, academic staff, postdoctoral and graduate students in these research teams love to talk about what they are doing.
- Which labs have hosted Research Explorations in the past?
Graduate Shadowing
The Graduate Shadowing experience involves a one-on-one meeting between you and a graduate student/postdoc/scientist who is carrying out research in the area in which you are interested. The meeting should be about 1-3 hours in length on a day and time that you both agree to. Following the Graduate Shadowing Experience you will write a paragraph or two about what you learned - this can include what you did and saw, what you talked about and/or your mentor's research. You will write a paragraph or two about what you learned from your visit and how it may impact your future.
Your goal for the graduate shadowing experience:to learn what graduate school (and potential careers after grad school!) is like. What are the good points? What are the bad points? Would you like to go to grad school? Why or why not?
Undergraduate Researcher Interview
Interviewing an undergraduate researcher offers you the opportunity to learn first hand about what it is like to do research as an undergraduate. You will attend one of two symposia at which UW undergraduate students are presenting their research. The Undergraduate Symposium is a campus-wide event at which students from all disciplines present their research, creative endeavor and service learning projects to the public. The CALS Honors Research Presentations showcase the work of sophomore and senior students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Honors program. Following your interview you will write a press release about the undergraduate student you interviewed.
Contact
- Course Coordinator
- Brian Asen
- 118D Genetics Building
- beasen@wisc.edu
- (608) 262-5267