Honors Program
Deadlines | Mentors | Eligibility | Apply | Requirements | Awards | Progress Report | Thesis
Introduction
The Honors Program in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology provides advanced students with an intensive two-semester research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Honors students typically register for BCB 4999: Honors Research in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology in sequential semesters during their senior year. Honors research is meant to be a research Immersion experience. There is a significant time commitment, with a minimum of 6 credit hours (3 per semester), but students may register for up to 12 credits (6 per semester).
To enter the program, students are required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 overall, a minimum grade point average of 3.4 in BCB courses, and approval from the course coordinator. It is recommended that students plan so they can meet graduation requirements and still be able to set aside time for a minimum of 3 credit hours of Honors research per semester with the expectation of at least three to four hours in the lab per credit hour.
Apply to the BCB Honors Program
Please contact DUS-BCB@vanderbilt.edu with questions.
Deadlines
Apply to the Honors Program between your junior and senior year, preferably prior to the end of the second semester junior year but no later than the week prior to the start of the fall semester of the senior year. It is recommended that students begin planning for Honors prior to the first semester of their junior year. In most cases, students will continue with an existing laboratory research program from the same lab as BCB 3201 projects.
Finding A Research Mentor
Students should select an adviser engaged in biochemistry or chemical biology research. If the adviser is not affiliated with the BCB program, the student should receive prior approval from the course coordinator. In most cases, students applying to the Honors Program will already have begun their research as a BCB 3201: Independent Laboratory Research project. This sequence is recommended, but not required.
Eligibility
- At the time of entry and upon graduation, you must have an overall GPA of 3.3 and a minimum GPA of 3.4 in BCB required courses (not including pre-requisite courses).
- Your application must be approved by the BCB directors and course coordinator.
How to Apply
The formal application requires a title and a brief research proposal prepared by the student and the adviser, outlining the intended program of research.
- Selection of the desired number of credit hours
- Title
- Brief Research Proposal: 2-3 pages double-spaced describing research program, background, and rationale for the project
- Selection of an Honors Thesis Committee that includes your research advisor and two other faculty members appropriate to the area of research
- For complete program requirements, consult the Undergraduate Catalog and the requirements for the Honors program
- Applicant should submit formal application to their research adviser and DUS
Requirements
- Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.4 in all courses that count toward the major.
- Satisfactorily pursue a research project under the supervision of the adviser with a minimum of 6 credit hours of honors research, BCB 4999.
- Give a progress report to the Honors Committee at the end of the first semester of research. This will consist of a written progress report to be distributed to the Honors Committee one week before the semester ends.
- At the end of the second semester of Honors Research, prepare an honors thesis based on the research project, to be read and evaluated by the Honors Committee. The thesis must be submitted to the examining committee one week prior to the last day of classes before graduation.
- Present the thesis orally before the Honors Committee and other BCB faculty. Oral presentations will typically be a 45-minute talk prior to final exams in the spring semester.
Awards
A conferral of no Honors, Honors, or Highest Honors will be made, based on the merit of the research presented in the thesis and the oral presentation. An award of Highest Honors is reserved for the rare student whose Honors work, BCB grade point average, and contributions to the intellectual mission of the laboratory and department are truly outstanding.
Progress Report
Written Report
This written report will be the first chance for the student and research mentor to outline the overall project and progress during the first semester to the Honors Committee. It should be turned in to the research mentor and the committee at least one week prior to the end of the semester. It should contain sufficient background information to allow the committee to understand the broad goals of the research as well as more detailed discussion of individual project successes and failures. It should include:
- Introduction: The background for the research, explaining its significance (including relevance to other projects), and briefly outlining the overall plan of the project.
- Preliminary Data: Describing experiments attempted and completed, and including both positive and negative results.
- Research Plan: Outlining plans for the second semester of research.
Each committee member and the BCB DUS receive a copy of the report.
Thesis
Written Report
The thesis should be written in the format of a publication. See details on how the written honors thesis should be prepared.
A copy of the honors thesis must be distributed to the Honors Committee one week prior to the last day of classes. The thesis may encompass research performed across BCB 3201 and 4999.
Oral Thesis Defense
The oral presentation will typically be a 15-minute talk prior to final exams in the spring semester. Students are expected to ensure that all members of their Honors Committee can attend. The thesis presentations will be open to other undergraduate research students, the departmental faculty, and invited guests.