Opportunities for Students

Students in our department that are successful in attaining their long-term goals do more than just excel in the classroom. Students foster their scientific curiosity and develop their critical thinking skills by taking advantage of a variety of opportunities available in our department.

On this page you find some opportunities to to do more. If you have any questions about any of these opportunities, please stop by one of our offices so we can talk.

 

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Assistantships in the Biology Department

The Department offers a number of paid assistantships for interested and qualified students. Funding is provided by the Department or the Federal Work Study Program. Responsibilities include working as an assistant to a faculty member in laboratory preparation, teaching, and or research. The money earned is not a lot, but the experience, skills, and relationships gained through these assistantships can be an important part of your qualifications for advanced studies or the job market.

If you are interested in a Departmental Assistanship, contact Dr. Kelli Sapp.

Summer Research Opportunities

There are a number of opportunities to conduct research within and outside of the biology department, particularly in the summer. Students may arrange internships specifically tailored to their career path (e.g. pharmacy internship with CVS, internship at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center affiliated with the NC Zoological Park) or apply for competitive summer research programs (REU: research experience for undergraduates) at larger, research (R1) institutions. Many of these programs are funded by the National Science Foundation. These programs include a stipend for the summer and usually include transportation costs and housing.

The Department of Biology provides students with information about REU and other programs nationwide. See INTERNSHIP BULLETIN BOARDS across from  Dr.  Sapp’s  Office  (Congdon  Hall,  Room  249)   and descriptions of REU programs at http://www.nsf.gov/index.jsp then search REU.

For several years, students in the Biology Department have been quite successful in being accepted into a variety of prestigious REU programs across the country. Many of these students have returned to pursue graduate degrees at these institutions.

Some examples of recently completed research projects at other institutions include the following:

  • Vocalization in the American Bullfrog during breeding season (project completed at Northern Arizona State University, Doug Margarucci, Class of 2011)
  • Effects of Retalin Withdrawal on Behavior (project completed at Wake Forest University – Primate Research Center, Thomas Johnston, Class of 2011)
  • Effects of acidification on otolith development in fishes (project completed Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi, SURF Program, Melissa Robbins, Class of 2010)
  • Expression of Psoriasin and Regulation by IL-22 in Airway Epithelial Cells. (project completed at Dalhousie University, Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Shauna Marsh, Class of 2009)
  • Role of Inflammatory Amplifier (TREM-1) in Neutrophils. (project completed at The Medical College of Georgia, Brittany Beck, Class of 2009)
  • Pharmacokinetics of the Hedgehog Signaling Antagonist Cyclopamine. (project completed at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Molecular and
  • Environmental Toxicology Center, Paul Hannam, Class of 2008) Effects  of  an  I2  Mutation  on  Bacteriophage  λ  cos Cleavage and DNA Packaging. (project completed at Dept. of Microbiology, Roy J. & Lucile A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Michael Barton, Class of 2008)
  • HSP70 Expression in Brain and Heart of Postnatal Rats Exposed to Birth Asphyxia. (project completed at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Kia Hollis, Class of 2007)
  • Are there cost of living differences on a single river? (project completed at University of South Carolina, Jennifer Mraz, Class of 2006)