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Dear MCB Students, I've heard a number of questions the past few days about research and honors. Perhaps I can clear up some of the common misunderstandings or confusion some of you have. TIMING: September 30, 2005, at 4 pm, is the deadline to submit paperwork for 199 or H196. We suggest earlier. HOW TO FIND A LAB: Talk to faculty, fellow students, peer advisors, see the handout in the UAO, or go on-line to our web site to get some tips. The lab does not have to be in MCB or even at UCB but you do need an MCB faculty sponsor if you are in a non-MCB lab. If you are in a non-MCB lab on campus and want to figure out who to ask as your MCB faculty sponsor, check with your PI. Often they know someone. You might also find that other undergrads in your lab have an MCB sponsor. Ask them. PROCEDURE: Once you have a lab, you'll need an MCB faculty member to sponsor you. Pick up from the UAO or download the appropriate form (99 for freshmen, sophomores, 199 for juniors, 199 or H196 for seniors). Fill it out, get it signed, and bring it into the UAO. We'll give you a course control number so that you can sign up on TeleBears by the add/drop deadline. (http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/major/major/forms/) REPLACING A LAB COURSE with RESEARCH: It is possible to replace a lab course in the major with research experience, only when you have gained equivalent knowledge in your research lab. Only the head faculty advisor for your emphasis can approve this, and only if you can prove, item by item, that you have equivalent knowledge to those on the syllabus for the substituted course. Therefore, be sure to look at the syllabus before you see the faculty advisor. You can pick up the MCB Lab Substitution Request Form in the UAO, along with instructions on how to fill it out. Following is some basic information about 99/199 and H196 classes: Research (99, 199): Class standing for 99: freshman, sophomore (fewer than 60 units with 3.3 GPA) Class standing for 199: junior, senior (60+ units with a 2.0 GPA) Major status: not restricted to MCB majors # of units: 1-4 / semester (1 unit for 3 hours work/week) Grading option: P/NP only Thesis required: no, but PI might require a 2 pg paper at the end of the semester. Presentation required: no MCB faculty sponsor required if working in a non-MCB lab. Research (H196A/B) for seniors: Class standing for H196A/B: senior Minimum GPA: 3.0 overall to start, 3.3 overall to graduate w/ honors Minimum major GPA: 3.3 to start, 3.5 to graduate w/ honors Major status: Restricted to MCB majors # of units: minimum of 4 units, maximum of 8 units. (If you plan to sign up for only one semester of honors research, sign up for H196B. You must have been in the lab for at least one full semester prior to signing up for H196B.) Grading option: P/NP for H196A, letter for H196B Thesis required: yes Presentation required: yes, in poster session or at a research symposium in the spring MCB faculty sponsor required if working in a non-MCB lab. Many students ask, should I do 199 or honors. Here are some things to consider when making your decision. Make sure that you prepare for honors by doing research at the 99 or 199 level first. These experiences give you valuable skills you'll use when doing honors. If you're not a senior, do 99 or 199. Honors is a capstone experience and should be undertaken during the senior year. You'll have to write a thesis in order to be granted honors - usually 25-40 pages. Make sure that you have a lab in which you'll be able to get the help you need from the post docs or the principal investigator (PI) You have to have earned a 3.3 overall GPA in order to graduate with honors. Make sure this is possible. It is possible to use 4 units of 199 research toward honors, with your faculty sponsor approval. In this case, you'd sign up for H196B in the second semester of your senior year. If there are still outstanding questions, either email me or come into the office. Regards, Anne -- ^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^ Anne Aaboe phone: (510) 643-7473 Undergraduate Advising Manager fax: (510) 643-2208 Molecular & Cell Biology email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2083 Valley Life Sciences, #3200 web: mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad Berkeley, CA 94720 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The above message does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of MCBcDNA, mcbUSA, the MCB Department, or UC Berkeley. TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe mcb-infoline" in the message body. Please send questions or comments to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For a list of upcoming events and information about the student clubs: MCBcDNA http://mcb.berkeley.edu/groups/mcbcdna/ mcbUSA http://mcb.berkeley.edu/groups/mcbusa/
