Capstone

In some cases, BMB majors may substitute work they are doing as Honors Research/Independent Study at the 300-level or above in place of the Biochem 426 Capstone course in their *senior* year.

Students interested in applying for this substitution must first consult with their research advisor to make sure that their research plans would meet these criteria, and then contact the BMB Undergraduate Program Director or the BMB Honors Program Director (for Biochem 499Y/499T specifically) for information on how to apply for this substitution.  

Guidelines

• Applies to BMB majors who have plans for a rigorous two-semester Honors Thesis/Independent Study Capstone project in their senior year.
• Projects cannot be fully approved until the proposal is written.
• Projects must be BMB-related, specifically involving elucidation of molecular or cellular mechanisms of life processes. Projects must include “wet lab” laboratory experimentation, and cannot be exclusively computational or theoretical.
• Projects must be Capstone-like in their approach, and the research program must include 1) an original research project, 2) an oral presentation of the work, and 3) a final research manuscript that includes a literature review and includes drafts reviewed under guidance by the student’s research advisor and a committee member.
• Projects approved by the BMB HPD for Biochem 499Y/T (Departmental Honors) will generally satisfy these requirements. For other [Dept] 499Y/T, students can submit their approved Honors Thesis Proposal to the BMB Undergraduate Program Director for consideration. Applications must be submitted early in the first semester of the project.
• When approved, 4CR of the student’s Biochem 499T (or equivalent) will be applied toward the Biochem 426 requirement. Students using 4CR of Thesis/Independent Study credit toward their Biochem 426 requirement may NOT also use these credits toward their Advanced Elective requirement in the BMB major.