Biological Sciences Talent Advanced Program (BioTAP)

First-year honors students admitted as Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or Neuroscience majors are eligible to join the Biological Sciences Talent Advanced Program (BioTAP). 

Check the RAP website for more detailed information and specific steps about joining a RAP.

Living and Learning Community 

Sycamore Hall in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community at the University of Massachusetts
Sycamore Hall, Photo: Mikey Hadley

You and a fellow BioTAP student will live in Sycamore Hall, one of the first-year residence halls in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community (CHCRC). 

BioTAP Benefits 

BioTAP is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other motivated biology, biochemistry, microbiology and life sciences majors, make lasting connections with faculty both in and outside of the classroom, and learn about the goals and opportunities available within biological sciences departments at the university.  

BioTAP students also have the advantage of working with upper-class mentors, who live in the same corridor and who provide academic and personal support. These mentors work closely with the BioTAP faculty and provide programming exclusively for BioTAP students. 

BioTAP Curriculum 

The BioTAP curriculum includes a first-year, full-year Honors Introductory Biology two-course sequence (BIO 161H and BIO 162H), designed specifically for BioTAP students, as well as an exclusive one-credit seminar taught by experienced faculty members to help BioTAP students discover the invaluable resources and opportunities available at UMass Amherst.     

How to Apply 

If you are interested in joining BioTAP RAP and are eligible (CHC first-year students accepted in Biology, BMB, Microbiology, or Neuroscience majors):

  1. Participate in the RAP Lottery in May
  2. If you do not get placed in the program through the lottery, you will have another opportunity to register on a first-come-first serve basis for any remaining spots in June.
  3. Confirm your participation and housing forms by June 30 

Here is more information on How to Join  a RAP

BioTAP Courses 

Fall Semester

BIOLOGY 161H: Quantitative Biology of the Cell (Required)

This is the first semester of a full-year course for students in the BioTAP program.  The lecture component of the course is a case-study-based learning environment, designed to acquaint the student with the fundamental principles and processes of biological systems. Subjects include the basics of chemistry pertinent to biology, biochemistry and cell biology, genetics and molecular biology.  The lab component of the course is a rigorous introduction to molecular biology techniques, as well as developing lab notebook writing skills and scientific reporting skills. 

BIOLOGY 191L: BioTAP Seminar (Required)

This first-year honors seminar prepares students for meaningful academic, professional, and civic engagement in STEM fields. Throughout the semester, students explore diverse pathways in science through direct interaction with faculty, graduate students, and campus support professionals. Weekly guest visits feature scientists at different career stages who share their academic journeys and research, offering insight into how STEM careers develop across disciplines. The seminar also introduces key campus resources, including first-year advising, interdisciplinary programs, and career development.

Spring Semester

BIOLOGY 162H: Quantitative Systems Biology (Optional)

Quantitative Systems Biology is the second semester of a full-year course for BioTAP students that integrates mathematical analyses with hands-on experimentation to explore fundamental principles of evolution, physiology, and ecology. Cutting-edge research in each of these fields relies heavily on quantitative approaches to understand how organisms’ function, interact with their environments, and change over evolutionary time. This course uses a combination of lectures that integrate applied math and the study of organism-level systems and a laboratory section in which students will engage in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Students will use the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis as a model organism to investigate research questions in evolutionary development, comparative physiology, functional morphology, and organismal-environmental interactions. The first four weeks will focus on developing basic lab and analytical skills, and then students will work in groups to propose, design, and carry out original experiments. Data will be analyzed and visualized using R, and the results will be presented at a scientific symposium.