The formal process for applying for Independent Study with Faculty Outside of Biology is to fill out the online form at

http://www.biology.duke.edu/undergraduate/independent/index.html

Please fill out this form by
MONDAY JANUARY 23!

If you are a returning Independent Study Student continuing in the same lab, you need to fill the online form just as you did last year, but this time you will be in 297.01. If you are changing labs, or if this is your first Independent Study, it will be 191.01.

Spring 2012 Deadlines for Bio 191.01/297.01 Independent Study mentored by Cliff Cunningham:

You can register till the end of add/drop (Wednesday January 25, 2012), but your online application for Independent Study with Faculty Outside Biology will need to be filled out by Wednesday September 7. Applications are necessary EVEN if this is your second semester being mentored by Dr. Cunningham.
http://www.biology.duke.edu/undergraduate/independent/index.html

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

For Bio 191.01 only: First Meeting by Wednesday January 25th, 2012: I’d like to meet you for just a few minutes so that we can each put a face on our names and explain the process! THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL! I am in room 227 Bio Sci, around the corner from the drink machines. Please drop me an email to set up an appointment. It will be quick! Midterm Meeting by Friday February 27, 2011: This appointment will catch me up on how your first month of research is going.

For both courses: Final Paper by April 25, 2012, last day of classes. The paper should be in typical journal format (abstract, intro, methods, results, discussion). The paper should be about 5-10 single-spaced pages of text, not counting bibliography.  CITE REFERENCES, AVOID ACRONYMS!  I will want evidence that your research mentor has read and approved your paper before you submit it to me. You can send the paper as an email attachment.  If this is your second paper for me, I will be expecting more, especially if I had negative comments on your first, so don’t get complacent!!

Mentor Grade Recommendation by April 25, 2012: I'll need a grade recommendation, by email, from your research mentor, along with confirmation that he/she read your report, a brief description of your performance and explanation for your grade.  I'd like a brief explanation along with the grade. You may want to remind your mentor when the time comes!

HONORS THESIS
I won’t be advising you on that, but be sure to look at these links,
http://www.biology.duke.edu/undergrad/distinction/thesis.html
http://www.biology.duke.edu/undergrad/documents/thesisrubric.pdf