Why do research?
Many students choose to enrich their education by doing research with a faculty member or a graduate student in EEOB. If you enjoy learning about ecology and evolutionary biology, you may want to get involved in an independent or group research project. Some students do projects in natural habitats or outdoor experiments, while others focus on laboratory, museum, or information-based studies. By getting involved in research, you can
- learn new skills
- strengthen your resume
- explore possible careers
- make new friends and colleagues
- work closely with a faculty mentor
- take advantage of being at a leading research university.
Completing a meaningful research project entails a large time commitment, and you should have a GPA of at least 3.0 before you branch out into research. Framing a novel question, figuring out how to answer it, and communicating your findings to others are the three basic components of a successful research project.
When should I start?
We encourage students to start thinking about research options as freshmen and sophomores. You can do research during the summer and/or during the academic year, and you do not need to be an honors student or an E&E or Zoology major. Some students start by volunteering, working as a paid research assistant, or taking an independent study course with an EEOB faculty member. Once you are ready to begin, you can sign up for EEOB research credits, apply for funding, and carry out a project that can be presented at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.
How do I find a faculty mentor and a project?
First, you should take advantage of the campus-wide Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Office: email: ugresearch@osu.edu; tel. 292-8307; 150 Page Hall. Check out the Office of Academic Enrichment UG Research website for undergraduate research postings, news, workshops, advice, funding opportunities, listserve sign-up, and other resources.
For general advice about undergraduate research and honors theses in EEOB, you can contact:
- Dr. Ian Hamilton -- Evolution and Ecology Honors Coordinating Advisor
- Dr. Lisle Gibbs -- Zoology Honors Coordinating Advisor
A few organizations offer the chance to sign up for a summer research project and receive a paid fellowship or scholarship. These include fellowships at Stone Lab on Lake Erie and the University of Michigan Biological Station. You can also search the National Science Foundation website for information about Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs in ecology and evolution nationwide. Most deadlines for paid summer fellowships occur in February and March.
It is more common for students to take the initiative to find a faculty mentor at OSU. Check out the EEOB faculty laboratories page to see which faculty members are investigating topics that interest you. Then, set up an appointment to ask an EEOB professor if they would be able to help you plan a research project that could be carried out over a period of several months. If the professor is not able to serve as your mentor, ask for advice about other possible mentors.
Professors who can take on a student will work with you to explore possible projects that are feasible for the time you have available. Students often work closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher in the professor’s lab, where everyone is focusing on related research questions. It’s good to be flexible about what you do for your project so you can take advantage of your mentor’s expertise and contribute to their research program (you don’t need to know what you will investigate before meeting with a potential mentor). As you begin considering various projects, keep in mind that the process of doing research is ultimately more valuable to you than the exact topic of study. Most important, your project should be stimulating, doable, and rewarding. With luck, it will also end up being a lot of fun! A good initial goal is to be able to present your “work-in-progress” or final product at the annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum that takes place in May.
Also, the Undergraduate Research Laboratory (U-Research) in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology is established to provide opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct supervised independent research in behavioral ecology. It is especially suitable for undergraduates who consider careers in basic scientific research, secondary education, and graduate programs in biological and behavioral sciences. Students in U-Research also participate in a variety of outreach activities by going to local grade schools and engaging grade students in hands-on activities.
What are some examples of student research projects?
Here are a few examples of honors theses from former students who worked in EEOB.
- Alex Johnson, The effects of third-party interactions on investment in cooperative behavior in the cooperatively-breeding cichlid, Neolamprologus pulcher.
Faculty mentor: Dr. Ian Hamilton - Jo Pi and Jeff Cronley, Modeling the distribution of mobile pastoralists in the Logone floodplain
Faculty mentor: Dr. Ian Hamilton - Elizabeth Hoskins, Modeling the social influences on growth in group-living fish.
Faculty mentor: Dr. Ian Hamilton - Sarah Kiger, “Competitive ability of non-native prairie species in response to soil nitrogen and diversity.”
Faculty mentor: Dr. Maria Miriti. - Hong Nguyen, “Evidence for diel horizontal migration (DHM) of crustacean zooplankton in the Western Basin of Lake Erie.”
Faculty mentors: Drs. Douglas Kane and David Culver. - Kira Pontius, “Visual observation as a method for examining population conditions in Brachyramphus marmortus based on foraging behavior and bird abundance in southeast Alaska.”
Faculty mentor: Dr. David Culver. - Katie Brokam, “Effect of habitat reconstruction on the diet of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus .”
Faculty mentor: Dr. Thomas Grubb, Jr. - Emily Klosterman, “ Immunohistochemical properties of ocular adenomas, adencarcinomas, and medulloepitheliomas in canines.”
Faculty mentors: Drs. Carmen Colitz and David Culver. - Ted Bambakidis, “Benthic invertebrate selectivity in northern Lake Michigan following the invasion of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis ).
Faculty mentor: Dr. Peter Curtis. - Aubrey Griffin, “Isolation of DNA SNP Markers for Massasauga rattlesnakes.”
Faculty mentor: Dr. H. Lisle Gibbs.