NEUROSCI 399-0
NEUROSCI 399-0 provides course credit to students who choose to do mentored independent research in Neuroscience or a related Allied Field. With a commitment of at least 10 hours per week, students will learn practical laboratory skills and troubleshooting as well as intellectual and analytical skills through a laboratory project. Research must be related to Neuroscience. DO NOT WASTE YOUR PRE-REGISTRATION TIME TO REGISTER FOR NEUROSCI 399-0-60!Registration
A permission number is not required for NEUROSCI 399-0-60, nor will they be provided. Only Neuroscience majors will be able to register for the course.
There will be no late adds for NEUROSCI 399-0-60. Proposals are due by noon on the last regular day to add classes (September 22, 2025).
When you register, you will have access to Canvas assignments to upload a research proposal, your adviser contact information, and a signed research mentor agreement.
Proposal
Please read full instructions.
- 1-2 pages
- due by 5 pm on the add dates for classes (September 22, 2025)
- 20% of your grade
- largely graded for completion (you may rewrite if needed without penalty)
- "sliding scale" of expectations, try but don't worry
ALL WRITING MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS, NOT TAKEN FROM YOUR ADVISER'S MATERIALS AND NOT AI-GENERATED. Copying of your mentor's materials, accepting their edits that are so substantial as to constitute rewriting, or use of generative AI are violations of academic integrity. Violations may be submitted for review by the Dean of Academic Integrity.
The essential features for a proposal include:
Background/Literature review (what has been done by others in the field, what is the unanswered question, how do you propose to answer it?).
Methods (this must be your own original writing, not copied from publications).
Possible outcomes and their interpretations (this can take several different forms, just don't quit after methods).
References (this list will grow the longer you are involved with 399. After the first quarter it must include references from outside your laboratory).
Schedule of the 10+ hours per week you commit to the lab.
10-week calendar of what you plan to accomplish this quarter. (e.g. Weeks 1-2 train on methods, weeks 3-7 tissue processing and immuno, weeks 8-9 microscopy, week 10 analysis).
For examples of parts of this format, look at the Neuroscience grant on https://undergradresearch.
A final note: the proposal is an exercise in scientific writing. It is NOT a contract to do exactly this work and it is not unusual to have to shift your plans in the middle of the quarter. Your lab will advise you. Dr. Kilman needs to know ONLY if it means that you are not able to do any experiments for a period of two weeks or longer. IF this occurs, she should be notified through Canvas.
Please enroll, read the information on Canvas, and ask any remaining questions on the course discussion board (anonymous). This benefits everyone!
Grading criteria and due dates for summaries to faculty mentor will be listed on Canvas. For fall 2025, your preliminary draft report is due to your faculty advisor by midnight on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. Your final report is due on Friday, December 12th by midnight.