Undergraduate Research
Undergraduates participate in research in several ways and can receive
academic credit, either as an Independent Study, as an Honors project, and as part of an ongoing course. Some research
opportunities may be in the form of paid summer research or internships, as part of ongoing William and Mary research
programs or with an outside institution. Whether as part of a paid
position on a grant or as part of an Honors project, hands-on research
experience is not only increasingly essential to students preparing for graduate programs in
science but is also recognized as one of the most effective ways to
learn about science.
Every Biology major is encouraged to get involved in undergraduate research. About half of our Biology majors do supervised undergraduate research on campus, and around one third get experience in one or more summer research programs elsewhere (e.g., the National Institutes of Health in Washington), or in one of many summer programs at schools around the country.
In addition to undergraduate funding from faculty research grants, on-campus fellowships, and individual awards from many sources, the College has funding for larger grants in various areas of biology:
-
The College was awarded multi-year $1.6 million grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to fund a Science Education and Research Program for the advancement of undergraduate education and outreach in biological sciences and other scientific disciplines as they relate to biology. This funding has expanded undergraduate research opportunities, led to new and enhanced course offerings, and provided resources for teachers and pre-college students.
-
William and Mary received $647,000 from the National Science Foundation to initiate a formal BioMath initiative. This centers on both a mathematical and biological understanding of how habitat quality effects the long-term stability of animal populations. But these ideas are expandable to any area in which math, biology, and ecology overlap with each other. Many of the current projects are based on local bird populations, and we also have students working on invertebrate, reptile, and mammal systems. Funding is available for undergraduate projects, including semester and summer grants.
