BMB Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Courses - BMB 490 and BMB 499

We offer two variable credit courses that offer research opportunity:
BMB 490 Biochemistry Research:
   Laboratory or library research arranged with a BMB faculty member.

BMB 499 Senior Thesis:

Laboratory research culminating in a thesis.

Volunteer Opportunities

How do you volunteer in a lab?

  1. Look over the research interests of our BMB faculty and find a lab whose research is of interest of you.
  2. Contact the faculty via email
  3. Arrange to meet and to set a schedule
“Volunteering in the lab provided a lot of experience and also gave me an idea of what intensive research was about. It also prepared me for a number of required courses for the biochemistry major."--Shanna Ashley, Preiss lab

Paid Positions  (See also My Spartan Career)

Many laboratories hire undergraduate helpers as laboratory aides or dishwashers. Such a job is a useful entry into a research laboratory, a good addition to a resume, and a way to learn about science while earning some money. Many students begin work in a laboratory as a dishwasher and then move on to a research project.

Minority Research Opportunities

How do you know if science is for you? If you think a career in science may be in your future, here's a chance to experience it for yourself. Future employers and graduate programs look for strong academic performance AND real research experience.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers exciting research opportunities for minority undergraduates. Students learn about research by working in our department with diverse laboratories and interests ranging from plant metabolism to gene regulation to protein structure and function. Research opportunites are available for students starting their freshman year. Students can carry out research projects as participants in one of the programs listed below, or may preform research for credit as mentioned above in BMB 490 and 499.
These programs sponsor minority undergraduate research opportunities in our laboratories:
Charles Drew Science Enrichment Laboratory
McNair SROP

Professorial Assistant Program

 Professorial Assistantships offered through The Honors College, in collaboration with academic departments, appoints up to 100 Professorial Assistants each year to work with faculty mentors on scholarly research or innovative teaching. The stipends of $2,300 are renewable for two years for Honors College invitees with exceptional academic records.
2007-2008 BMB Professorial Assistants:
April Giles - Mentor: Dr. R.W. Henry
Deanna Koenig - Mentor: Dr. J.L. Wang
Braden Leinbach - Mentor: Dr. Z. Burton
Christopher Prather - Dr. K. Walker
Asra Shaik - Dr. M.H. Kuo

2006-2007 BMB Professorial Assistants:
Jacqueline Brosius - Mentor: Dr. D. Arnosti
Michael Dittmer - Mentor: Dr. J. Ekstrom
Neha Gandhi - Mentor: Dr. K. Gallo
Elizabeth Grier - Mentor: Dr. J. LaPres
Joshua Mackaluso - Mentor: Dr. M. Zavodszky
Catherine Nezich - Mentor: Dr. B. Montgomery-Kaguri		 2005-2006 BMB Professorial Assistants:
Ryan Mayle - Mentor: Dr. R. Last
Martha McCoy - Mentor: Dr. S. Triezenberg
Blair Morley - Mentor: Dr. J. Ekstrom
Katherine Rank - Mentor: Dr. G. Reid
Andrea Silva - Mentor: Dr. R. Hausinger

2004-2005 BMB Professorial Assistants:
Julie Adkins - Mentor: Dr. J. LaPres
Heather Born - Mentor: Dr. C. Hoogstraten
Greg Boyd - Mentor: Dr. J. Watson
Brian Holowecky - Mentor: Dr. R. Hollingsworth
Rachel Jacobson - Mentor:Dr. J. Ekstrom
Kristina Johnson - Mentor: Dr. R. Hollingsworth
Garrett Kerndt - Mentor:Dr. L. Kroos
Karen Post - Mentor: Dr. K. Gallo
Brad Sauter - Mentor: Dr. J. Watson
Andrea Stavoe - Mentor: Dr. R. Larkin

MSU Research Opportunities Database (Venture)