Bethesda, Maryland
Director Fall 2013: Frank M. Frey, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Group offers the opportunity for Colgate students interested in the biomedical sciences to spend a full semester working in some of the most exciting research laboratories in the world.The NIH in Bethesda, MD, housing over 5000 active researchers, are the official federal health-related research facilities of the United States.The hallmark of the study group is an intensive research experience involving 30+ hours of research each week in an NIH laboratory of the students’ choosing.
Students will carry a normal course load of four credits while on the study group.The research experience will count for two of the required four course credits.Colgate course credit will appear on the transcript upon satisfactory completion of study group courses.
All study group participants are required to enroll in the following courses:
BIOL 393Y & BIOL 493Y, Colgate Study Group Research: NIH. This comprises the research component of the NIH experience.To meet the requirements for these courses, students will choose a research lab at the NIH and agree to spend a minimum of 30 hours each week (often longer) engaged in a meaningful research project under the direction of an NIH researcher.Performance will be evaluated by the NIH mentor and the director and will be based on progress made in the research project and the quality of a paper in scientific format turned in at the end of the semester.
BIOL 392Y, Topics in the Primary Literature of the Molecular Biosciences.This classroom-based course will meet one day weekly.Students will take turns leading a discussion summarizing the primary literature relating to each individual’s research project.Each student will also be required to write a summary of the literature presented by the other students in the course.Students will be evaluated on the basis of their oral presentation, weekly summaries, and class participation.
Electives
Students will choose one of the following two elective courses in addition to the courses listed above:
CHEM 353Y, Proteins & Nucleic Acids. This course will be taught by an instructor from the Bethesda area.This course is a survey of biopolymers and the methods of biopolymer research.This is a required or recommended course for students majoring in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, or Neuroscience.
BIOL 220Y, Biostatistics.This course, taught by the Study Group Director, serves as a Biology elective or general elective, and is useful for students considering a career in the Health Sciences. This course will explore issues of experimental design, data collection methods, and principles of statistics as they apply to biology, with an emphasis on student research projects. This course is recommended for students considering post-graduate work in the biological or health sciences.
The group is open to selected members of the classes of 2013 and 2014 who are in good academic standing.Successful applicants should be highly motivated toward a career or postgraduate education in the biological or health sciences, and be capable of working independently in a research environment.Completion of a year of general chemistry (CHEM 101–102 or CHEM 111), a year of organic chemistry (CHEM 263–264), Molecules, Cells and Genes (BIOL 212) is required, and at least one course in Mathematics or Computer Science is recommended before attending the study group.Typically, successful applicants have been in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, or Neuroscience.
Students will live in apartments at Cleveland House Apartments located near the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro stop in the District of Columbia.Commuting from the Woodley Park/Zoo metro stop to the Medical Center stop at NIH is approximately 15 minutes from this housing.Students will not need a car to participate in the NIH Study Group. Colgate will make the necessary arrangements for apartment leases and will charge students for housing.
The Metro underground public transportation system provides easy access to Washington, DC, and all the opportunities of our nation’s capital city.
The group will take at least two during the semester to attend events of cultural interest in the Washington, DC area.These include a sporting event, a visit to Mt. Vernon or Baltimore, and a political-comedy show by the Capitol Steps.
For details of student expenses on this study group, please see
Student Cost Estimate Sheet.
The deadline for applications to the Fall 2013 NIH Group has already passed.
More Information
For more information, please contact
Frank Frey by e-mail at
ffrey@colgate.edu.
For information sessions, contact
Jun Yoshino (315-228-7390) 208 Olin Hall, or by e-mail at
jyoshino@colgate.edu.