THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT RESEARCH PROGRAM BIOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM

Diagnosis
THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT RESEARCH PROGRAM BIOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
The research program in the biology department offers students an opportunity to do
original research in all areas of biology, ranging from the impact of molecular changes on the
functioning of cells to the impact of global changes on living things in our environment.
Interested students apply for sophomore research courses in the spring of their freshman year.
Students who are accepted into the program take a three-year sequence of research
courses. During this time, they develop and complete an independent research project and
write a scientific paper, which they submit to Intel and other scientific competitions in their
senior year. Students generally spend two summers working on their projects as volunteers,
usually with an outside mentor at a local university. Complementing this major research
project, students also participate in a variety of problem-solving individual and team projects
and skill-building activities in the classroom.
It is expected that students who enroll in the research program will complete the threeyear
sequence. If a student drops out of Intel during sophomore year s/he must take a term
of technology education.
SBP* – SOPHOMORE BIOLOGY/PHYSICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
(5 periods per week for 1 year – Special Permission Required)
Students will find scientists at local university laboratories working in areas of interest to them
to serve as project mentors. Students will develop an individual independent research
project and write a formal research proposal, which they will present and defend during the
spring semester. In addition, students will participate in a variety of individual and team
projects, contests, and lab activities that will hone their problem-solving and research skills.
Students are expected to devote the summer between their sophomore and junior year to
working full-time as a volunteer on their research project.
SBP3 - JUNIOR BIOLOGY RESEARCH
(5 periods per week for 1 year – Special Permission Required – elective minor)
Students continue work on their individual independent research projects. They present a
research progress report during the fall semester and an updated proposal in the spring.
They continue to participate in a variety of individual and team projects, contests, and lab
activities that will hone their problem-solving and research skills. Students are expected to
devote the summer between their junior and senior year to working full-time as a volunteer
on their research project, and to complete a draft of their research paper by the end of the
summer.
Co-requisite: ZTEST
SBP5 – SENIOR BIOLOGY RESEARCH
(5 periods per week for 1 year – Special Permission Required – elective minor)
Students complete work on their individual independent research projects. The product of
the research work is the scientific research paper. Students will submit their papers to
Siemens-Westinghouse, Intel, NYCSEF, NYAS, Otto Bergdorf and other contests during the
fall semester. Students will present a research seminar during the spring semester and
provide assistance to sophomore and junior research students.