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!
Requirements
Beginning with winter 2024 registration, students will no longer be required to request a permission number for NEUROSCI 399-0-60. Only Neuroscience majors will be able to register for the course.
The first week of the term, you will have access to Canvas to upload the documentation. All documentation must be uploaded to the Canvas website for this course the first week of class.
Proposal
Please read full instructions.
A 1-2 page research proposal is due before 5pm, the Friday of the first week of the term. If you need additional time, ask Dr. Kilman through an email on the Canvas site. It is worth 20% of your grade. If it doesn't meet standard, and it is turned in on time, you will have the opportunity to rewrite after feedback. Everyone should earn full credit. There is a "sliding scale" of expectations so if it is your first time writing a proposal, try but don't worry.
Every 399 student must submit this proposal on Canvas, even if you submitted a proposal previously through another route (email, etc.). Submit in .docx format only. 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.
but we do not require a 'preparation" section or figures. Do not include a budget.
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.
If you are unsure your project is related to neuroscience, then request a meeting with Dr. Kilman by emailing neuroscience@u.northwestern.edu to determine if the project is suitable for NEUROSCI 399 credit. Please list when you are available to meet with Dr. Kilman, Wednesdays or Thursdays, 11 am until 4:30 pm and if you prefer an in-person or zoom meeting.
There will be no late adds for NEUROSCI 399-0-60 after the last day to add a class. For fall 2024, the deadline is September 30th, 2024.
Grading criteria and due dates for summaries to faculty mentor will be listed on Canvas.