Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Undergraduate Student Research Opportunities – Spring ‘24

 

Undergraduate Student Research Opportunities – Spring ‘24

 

Contact: Dr. Bill Martin, Biological Sciences, Montgomery 448, wmartin1@niu.edu

 

To apply: Please prepare a brief statement of academic background and personal interest in the

project(s).  You may email this to Dr. Martin (email above) or set up a time to discuss your interest.  Brief interviews via Zoom, Teams or in person may be requested of any applicant as part of the screening process. Students of all academic levels with an interest in research experiences are encouraged to apply.  Candidate decision in early January 2024. 

 

Project:

1) Title: Evaluation of student learning, self-identity and demographics in an introductory Biology

classroom.

Duration: Jan 16th – April 30th

Commitment: minimum 5 hours / week; some mutually agreed to collaboration hours,

          1x project meeting per week with Dr. Martin

Compensation: $300/month

Requirements: Students complete provided research steps and present at the on-

campus CURE (Conference on Undergraduate Research Engagement) event. 

Your background: Preference given to undergrads majoring in a STEM field who have

successfully taken Bios 208 or equivalent at another institution.

 

Details: Undergraduate researchers (2 positions) will collaborate to build utility-value intervention cues, referencing culturally relevant, best teaching practices and trial these in this semester. This initial research involves trial and discovery of effective interventions to establish baseline data for future interventions and/or relevance assignments in the undergraduate Biology lecture classroom.

 

 

2) Title: Monitoring chloride levels in the South Branch Kishwaukee River watershed.

Duration: Jan 16th – April 30th

Commitment: minimum 1-2 hours / week; some mutually agreed to collaboration hours,

          1x project meeting per week with Dr. Martin

Compensation: Students may volunteer, or apply for credit in Bios 495 Directed Research in

Biology. Hourly funding of $14/hour may become available.

Requirements: Students complete provided research steps and present at the on-

campus CURE (Conference on Undergraduate Research Engagement) event. 

Your background: Preference given to undergrads majoring in a STEM field.

 

Details: Undergraduate researcher(s) (1-2 positions) will actively participate in a citizen science collaboration to complete river and stormwater sampling on and near the NIU campus.  Students will be trained in required water sampling and metadata (site conditions and sampling details) collection techniques.

 

3) Title:  Perennial Food Crop evaluation

Duration: April 15th – November 1, 2024

Commitment: minimum 1-2 hours / week; some mutually agreed to collaboration hours,

          1x project meeting per week with Dr. Martin.  Minimal work during the spring semester, weekly

work during the summer and fall semester.

Compensation: Students may volunteer, or apply for credit in Bios 495 Directed Research in

Biology. 

Requirements: Students complete provided research steps and present at the on-

campus CURE (Conference on Undergraduate Research Engagement) event. 

Your background: Preference given to undergrads majoring in a STEM field.

 

Details: Undergraduate researcher(s) (1-2 positions) will actively participate in a citizen science collaboration to evaluate perennial crop alternatives to annual soybean, sunflower, and more.  Additional information on the Land Institute website.  Work will be completed on the NIU campus in conjunction with Edible Campus.  Students will be trained in outdoor garden plot techniques.

 

 

Note: Dr. Martin is a plant geek by training and in hobby.  Please feel free to suggest plant related research projects of your personal interest.  Additional projects will be finalized and announced in spring ’24 for summer/fall student collaborations.