Abstract:
Undergraduate students are held to rigorous standards of academic excellence while balancing extracurricular activities and employment. With the numerous options for social, service, or professional involvement on campus, students are challenged to select which opportunities are most valuable to fill their limited time. A student benefits most from an activity which promotes personal and professional growth and allows growth of lasting, meaningful relationships with peers. These elements are found in undergraduate research experiences.
Commitment to extended study outside of the classroom is one of the most valuable uses for a graduate's time, and this is especially true of students majoring in biology. Research allows students to apply broad concepts learned in the classroom to original research problems in the field or laboratory setting, all of which enhances content comprehension, professional development, and peer interaction.
