There are many opportunities for students to carry out research in the laboratory of a faculty member. A broad spectrum of state-of-the-art research activities are performed at Yale in the EEB department and in related departments including the Yale Medical School Medicine and the School of the Environment. This research is in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, neurobiology, physiology, environmental sciences, plant science, ecology and evolution. All interested students are encouraged to participate in research.
Students may work in laboratories for academic credit and/or experience. Financial support may be available in some cases for research activities, but students being paid may not receive course credit. The choice of a research laboratory should be made in consultation with faculty members and the Director of Undergraduate Studies or the Research Coordinator.
Research Courses
During registration for the next academic year, students with Research Coordinator approval may enrol in independent research courses. EEB 4474 in intended for research prior to senior year. EEB 4475/4476/4495/4496 are primarily for students who are culminating their undergraduate experience by doing independent study to fulfill the senior requirement for the BS. These courses count towards the 36 credits required for the Yale College degree; but other than meeting the senior requirement, these courses do NOT contribute to satisfying the requirements for the major.
For research courses, hours and typically arranged at the mutual convenience of the student and the faculty advisor. Students taking EEB 474 or 4475/4476 are expected to spend at least 10 hours per week in the laboratory of a faculty member; the intensive courses (EEB 4495/4496) carry an expectation of 20 hours/week. Students are expected to attend monthly lab discussion groups.
Students interested in Directed Reading tutorials should register for EEB 4469. Students undertaking a literature review for the senior essay requirement for the BA may enrol in EEB 4470. Each of these courses carry 1 credit.
Students must register each semester to be enrolled, and at the completion of each term, a paper must be submitted to their professor. Research should be conducted under the supervision of the same faculty. At the end of each term a written report on the research accomplished must be submitted before a grade will be given.
Please note that taking an EEB research course at any time does not satisfy lab requirements or elective requirements for the EEB major. Approval from the Yale College Committee on Honors and Academic Standing is required if certain limits are exceeded. A student must petition the committee for permission to enroll in more than one such course credit in any one term before the senior year or in more than two such course credits in any one term during the senior year. Permission is also required for a student to enroll in more than three such course credits in the first six terms of enrollment. In the petition the student must give sound academic reasons for exceeding these limits.
EEB 469 & 474 can be taken more than once.
Summer Research
Yale students can also perform research with a faculty member during the summer months, which allows students to devote full-time effort to a research project. Summer research enables students to continue research that was initiated during the previous academic year or to begin research that will be continued during the following academic year. Sometimes the faculty member has grant funds that can support students during the summer. Other possibilities for financial support can be found at http://science.yalecollege.yale.edu/fellowships-grants. Interested students should consult a member of the Yale faculty or the director of undergraduate studies. Academic credit is not granted unless the student is registered in (and paying tuition to) the Yale summer school. Summer research at other institutions is possible through several programs. More information can be found at: http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/funding-opportunities. Yale does not award academic credit for research done at other institutions, even if done in the context of a course.