Wittenberg's Neuroscience program has a deep commitment to student research, and our major and minor students are required to complete either a neuroscience related internship or independent research project prior to graduation. We encourage students to engage in one-on-one research opportunities with Wittenberg faculty. These research experiences are especially important for students who plan to apply to graduate school programs, as many require previous research experience.
Research projects vary both in scope and topic to suit the needs of the individual. Students have the option of participating in an ongoing project with a faculty member or creating their own research project. Students can conduct research during the academic year or seek internal funding to conduct their research during the summer. For more information about students research at Wittenberg, please click here.
What kinds of research opportunities are available for Neuroscience students at Wittenberg?
Classroom Opportunities to earn one credit of NEUR 492: Research
As part of our curriculum, all Neuroscience students will complete research projects within several of their laboratory classes. Students who are taking any of the following courses can do extra work on the research project embedded in the course laboratory for one credit of NEUR 492. In order for this to occur, you must speak with the instructor prior to the beginning of the research portion of the course.
- Biology 220: Neurobiology. Double to number of brain MRIs traced for the multi-week research project already assigned in this course.
- Psychology 321: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. Add a second experiment to the multi-week research project already assigned for this course.
Students can also choose to work in the laboratory of one of our Neuroscience faculty. Look at their current research and think about which lab fits best with your interests. Go and speak with that person in their office. If the faculty member has room in his or her research laboratory for another student, you have initiated a collaboration with that faculty member! Students can work with our faculty either during the academic year or in the summer.
Independent Research Opportunities with Dr. Michael Anes 鈥� Blair 116
Students in my lab create experiments that may be presented fully online or in-person, and develop skills working with images, audio files and stimulus presentation programs. Content areas of interest: I鈥檓 delighted to sponsor a variety of projects in cognition and cognitive neuroscience. I鈥檓 particularly interested in basic questions in human visual processing such as:
- How do we recognize faces and objects so easily and so flexibly?
- How do we pay visual attention to the world?
- How 鈥� and how well 鈥� do we express inhibitory control over our actions?
Independent Research Opportunities with Dr. Nick Beacher 鈥� Blair 110
Potential research activities in Dr. Beacher鈥檚 Psychology & Neuroscience lab team involve firsthand experience in building and using custom operant behavior systems designed for 3D video tracking and deep learning analyses of rats self-administering rewards (food, social, and drug) under increasing effort requirements. Student researchers will have the opportunity to receive mentored training in these techniques and are expected to assist with collection and analysis of preliminary behavioral video data using rats. Student researchers will learn and assist with proper rodent care strategies including daily welfare checks, animal safety, and aseptic techniques. We will simultaneously develop complementary research pipelines utilizing in vivo neuroscientific methods (e.g., chemogenetics and/or miniaturized microscopy) to pair with this behavioral data and explore neurobiological contributions to effort and reward seeking processes. Interested potential lab members should have enthusiasm for science, excitement for learning, and a desire to engage in behavioral neuroscience research using rats.
Independent Research Opportunities with Dr. Cathy Pederson 鈥� Science 217
Dr. Pederson鈥檚 independent research opportunities for Neuroscience students revolve around use of the Biopac system, which can be used to measure a variety of human physiological parameters. Related to neuroscience, these Biopac protocols include brainwaves (EEG), biofeedback, reaction time, and spinal cord reflexes. Students can design their own research project using one of these protocols, and submit them for consideration through Wittenberg鈥檚 Institutional Review Board. Once approved, we will seek participants to undergo the protocol designed by and run by that student researcher. This will give students experience in human research, data collection, data analysis, and presentation at a meeting like the Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience (annual meeting in late October/early November).
What is the time commitment involved in conducting an independent research project?
The time commitment varies widely by discipline and experimental protocol. Some are very time-consuming and require your presence at specific times while other projects are more flexible and allow you to come and go as your schedule permits. Be clear with your research mentor when you talk about the required time commitment to ensure that neither of you become frustrated as your project proceeds.
Can I receive academic credit when conducting independent research?
Yes! To receive academic credit for your research project, discuss signing up for the Directed Research course with your faculty research mentor. This option allows you to sign up for 1-5 semester hours of credit, and the course will appear on your official transcript.
Can my independent research project fulfill the research requirement for University or Departmental Honors?
Absolutely! If you meet the GPA and other requirements for University Honors, Departmental Honors, or both, the research you do with your faculty research mentor will fulfill the research requirement for those programs. The same research project can generally be applied to both University and Departmental Honors, if the student is eligible for both.
Are there opportunities to present my research to others?
Students often present their findings at Wittenberg鈥檚 Celebration of Learning poster sessions. In many cases, students present their research at regional or national meetings as well, including the Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience. These venues are a great way for students to meet fellow researchers and further distinguish themselves as they look forward toward graduate school after graduation.
What kinds of funding are available for independent research at Wittenberg?
Wittenberg offers competitive grants to support student research both during the academic year and the summer through our Development Board and the Biology Department (for those with a more biological view of Neuroscience).
- Academic year: $250 equipment and material grants are available
- Summer: $3000 grants (can include stipend, living expenses, and materials & equipment)
The Biology Department has additional funds available to foster student research at Wittenberg as well, and we typically supplement summer research grants from the University with an additional $1000 stipend. For more information on applying for a Biology grant award, click here.
What independent research opportunities are available regionally and nationally?
Many schools offer summer research programs for undergraduates which they use as a recruiting tool to attract strong students to their graduate or professional programs. Below are some websites that might help you as you look for summer research opportunities across nationwide.
Regional health related summer research programs:
National Neuroscience related summer research programs: