I. All BMB majors will be working under the guidance of a faculty member from the Biology or Chemistry Department. As such, each student will follow the requirements and guidelines outlined in the Independent Study handbook for the department of their advisor. Specific requirements such as style will be communicated by the individual faculty advisors. Copies of the Independent Study manuals will be provided by the respective departments. The Biology Independent Study Handbook can be found online at the department’s homepage.

II. Each student is required to attend the safety training offered by the department of their advisor. These training sessions will be advertised by the department and your advisor. Attendance is mandatory. Students will not be allowed to conduct laboratory research until the training sessions have been completed.

III. Senior BMB students will not be required to give a formal presentation on their project during the Fall. Instead, students are required to attend either the Biology or Chemistry Department’s seminar each week. There will be one or two special seminar days for senior BMB majors throughout the Fall semester that will be used for organizational purposes or matters pertaining to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program. These dates will not conflict with either the Biology or Chemistry seminars. The seminar schedule of both departments will be posted. Attendance will be taken in both seminars. Unexcused absences may be grounds for an unsatisfactory grade in BMB 451.

IV. During the Spring semester, senior BMB majors will be required to present a final 10-15 seminar summarizing the results of their project. These presentations will be at the 11:00 AM TTh seminar hour.. An abstract will be required two days before your presentation. Your abstract should be turned into Diane Rossey in the Chemistry Department office for distribution. Consult your advisor for help and details in preparing your talk and abstract.

V. BMB students will present posters at the McFarland poster session that will be held in April. Details about the poster session will be communicated at a later date.

VI. Second readers for Independent Study oral exams will come from faculty on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology curriculum committee as well as either the Biology or Chemistry departments.

VII. Grades for BMB 451 and BMB 452 will be assigned based on the guidelines and procedures outlined by the department of your advisor, and in consultation with the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology curriculum committee.