Independent Study in Biology at the College of Wooster

In the spring semester of your junior year at the College of Wooster you will select an advisor to guide and mentor you through the Independent Study process. This page is for those students considering working with me on their I.S. projects. For general information on the I.S. process at Wooster see http://academics.wooster.edu/is and for information about I.S. projects in the Biology Department see http://www.wooster.edu/biology/IS/handbook.html

in·de·pen·dent (adj.) def. 1. Free from the influence, guidance, or control of another or others;

self-reliant: an independent mind.

We call it independent study because it is ultimately you who is responsible for designing, planning, executing and completing your project. From start to finish, this is your project and it is your responsibility to see it through to the end. Independent Study at Wooster is a rigorous experience and is not simply an extended laboratory exercise. If you conduct your I.S. project under my tutelage, it will be an independent project and I will expect that you are willing to give the very best that you have. This is not meant to scare you, but rather to be clear as to what my (and the College’s) expectations are.

My expectations:

• I expect you to read widely and explore the scientific literature on your topic in great depth. This is the first step in designing a meaningful project.

• I expect you design, plan, conduct, analyze and write up your own project, with my assistance (see below).

• During the school year, I expect to meet with you once a week. At certain times and with certain people, once every two weeks may work, but to keep you on track, plan on one weekly meeting. If you are conducting research during the summer, I expect at least one e-mail, letter or phone call a week to update me of your progress.

• I expect you to take your I.S. project seriously and make every reasonable effort to ensure its success.

Having now said all of this about independence, you can be sure that (if we should choose to go through this process together) I will help, guide, mentor and assist you to the best of my ability. Introducing students to the scientific process of discovery and critical exploration of ideas is one the best things about being a professor and I will do my best to assist you through I.S.

What I will do for you:

• I will help with your statistical analysis, if necessary. Note: I will not do your stats for you!

• Often it is necessary to write and submit permit and/or grant applications to the College or other agencies for permission to do your project. I will assist you in writing these documents.

• I will provide any training or equipment that I can to help you with your project.

• I will help guide you in seeking the appropriate literature articles for your I.S.

• I will (when necessary) help you in the lab or the field to get your project off the ground.

• Where necessary, I will set deadlines to keep your project on track.

• I will provide comments and input on drafts of your I.S., starting as early as you would like. Note: I will not provide any services to you as an I.S. advisor over spring break (it’s my break too!). Any final drafts need to be to me at least a few days before spring break starts, if you’d like my comments before I.S. Monday.

Selecting a Project

You will not simply be handed a project that you can carry out without being involved in its planning. For you to be fully engaged in the I.S. process, this needs to be a project that you select because it interests you, not because it interests me. I am best able to advise topics in ecology or evolutionary biology. These have often had a field-based approach, but laboratory or molecular projects are also possible. My expertise is in vertebrate animals (particularly with amphibians) and most of my students conduct projects on these types of organisms. That doesn’t mean that you can’t work with me if you want to work with plants, beetles, fungi, or Klingons, it simply means that I’m best able to advise projects on vertebrates. While you are expected to select your own project, we may have some overlap in our interests and if any of my current or planned projects (see Research Interests) sounds intriguing, we may be able to find a topic that is mutually beneficial. In the end, the only thing that limits the choice of your I.S. topic is your imagination. However, some projects are much more doable than others, and part of my job is to make sure you find a topic that you are likely to be able to complete in the time available. To give you an idea of what has been done previously in my lab, I have listed a few projects that my I.S. students are currently engaged in or have recently completed.

Selected Current and Previous Student Projects

The function of vocalizations in a capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica.

Cricket frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) declines in Ohio: is acid rain responsible?

Geographic variation in competitive interaction between two terrestrial salamanders (genus Plethodon).

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a biogeographic barrier to stream fish in Medina Co., Ohio.

Environmental correlates of oviposition site selection in painted turtles (Chrysemys picta).

The I.S. process will challenge you but it is also an opportunity for you to shine and grow. If you think you’re up to it, please feel free to schedule a meeting with me. Let the journey begin…..