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Research

 

The Neuroscience Major and Minor offer the chance to work on cutting edge research projects with Ohio State faculty. As an undergraduate researcher, you can participate in each phase of standard research activity: developing research plans with a professor, conducting research, analyzing data, and even presenting research results in oral and written form. 

Under Construction Picture

You can participate in neuroscience research during the academic year, as well as over the summer, and research can be done in any neuroscience-related lab that is willing and able to take on an undergraduate. Research projects can be as short as one term, or can continue for a year or more. Undergraduate researchers gain important hands-on experience that applies directly to careers after graduation and as graduate and professional students.

  • How many credit hours of 4998 do I get for conducting research in a lab?   Usually students get about 1 credit hour of research credit for every 3 hours of work per week for the semester (about 15 weeks).  For example, most students work about 9 hours a week in the lab during the semester, so they would be able to enroll in 3 credit hours of 4998 research.  

 

  • All students working in a research laboratory should be given course credit or payment for their time in the lab. 
  • Most students will receive 1 credit hour for each 3 hours of work completed in the lab for the entire semester. On average, students will receive 3 credit hours of research for 9 hours spent in the lab each week for the entire semester. The decided credit hours are a discussion between each student and their PI.
  • If you have been offered course credit to work in a PI’s lab, you will need to enroll in “Undergraduate Research Credit”, this is signified by the course 4998.
  • To officially enroll in 4998, students will follow the steps below:
    • Download an OSU course enrollment permission form found on the registrar’s website.
    • The student will complete the “Student Information” section of the form:

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  • The PI/ Professor is responsible for filling out the “Course Information and Action” section of the form.
  • The PI/Professor is exclusively responsible for entering in the credit hours, the class number (found within the Faculty Center) and the signature on the form as well as checking off “Entering a course requiring permission” as the action:

 

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  • Students can then drop off their form to the Neuro Advising Office *no appointment necessary, email an electronic copy to neuroadvising@osu.edu or email it directly to their Neuroscience Advisor. 

 

Benefits of Undergraduate Research

  • Explore the latest discoveries in the field of neuroscience in a new and exciting way.
  • Use research as a way to prepare for graduate or medical school, or learn skills for the workforce.
  • Get to know faculty, researchers, graduate students, and other undergraduates who share similar academic and career interests. Developing these connections can help you get strong reference letters
  • Apply what you have learned in the classroom to real-world problems.

Essential Requirements for Undergraduate Research

  1. Find a faculty research advisor to work with on a project in their laboratory
  2. Communicate with your supervisor about general expectations and time commitment
  3. Submit a course enrollment form [pdf] signed by your faculty supervisor and turn it in to your Arts & Sciences Advisor or Honors Advisor. The unpublished 4998 course number can be obtained from your research supervisor.
  4. If your research PI is not a member of the Neuroscience faculty here at OSU, and you would like your research to count toward the Neuroscience Major or Minor, you must submit an application describing your project and its relevance to neuroscience. There are separate application forms for research credit with an OSU PI and a non-OSU PI.  IF YOUR RESERACH PI IS A MEMBER OF THE NEUROSCEINCE FACULTY--ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SUBMIT A SIGNED AND COMPLETED COURSE ENROLLEMENT FORM TO NEUROADVISING@OSU.EDU.   
  5. If you secure a research opportunity with a Non-OSU faculty member you can apply for credit at this link:
    Research Pre-Approval Form for Non-OSU Faculty.  Students seeking to enroll in Neurosc 4998 must submit this application by the Friday BEFORE the first week of the semester that you will be conducting the research experience. No retroactive credit can be given.  

Usually students get about 1 credit hour of research credit for every 3 hours of work per week for the semester (about 15 weeks).  For example, most students work about 9 hours a week in the lab during the semester, so they would be able to enroll in 3 credit hours of 4998 research.  

Your PI/Faculty will have a CLASS NUMBER for their 4998 Research Course.  The CLASS NUMBER is found in their "Faculty Center."  It is the 4-5 digit number located in the parentheses.  Make sure to work with your PI/Faculty to get this number for the Course Enrollment Form.