BBE Student Opportunities

A unique feature of our biology program enables all biology majors to complete a year long independent research project pursuing an original research question. This experience closely matches the research flow in a master's or PhD program, giving students ownership over the work and preparing them to excel in future research oriented careers, providing them a leg up on biology majors from other institutions. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you'll gain valuable experience in the various steps in the research process, including: Preparing a research proposal, conducting experiments, analyzing results, and presenting research.

The senior research project also helps you develop valuable project management and professional communication skills that are necessary in the workplace. Rose is the only school in Indiana to require an almost 2 year, five-quarter, extensive research project at the undergraduate level, and it is one reason our graduates are attractive to graduate schools and employers.

As a Biology or Biomedical Engineering student, you’ll have the opportunity to work on multi-disciplinary research with faculty and students from other departments. Recent projects have investigated alternative energy sources, the emergence of new viruses, and plant disease defense mechanisms. 

Rose-Hulman also provides opportunities for engaged student to begin independent research easily in their undergraduate career. Through programs like Independent Project/Research Opportunities Program (IPROP), Rose-Hulman Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (R-SURF), or Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative (IRC), students can receive funding and other support to engage in research experiences with faculty and upper-year students. Rose students present work at regional and national conferences. For example, students have presented work at conferences hosted by: Rice University, The Society for the Study of Evolution, The American Society of Naturalists, and the American Society of Microbiology.  

Many Rose-Hulman grads have gone on to have rewarding schools as physicians. With constant advances in technology, medical schools are very interested in students with engineering and science backgrounds. 

Talk with your advisor to find what courses you'll need to prepare yourself for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). If medical school is in your future, we can help you get there. 

Research experiences are an important component of biology education. As juniors and seniors, all biology students perform independent, faculty-mentored thesis research. Course-based undergraduate research experiences or CUREs offer another opportunity for research experience. CUREs are authentic research experiences where students engage in a research project and learn the process of science in the context of a course. Studies show that CUREs have the same benefits as an apprentice-model of undergraduate research, but CUREs have the additional benefit of impacting a larger number of students. By incorporating CUREs into our biology courses, we extend research opportunities to engineering majors who enroll in our biology courses. In addition, our first year and sophomore biology students become engaged in research early, enabling them to develop technical skills and grow as scientists prior to thesis research which may lead to greater productivity.

Examples of CUREs in the Biology Program

Tiny Earth Initiative

Students enrolled in Microbiology are involved in the international Tiny Earth project that seeks to address the issue of increasing antibiotic resistance through the discovery of new antibiotics from soil microorganisms isolated on campus. In their research, students isolate and screen microorganisms for their ability to produce antibiotics directed against safe relatives of the most common antibiotic-resistant pathogens in hospital settings. Students characterize their best antibiotic producer.

Cell Biology Cancer Research

In the Cell Biology course, students investigate potential therapeutic compounds that may interfere with “hallmarks” of cancer. Students test a specific compound experimentally to see if the compound inhibits proliferation and migration of normal and cancerous cells. This project is a part of the Cell Biology Education Consortium.

Biodiversity in Woodlands of West Central Indiana

In the first biology course, Evolution and Diversity, students perform a biodiversity analysis of species in the woods on the 1100-acre farm campus. Students collect data using various methods to understand about the biodiversity of different groups (soil microorganisms, invertebrates, birds, trees, herbaceous plants, and other species – including animals caught by trail cams). With planned construction projects on the farm campus, we can assess long-term effects of human activities on the biodiversity of the woods.