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Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

PROGRAM DIRECTOR:
Hassan H. Lopez
Associate Professor, Psychology
Office: Tisch 156
Telephone: (518) 580 - 5314

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT:
Carol Lloyd

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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

We strongly encourage all NS majors to engage in independent research as part of their curriculum.  We have many avenues into research, and hope that you begin this process sooner rather than later!  Please note that you will need to talk to your professors in order to enroll in these research courses.  Approach them well before registration period to ask if you can join their lab – spots are competitive and labs can fill quickly.  A good time to ask a professor about joining their lab is after a semester has finished and you’ve just completed a course with that professor and done well in it.

Course Offerings
 Summer Research Opportunities

Courses you can enroll in:

NS275 - Introduction to Neuroscience Research (1 credit):  this is often the entry-point in a professor’s lab.  It is a 1-credit research experience that varies quite a bit, depending upon the professor.  Generally speaking, it will give you the opportunity to see what kind of research goes on in a professor’s lab and how you could fit into that research program.  You can do several of these, with different professors.  It can often be beneficial to join a lab in this manner your 1st or 2nd year at Skidmore. 

Course description from the college catalog:  An introductory exploration of conducting research in neuroscience. The purpose of this learning experience is to provide students with an interactive research experience in the laboratory or field, in coordination with a faculty member. Students may be exposed to, and participate in, several aspects of the research process, including planning, designing, and implementing the research, as well as in data analysis and interpretation of the results. This experience will allow students at various stages of their careers to sample research questions/methodologies in particular subdisciplines of neuroscience, and will enhance the student’s ability for more independent work. Prerequisites: completion of NS 101 and permission of instructor. This course can be repeated for credit up to five credits. Must be taken S/U.

PS371B - Research Independent Study In Psychology (3 credits):  this and BI371 are often the next step up for students, in terms of independent research.  Again, the experience is highly variable depending upon the lab you join.  However, the time commitment is more intense and you will likely be spending 10-15 hours per week in the lab, as part of this experience.

Course description from the college catalog:  Directed study providing students with the opportunity for an intensive research experience in a particular laboratory or field setting. The emphasis is on the further development of students’ research skills within a particular area of psychological inquiry. Each student will work with an individual faculty member on various aspects of the research process including the design and implementation of a research project, data analyses and interpretation, and scientific writing. This one-semester experience may be repeated for credit.  Prerequisites: PS101 and consent of instructor.

BI 371 - Independent Study (3 credits):  similar to PS371B, and often the next step up after an NS275 for students, in terms of independent research.

Course description from the college catalog:  An opportunity for students to pursue in depth specialized topics not available through regular course offerings. Prerequisites: agreement of a faculty member to serve as tutor, a topic acceptable both to student and tutor, and permission of the Department.

PS375/376 – Senior Research Project I and II (4 credits each):  a year-long thesis experience, in which you work intimately with an individual faculty member whose home in the Psychology department on an honor’s worthy senior capstone project.

Course description from the college catalog: Students will work with an individual faculty member to develop a major research project. This development will include the conceptualization of a topic, review of the scientific literature, the learning of any necessary research techniques, the execution of any preliminary research, and the submission of a written research proposal to the faculty supervisor. Each student will make an oral presentation of the proposal to other senior thesis students as well as the Psychology faculty at the end of the semester. Students will also attend weekly one-hour seminar meetings to discuss with the faculty member coordinating the program as well as other student participants the design of their research project. Discussion topics will include preparation of materials for the Institutional Review Board, students’ perspectives on their literature reviews, discussion of writing and revising, and preparation for thesis proposal defenses.

BI385 – Research Methods in Biology (4 credits):  a semester-long intensive research experience, in which you work with a NS-affiliate faculty whose home is in the Biology Department.

Course description from the college catalog:  An opportunity for students to engage in laboratory or field research in collaboration with a faculty member. Emphasis is on the development of analytical and technical expertise in biological research. Students meet weekly for one hour of discussion but work independently with their individual faculty mentors in pursuit of their research. Students defend their results in the form of an oral presentation to the Department.  Prerequisites: agreement by a faculty member to serve as mentor, completion of two 200-level courses in Biology except BI 299, and permission of the instructor. Must be taken S/U.

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Summer Research Experiences:

We also encourage our students to conduct research during summer sessions, either at Skidmore College or other institutions. 

For information on Skidmore’s summer research program, go here: http://cms.skidmore.edu/dof/facstu_research/index.cfm

And here is a listing of some other summer research programs you might want to apply to:

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