Fall 2011 - the Department of Biology - Syracuse University

The faculty of the Department of Biology takes our mandate ofeducating the next generation of life scientists extremely seriously. Aswe move forward and continue to recruit more outstanding undergraduatesto our programs, we are experiencing increased demandsfrom these talented students to engage in special opportunities suchas faculty mentored research experiences. Providing such opportunitiesfor students has been a hallmark of our educational approach inthe Department of Biology and its predecessors for almost a century.Each year a growing number of students participate in research andmany of these projects form the core of theses produced by studentsin the Honors Program or the degree with distinction in biologyor biochemistry options. Among the many students participatingin research this past academic year, 27 seniors were recognized forresearch or scholarship and research at Senior Honors Day. Undergraduateshave often been coauthors on papers published in peer-reviewedjournals and also have presented posters at national meetingsof various scientific organizations. We are, of course, extremely proudof these accomplishments of our students and faculty mentors.The advantages for students to work in the research laboratoriesare many. For those considering a graduate study in the life sciences,it is an important window into the nature of research and commitmentnecessary to complete a graduate or professional degree ina specific area of biology. Students intending to pursue careers inteaching also find the opportunity to actually do science and engagewith peers doing laboratory or field work gives them a perspective onscience that goes far beyond learning biology and teaching methodsin the classroom. However, in talking to students and alumni it isclear that the major benefit is simply the opportunity to meet facultyindividually in an environment quite different than the classroom,to say nothing of working with postdoctoral fellows and graduatestudents all focused on doing experimental work.Funding of the undergraduate research experiences has alwaysbeen through many sources. Through the Honors Program (Crown-Wise Scholars), Ruth Meyer Scholarships, Korczynski-LundgrenFund, and the Levy-Daouk Fund, we are able to provide funds forfaculty-mentored projects during the academic year and summerstipends to a small number of students engaged in extended projects.With the current interest in our programs and given the amountof support available from these sources, our funds are presentlyinadequate to meet our current needs. We are, therefore, turning toour alumni and friends for help in supporting this program. Giftsspecified for undergraduate studies this year will be added to theLevy-Daouk endowment funds to help increase our annual funds returnedfrom this account and available for the purpose of supportingundergraduate research. Please consider a gift of whatever amountyou feel appropriate to help us continue offering these importantexperiences to as many of our students as possible.To provide your financial support to Biology Undergraduate Studies,please send your gift via the enclosed reply card envelope. Formore information about giving to the Department of Biology and theCollege, contact Karen Weiss Jones, assistant dean for advancement,at 315-443-2028 or 35