BIOL 390 - Science Careers & Effective Practice

Students will consider what science is, how it works, and what it means to be a scientist.  They will learn about the limits of scientific inquiry, how the scientific method works, and how to test hypotheses and interpret results.  Students will go on to study how scientists write and the types of things they write.  This will culminate in the writing of a grant proposal.  Students will also learn about and discuss scientific ethics, including the ethics behind doing good science, and those focus around publishing.  Finally, students will learn about career options in science (both academic and not), how to write a CV, give a presentation, and apply to graduate school or for other academic positions.  The goal of the course is to teach students about the rarely-discussed, but critically important aspects of being a successful scientist.

Prerequisites: Students must be Masters, or PhD in the natural sciences. They should be research active (working in a professor’s lab). Students will need permission to enroll.

Anticipated Terms Offered: Spring