Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology

About this opportunity

The Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology major (MBB) puts its emphasis on molecular and cellular biology and gene technology and their applications in the interdisciplinary, exponentially-expanding and constantly-evolving fields of human inquiry known as Life Sciences. It is good to remember that the “Age of Biology” (the 21st Century) was ushered primarily by molecular biosciences.

Beyond its self-evident relevance to human well-being, environmental health and sustainable economy, molecular biology is intellectually stimulating, beautiful and fun. As such, MBB students are engaged in research across ASU (most Biodesign Institute Centers, School of Life Sciences, School of Molecular Sciences, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering and other departments around all ASU campuses), while many other students choose to do their research at one of the many excellent research organizations around the valley (e.g. TGen, U of Arizona Med School, Mayo Scottsdale, Barrow Neurological Inst. etc.). Research areas are as diverse as immunology, structural biology, host-pathogen interactions, cancer, functional genomics studies of sex chromosomes, drug addiction and microbiome of Antarctic rocks.

Research in any of these areas would be beneficial for any future career steps wherever your path takes you: medical school, graduate school, law school, industry or open a biotech start up yourself!

Get involved in research early: ideally by the spring semester of your sophomore year you should secure a lab for the remaining time at ASU (i.e. Junior and Senior years). Contact the MBB’s Faculty Honors’ Advisor, Professor Tsafrir Mor at [email protected]. Finding a spot in a lab is quite competitive and one of the FHA’s roles is to facilitate the process of matching up all MBB Honors students with a mentoring lab.

A non-exhaustive list of undergraduate student research opportunities around the valley:

• School of Life Sciences
• Biodesign Institute
• School of Molecular Sciences
• Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative
• TGen Helios Scholars
• Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
• University of Arizona Basic Medical Sciences
• Barrow Neurological Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Thesis

Most UG student researchers work closely with a graduate student or a postdoctoral trainee doing research led by the lab's principle investigator (your mentor). As you will be honing your lab skills, you and your mentor will carve out a particular niche of research work – “your project”. In addition of working on your project, during the time in the lab you would be expected to preform various routine chores and participate in lab meetings where you will also present your research progress. 

While Barrett's expectation is only one semester of research, significant molecular research often takes much longer and most mentors will expect you to spend several semesters in their lab. Moreover, as an MBB student you must be enrolled in two semesters of research (MBB 495 or equivalent, and MBB 492) 

A semester before you plan to enroll in MBB 492, you will need to submit a “prospectus” - a research proposal describing the scientific question(s) you will be working on, major hypotheses and proposed experiments. At this point you will also assemble your thesis committee that will be chaired by your mentor (the First Reader). The Second Reader will be another ASU faculty member (who will co-chair the committee in case your mentor is not an ASU faculty member). The Third Reader (required per SoLS norms) is often the lab member with whom you worked directly.

Once completed, these experiments will form the basis of your “Thesis”. The scope is typically that of a research paper in the particular field of inquiry supplemented by a substantial literature review. However, the particulars depend on the specific project, the expectations of your mentor and the norms of the specific field you will be working in (MBB is very interdisciplinary and these can vary a lot). Finally, you will defend your thesis in a public seminar and in a private examination with your committee. The writing and the defense of the thesis are done while enrolled in MBB 493.

Academic Preparation

Although you can join a lab at any points during your ASU studies, taking MBB 347 before you start is strongly and warmly advised. The course, "Molecular Genetics" and particularly its accompanying lab will teach you many of the basic skills that will allow you to “hit the ground running”.

Recommended Timeline

First Year: 
Although it is never too early to start working in a lab, I believe that a reasonable timeline would leave your first year to adjust to college (academically, socially and personally) without stressing over the need to find a lab “right away”. You should keep your eyes and ears open for information about cool research projects, excellent labs and fantastic mentors. You should also cultivate your network of junior (e.g. TAs) and senior faculty (e.g. professors). For example, visit your professors at their Student Success Hours - not just to talk about the course they are teaching but to engage them in conversation about the research they do. Try to meet with your FHA during your first year.

Second Year: 
Start focusing your interests on particular areas that look interesting to you. Go through faculty websites and assemble a long list (6 names) that your FHA will help you shorten further. Certainly try to contact people on the list, but make an appointment with your FHA. They can help in securing interviews with prospective mentors . 

Before the interview, go over your potential mentors’ recent papers. Don’t feel intimidated if the papers are technical and look and feel impenetrable. Remember you are learning to be a scientist and the first thing you need to learn is to ask questions, not have answers! By the middle of your second year’s spring semester you should have already secured a lab for starting as early as is possible, but certainly for the fall. Good labs fill early, so plan ahead.

Third Year: 
Your first few months are critical to ensure your integration into the lab. Be punctual, be reliable, be helpful, be inquisitive and supportive of all the lab members. Sign up for MBB 495 (or if off campus, for MBB484) for the spring semester. Take the online prospectus/thesis workshop, write your prospectus and submit it. Talk to potential committee members and obtain their consent to serve. 

Fourth year:
Fall semester: Sign up for MBB 492. Spring semester: Sign up for MBB 493. Decide on the defense date (March and early April are good). Spend the winter break to outline your thesis and start writing it in January, making sure there's plenty of time for your committee chair to go over the draft, give you initial feedback and for you to revise. Faculty's calendars fill up early, so make sure you set a time for your defense before the due date.

Start working on your defense presentation. Slides you prepare for the presentation should also form the basis of your poster for Barrett's "Celebrating Honors Thesis Symposium". A week or so before your defense, present a practice talk to your lab. Defend, revise the thesis as needed and submit by the required deadline.

Other Honors Opportunities

Look for a passage about honors' contracts in the syllabi of the courses you take and ask your professors. Keep an eye for special honors courses or sections that come up.