Few experiences are more valuable for undergraduates studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology than hands-on research collaboration with a faculty mentor; and few colleges offer more opportunities for such experiences than Gettysburg. Over 90% of the college’s BMB majors participate in undergraduate research, on topics that include cell cycle regulation, control of the innate immune system, molecular regulation of symbiotic relationships, the molecular genetics of deafness in horses, protein engineering, biophysics of cell membranes, and a wide variety of other topics.
Students who want to do research choose a topic that's of interest to them and then work with a faculty member to develop a research program. Research may be conducted during the academic year or in the summer, either at Gettysburg or at some other location. Research projects typically culminate in a campus presentation, and many students also become co-authors of research publications, or present research at regional or national meetings. Experiences such as these can be extremely important when applying for jobs or graduate school.