Biomedical Sciences and the Big "What's Next?"
Are you a Biomedical Sciences student wondering what comes next? If yes, you will be very interested in exploring our data set with us.
Project description
Biomedical Science undergraduates have a lot of options; however, they might not realize all these options while engaged in a heavy course load. Research in our lab centers specifically on understanding career development for undergraduate biomedical science students and making this career development more accessible to all students. To do this, we need to directly engage with Jacobs School students themselves. We collect large, quantitative data sets yearly from Jacobs School undergraduates and we individually interview students for corresponding qualitative data sets. Most of our work is considered to be “mixed methods,” meaning we start with large quantitative data sets to find trends, and then individually interview participants to learn more about the mechanisms underlying these trends. Our current data sets aim to 1) understand what career development strategies undergraduates implement and why; 2) connect motivation to career development in undergraduates; and 3) understand how graduate students engage in the lab section process. This project has funding for two undergraduates who are looking to develop their analytic skills, their interpersonal skills, and make connections throughout the Jacobs School. Undergraduate students on this project will: 1) conduct analyses of the existing quantitative data sets (e.g. regression modeling, latent class analysis); 2) assist in conducting individual interviews; and 3) assist in the qualitative analysis of interview data (e.g. thematic analysis).
Project outcome
- Presenting a scientific poster.
- Contributing to a scientific manuscript.
- Influencing career development services across the Jacobs School.
Project details
| Length of commitment | Longer than a semester (about 6-9 months) |
| Start time | Spring |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | Hybrid |
| Level of collaboration | Individual student project |
| Benefits | Stipend |
| Who is eligible | All undergraduate students, preferably those who are on a Biomedical Sciences path and have an interest in statistics and interpersonal relationships. |
Core partners
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Project mentor
Melissa McCartney
Associate Professor
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Phone: (716) 881-8003
Email: mrm10@buffalo.edu
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
Students will need to complete CITI training: https://medicine.buffalo.edu/orientation/checklist/citi-training.html
Suggested reading is attached:
Keywords
biomedical sciences, science education, jacobs school of medicine, biology, career development, data analysis