Fruit flies in central Virginia: Capstone research projects at a community college and partnership with a university genomics lab

Abstract

Add your information, graphs and images to this section. Biology 299 is a required one-semester, two-credit independent research and methods course for students seeking an A.S. in Science. Biweekly class meetings focus on • research design • experimental iteration • analysis • interpretation • communication Students design and conduct an authentic research project with guidance from a faculty mentor. Other students and faculty and laboratory staff form a community of practice and provide support and feedback. The semester concludes with a celebratory lunch and poster session open to the college community. Research projects span a wide range of questions, with several common features: the answers are not known, the cost of the project is low, and the experimental phase can be completed in eight to ten weeks.