Biology Department
Research
Reed's distinctive undergraduate science program is founded on hands-on learning that presents students with the challenge and excitement of confronting unanswered questions about the natural world. The success of this enterprise is based on a purposeful blurring of the distinction between the research activities of the faculty and the educational experiences of the students.
Faculty research is a vital component of Reed's science curriculum. The laboratory work of students in upper-division classes and in the Senior Thesis frequently is conducted in the laboratory of a faculty member and often moves close to the contemporary edge of scientific knowledge and conjecture. Of the more than 200 articles published by Reed's science faculty in the last decade, well over 50 percent were co-authored by students.
The Facilities web page provides a detailed description of our building and the research and teaching facilities available to our faculty and students.
Faculty Research
All Biology Department faculty are actively engaged in research, with many research projects supported by extramural research funds. Descriptions of individual research projects can be found on each faculty member's homepage.
Undergraduate Research
Biology Majors can become involved in research while at Reed in a number of different ways. Some examples include:
Senior Thesis
All seniors on campus complete a year-long, senior thesis project. Biology majors use this opportunity to become engaged in an in-depth, independent research investigation. Follow this link to read more about Biology Senior Theses and to see a list of the diverse research topics that Reed Biology Majors and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) Majors have pursued over the years. Abstracts are included at this link for many of the recent thesis research projects completed in the Biology Department
Reed Magazine has occasionally profiled Biology seniors and their thesis projects. The summer, 2007 issue featured an article on Monika Wieland and her thesis research investigating acoustic communication in orcas of Puget Sound, WA. The fall, 1997 issue included an article profiling Eliza Gould's investigation into the physiology of northwest conifers, which included field-work that took her into the canopy of Douglas-fir forests for her sample collection.
Summer Research
Summer research opportunities for students are supported by grants to individual faculty members and by grants to the Biology Department.
James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation Summer Research Awards. Through a grant to the Biology Department from the Miller Foundation, funds are available to support stipends and laboratory expenses for a limited number of Reed students working with faculty members on biological and biochemical research projects.
Reed College Science Research Fellowship supports summer research by teams of Reed College faculty and students. The RCSRF was created through the generosity and thoughtfulness of Reed alumni who were elected members of the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original scientific research.
Milton L. Fischer Memorial Field Research Fellowship is an endowed fund administered by the Biology Department. The fellowship honors Milton Fischer, a popular and influential graduate of this department (1986).
Sandy River Gorge Field Study Award provides an opportunity to conduct student-originated, independent research and field studies in the Sandy River Gorge east of Portland. The support comes from a grant to the college by a private individual with great interest in the Sandy River Gorge Natural Area. The Nature Conservancy shares in this cooperative project.
Arch and Fran Diack Student Field Research Award provides support for student independent field study during the summer months. The basic intent is to encourage original contributions by students to scientific problems in the natural world. Students in any academic disciplines can submit a proposal for a project of their own design and completion. The stipend may also be used to participate in an established field research program.
Summer Research (Off-campus)
We will keep a posting of announcements for off-campus research opportunities as they become know to us. Many institutions have established Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs for research internships during summer months.
Friday Research Seminars
The Biology Department also has an ongoing program of Research Seminars that take place on most Friday afternoons of the academic year. The list of invited speakers is chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of the biological sciences. The Seminar Schedule for the current academic year is available online. Please check back as this information is updated regularly.
