Volunteer in a Faculty Research Lab
The BNS program promotes original research and encourages undergraduate involvement both through independent research through our faculty research programs and through research-oriented laboratory classes.
Benefits of Undergraduate Research
Participating in faculty-mentored research can expose students to the true workings of the scientific method, enhance a student’s resume when applying to graduate school, as well as provide students with bench skills that make them great candidates for entry level positions in biomedical research. Student research presentation opportunities enable students to present their research in a variety of settings. Presenting original research is a great way to network, as well as practice presenting data and information to others.
To learn more about the different faculty research labs please check out the descriptions and lab website links below.
Students interested in pursuing laboratory research should contact individual faculty in their areas of interest by using the directions on their websites. In the absence of specific application process, please review the Getting Involved in Research page here.
BNS Faculty Research Labs
Dr. Jeff Cantle:
Contact Dr. Jeff Cantle by email to learn more about research opportunities and becoming a lab member.
Email: cantlej@wwu.edu
Dr. Jeff Grimm: Neurobiology of Drug and Food Addiction
Dr. Kelly J. Jantzen: Neurophysiology of of Human Perception, Action and Coordination
Dr. Josh Kaplan: Cannabis Neuropharmacology and Neurophysiology
Dr. Jacqueline Rose: Mechanisms of Neuronal Plasticity in Development, Learning & Memory
Student Research Presentation Opportunities
WWU Events
As a faculty-mentored student researcher, undergraduates are presented with several opportunities to present their research projects to the scientific or academic community.
PsychFest
PsychFest is a great opportunity for Psychology Department students to present their research to other members of the Psychology Department and other interested students/faculty. This event takes place yearly at the end of Spring quarter, and includes student poster presentations and student/faculty talks. Click here for more information, including registration information and important dates.
Scholars Week
Scholars Week is a campus-wide celebration of dedication to scholarly research. Graduate and undergraduate students from any department are encouraged to present their research in the two-day long poster presentation session. This week is typically the second week of May. Click here for more information on this exciting opportunity.
Life Sciences Symposium
Western’s Chemistry and Biology Departments co-sponsored a Life Sciences Symposium in October of 2019. This event is an opportunity for PhD graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to present their research and be involved in early career panels with the undergraduates and Master’s students at Western. The goals of this symposium are to unite biochemistry and molecular biology research at WWU; provide access and networking opportunities for students at WWU to PhD students and postdocs in biomedical and life sciences; allow PhD students and postdocs to give research talks at an outside institution; and bring together biomedical and life sciences research in the Pacific Northwest.
The event concludes with a “How to Get Into Grad School” presentation by the University of Washington’s Rich Gardner.
For event updates and information please visit the website by clicking here.
Regional Events
Vancouver-area Worm Research (Van WoRM) Meeting
The centerpiece of VanWoRM presentations is the nematode C. elegans, with topics that include gene expression and regulation, development, neurobiology and understanding molecular mechanisms of human diseases. Meetings encompass three talks averaging 20 minutes in length, and are followed by the exchange of ideas over pizza and beverages. VanWoRM is organised by students (see its History).
For additional information please visit the website by clicking here.
Psychology Student Research Conference at Bellevue College
NW Developmental Biology Meeting
National Events
Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual conference
This is the largest annual scientific conference in the world, with over 30,000 researchers from over 80 countries – and WWU BNS student researchers attend and present every year! Talk to your lab PI for more information.