Since all matter in the universe is comprised of the elements in the periodic table, a thorough understanding of chemical compounds and their reactions affects every aspect of our lives. Progress in our understanding of chemical processes (medical, biological, environmental, industrial) comes about as the result of fundamental research, much of which is conducted at research universities. Since research is such an integral part of chemistry and related fields, experience in the methods employed in well designed research is an important part of the educational process.

Research Requirements

At Wayne State University, all candidates for the B.S. in Chemistry degree are required to become involved in a research project with a chemistry faculty member for a minimum of one semester. However, two semesters are highly recommended. B.A. candidates may also become involved in research projects, although this is not a requirement for the degree. All research students are required to write a final report on their results. This report must be approved by the Chairperson of the Department of Chemistry before credit is awarded for the research experience.

During a single semester, a student learns some of the mechanics of how to do research but it is rare that useful results can be obtained in such a short period of time. Therefore, two or more semesters of research are recommended. The research project must be initiated at least two semesters before a student plans to graduate. Moreover, since the majority of chemistry majors find that the research experience is the highlight of their education, students are encouraged to sign up for research at an earlier point in their academic career so that the experience can be extended should they choose to do so. Strongly motivated students may become engaged in research as early as the completion of their freshman year.

Credit

Juniors or seniors should register for 2 credit hours of CHM 5999 during the first semester in which they commence their research project. Freshmen or sophomores should sign up for 2 credit hours of CHM 2999 for the same purpose. Registration for these courses during the first semester of active research serves as an acknowledgment that the student has a legal right to be actively engaged in conducting experiments in the research laboratory in the event of any accidents or emergency. Students may continue their research for additional semesters without formally registering for credit. A grade of "Y" (deferred-indicating that the work is ongoing) will be assigned initially. When the final report is approved, the "Y" will be converted to the appropriate letter grade.

Selection of a Research Advisor

Students may select any faculty member in the Department of Chemistry to serve as their research advisor. Before signing up to work with a specific faculty member, however, it is recommended that interviews be held with at least three faculty members so that some of the options available can be explored.

Students who are planning to select a research advisor should meet with Dr. Jeremy Kodanko, 267 Chemistry Building, to discuss the options available. He will both provide additional information and will help guide students in selecting their advisors.

It should be recognized that each chemistry faculty member is engaged in a different area of chemical research. The specific project may be decided upon jointly by the student and the advisor but will be within the area of expertise of the advisor selected. For information on the research interest of WSU faculty, click here

Guidelines for Writing the Final Report

At the completion of the research experience, each student must submit a final report describing the work accomplished and placing it in its proper context. This can be done in the same type of format found in research papers published in scientific journals. Normally the report will consist of four main sections: Introduction, Experimental Section, Results and Discussion. The report should include figures and tables of data if pertinent. The description of the project and the discussion of the results should be related to work done by other researchers in other locations through citations to appropriate references, since all research projects are necessarily related to the findings of other scientists in related fields. A sheet containing specific guidelines as to the style and content of the final report can be obtained from Dr. Kodanko in 267 Chemistry, or by clicking here.

Honors Degrees

All candidates for either B.S. or B.A. chemistry degrees "with Honors" are required to conduct their research for a minimum of two semesters and to register for a minimum of 4 credit hours of research. At least two of the research credits must be earned using the CHM 5998 (Honors research) designation. The other two hours may be earned as CHM 2999, 5998 or 5999. The final report must be written in a more formal manner as a Bachelor's Thesis. (This will normally be written in the same style as a Master's Thesis). A committee consisting of three faculty members (including the student's research advisor, the chemistry honors advisor, and a member of the Chemistry Curriculum Committee) will read the Bachelor's Thesis and will then meet with the honors candidate to discuss the results. Details can be obtained from Dr. Kodanko in 267 Chemistry or by clicking here.