BSC2844 – BioSkills Topic 3 - homework

Research @UWF: Undergraduate Research

Powerpoint Activity: Undergraduate Research

1) List three reasons why you think undergraduate research is important for your career:

Research will stand out positively on your medical school application. Research shows that you are
passionate about your specific project. Research can also help assist you in some of your classes.

HOMEWORK: (Questions #1-3, on back)

1. Find a faculty member who does research that interests you. Resources to find faculty research
descriptions: Select full bio to get more detailed information on individual professors

Biology Faculty:
http://uwf.edu/hmcse/departments/biology/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/

Chemistry Faculty:
http://uwf.edu/hmcse/departments/chemistry/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/

Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation Faculty:

https://uwf.edu/centers/environmental-diagnostics-and-bioremediation/our-faculty/

Exercise Science Faculty:

https://uwf.edu/ukcoh/departments/movement-sciences-and-health/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/

Psychology Faculty:
https://uwf.edu/ukcoh/departments/psychology/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/

Office of Undergraduate Research:

https://uwf.edu/offices/undergraduate-research/
2. Write a short biography (2 paragraphs or more – each paragraph should be 4-6 sentences) of the faculty
member and the research he/she does. Address the following in the biography:
Where did the faculty member receive his/her PhD? When? Did the faculty receive any additional
training (postdoctoral position)?
What does the faculty member study?
Why does this research interest you and how do you think it can help your career?

I am choosing to write about Dr. Peter Cavnar. He is both a Department Chair and Associate
Professor here at UWF. He received his PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology from Florida State University. He
also did a four-year Postdoctoral Appointment to the University of Wisconsin-Madison -- Department of
Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
Dr. Peter Cavnar is specifically interested in cell motility and the cytoskeleton, and cell death and
differentiation. This research interests me because it relates to a lot of what I want to do for my post-grad. I
will more than likely have to take his Biochemistry class in the future. I can’t wait to pick his brain on topics
that relate to both his and (hopefully) my field of study.

3. Draft a short mock e-mail to the faculty member expressing your interest in research in his/her lab. Be
sure to include in your e-mail why the research interests you and how you think it can help your career
goals. *make sure to include all the components outlined in the PowerPoint*
 Hello, Dr. Cavnar, my name is Brett Mosley. I am a Biomedical Sciences major here at UWF. I love
the work you have done in investigating cellular mechanisms that regulate cell motility. I think that this
type of research would help tremendously in achieving my goal of getting accepted into medical school. I
would like to one day publish my own research to a scientific journal. If you have any research openings
available for undergrad students I would be greatly honored if you chose me. I think the sky is the limit in
terms of what I could learn working with you.

-Thank you
Brett Mosley