Pathways to the Honors Scholar in Molecular and Cell Biology

All MCB Honors Majors are required to:

  • Complete 12 Honors credits at 2000-level or above in MCB via enrollment in MCB Honors courses, standard MCB courses with Honors conversion, or 5000-level graduate courses (conversion not required). Note: only 3 credits of MCB 4996 - Honors Undergraduate Research, or MCB 3189 - Clinical Research Lab may count toward the 12 MCB Honors credit minimum.
  • Complete Engagement in the Major Field.
  • Complete an Honors thesis with a molecular biological focus.
  1. Find an MCB lab or non-MCB lab (including the HRP at UConn Health) studying a molecular biological research area that interests you.
  2. Develop a research and honors thesis plan with your research advisor, in consultation with your MCB honors advisor (if you are conducting research in an MCB lab these may be the same person).
  3. Do ~ 3 to 4 (or more) semesters of research.
  4. Present your research at the MCB undergraduate research symposium and a poster as Frontiers (if accepted). [Note: this is not a requirement for the MCB honors degree, but is recommended]
  5. Write a thesis in consultation with your advisor (following MCB thesis guidelines). Submit thesis online here.
    1. Take 1 semester of MCB 3100 and 2-3 semesters of MCB 3189. MCB 3100 must be taken in Junior year.
    2. Take Stats 1000Q or 1100Q.
    3. In consultation with course instructor, develop a hypothesis, write a IRB protocol, get it approved at Children’s Hospital.  Get honors advisor approval after IRB approval.
    4. Attain and  analyze data as written in your protocol in consultation with Children’s Hospital faculty or fellow.
    5. Present a poster of your results during class poster session.
    6. Write a press release about  your work.
    7. The honors Thesis shall consist of:
      1) approved IRB protocol
      2) A 1 page printout of the approved poster
      3) the press release.
    8. Submit thesis here.
    1. Enroll in Dr. Ping Zhang’s MCB 4997W the semester you plan to complete your thesis. Dr. Zhang will advise you in developing a topic and writing a review with a molecular biological focus. Alternatively, you may develop a literature review topic in consultation with other UConn faculty with approval of your MCB Honors advisor.
    2. Do an extensive review of the relevant literature. Develop an outline and timeline with Dr. Zhang or your thesis advisor with approval of your MCB Honors advisor.
    3. Write an in-depth and comprehensive review as outlined by MCB thesis guidelines.
    4. Submit the review here.