Here you will find information that will help you understand the process I use to work with students on their senior capstone papers and presentations.  Papers usually fall into two categories described below.  In addition, seniors make 10 minute presentations about their research topics to the department that is particularly targeted toward first years and sophomores in biology courses. 

This is a department mandated multi-step process with a series of deadlines that are announced in Biology seminar every year and to which all students are held accountable.  Failure to complete the capstone requirements usually results in a withholding of the Biology major until all requirements are completed.

A sampling of the capstone projects I have supervised:

1. •Inflammation, obesity and immunity
   

2. •Evolution of the placenta, placental immunity and fetal rejection
   

3. •Contraception strategies to control urban and rural Canada geese populations
   

4. •Regulatory T cells in transplantation biology
   

5. •HIV-associated wasting disease and nutritional interventions
   

6. •Creative coexistence: Toward a social placenta
   

7. •Therapies for multiple sclerosis
   

CAPSTONE PAPERS

1. A.A 20-30 page paper comprising a substantial literature review of a topic that the student chooses.  This (in the case of students working with me) is often within the broad purview of immunology and/or public health.  However, I have also advised capstone students on projects that are interdisciplinary in nature combining anthropology or gender studies perspectives with biology.  As this capstone is a requirement for the biology major, a substantial portion of the paper needs to be focused on biological mechanisms.
   

2. B.A 20-30 page paper that is not only a review of the relevant literature but includes a section about the student’s own research - whether in my laboratory, another laboratory off campus, conducted during study away or internship projects etc.  In this case, the significance of the study, the methods of data acquisition and analysis, results, interpretation of results and future directions are incorporated into the paper.  Note:  Students writing a honors paper in Biology do not typically write an additional capstone paper.  They do, however, make a capstone presentation in addition to their honors thesis defense.
   

Here are some resources to inform you about the capstone process I use.  I meet with all my capstone students individually at the beginning and end of the semester and at least 3-4 other times by appointment.  We also meet as a capstone group to share research topics, provide ongoing feedback/review (we set internal deadlines for the group for these), practice presentations and eat dinner!  For details, see below:

Here you will find an overview of the process of writing the capstone paper.  Here is an example of a professional review article (referred to in my introduction) that you might use as a model for the kind of paper you will be writing. 

Here is a guide to writing an annotated bibliography or annotated outline.

Here are the guidelines for peer review that we use in our capstone group.

Here is a brief guide to slide and talk preparation for the senior presentation.