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Attention Researchers!

The Methuselah Foundation Undergraduate Research Initiative was setup, in part, to ease the job of SENS related researchers by allowing them to outsource material to undergraduate research teams.  In theory, this will allow researchers to utilize the laboratory facilities of colleges across the country without cost, and expedite the speed of their research.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  What type of facilities / knowledge do these research teams have?
2.  How many semesters can they work on my project?
3.  How long after I speak with them can they begin work on my project?
4.  What formal documentation do I need to provide for the Research Team and MFURI itself?
5.  What obligations do I have regarding the students and MFURI?
6.  How do I request a team?
7.  Can I act as a faculty mentor and begin a team at my university?
8.  What size are the research teams?
9.  Who may I speak with for additional information?

Roles and Responsibilities (Hierarchy of MFURI)
For Science Research Teams Only

Job Name Responsibilities Description
 Director of Undergraduate Affairs -General "go to" person
-Help students find a Mentor


 

 Puts research team in contact with a PhD or graduate student so they can be assigned research.  Assists with the writing of study proposals so all students in the team can be approved to participate.  Also responsible for writing letters of recommendation.  Exists as a general “go to” person.
 Research Team Mentor -Provide project and general guidance to research team
-Read monthly reports from research team
 		 PhD or graduate student that out sources laboratory work and research that can be performed by an undergraduate research team to said team.  The Research Team Director is responsible for evaluating reports from the research team as presented within the Methuselah Foundation Forums.
 Research Team Leader(s) -Perform an Advanced Honors Study
-Run the research team
-Keep all members of team accountable
-Submit monthly reports to forums

 

 One or two undergraduates of junior or senior academic status that run the undergraduate research team.  These people will act as liaisons between the Research Team Director and their team.  They also will interact directly with the Director of Undergraduate Affairs if needed (especially when first starting up) for assistance on independent study and advanced honors proposals.  They also act as a liaison for students under them who are looking for letters of recommendation.
 Omega Research Team -Perform study under direction of team leaders
-Post monthly reports in forum
 		 Undergraduates of junior or senior academic status who work under the Research Team Leaders(s).  Typically would be involved using the Advanced Honors Program unless GPA restricts participation to only independent study.
 Alpha Research Team -Perform study under direction of team leaders
-Post monthly reports in forum		 Undergraduates of freshman or sophomore academic status who work under the Research Team Leaders(s).  Typically would be involved using an independent study.
 
*Please refer to the Undergraduate Research Proposal for further clarification of roles.

 

1.  What type of facilities / knowledge do these research teams have?

The facilities of the teams vary from college to college, but one could expect that most teams will have access to all basic laboratory equipment and some other instruments.  All students will be undergraduate students, so projects should be written for that academic level.  As part of the Independent Studies and Advanced Honors Programs, students must provide a faculty mentor from their respective college.  As such, there will be a faculty member who can assist to some degree with showing the students how to use more complicated equipment and proper laboratory protocol.  All team leaders must be of junior or senior academic status, so they should have gone through all lower and mid level undergraduate courses in their respective major.  Back to top.

2.  How many semesters can they work on my project?

Most Independent Studies are intended for only one semester, with a general limit of three total independent studies per student.  Advanced Honors projects can range from two to five semesters, but would generally take place over the course of one to one and a half years.  The intention is that research team leaders will setup teams and recruit other undergraduates to work on the team.  After the team leaders graduate, the lower level undergraduates will be juniors and seniors, and able to take the place of the graduating team leaders.  Therefore in theory, your interaction with a research team is as long as the project is, or as long as you continue to have work for them to perform.  Back to top.

3.  How long after I speak with them can they begin work on my project?

Proposals for either the Independent Study or the Advanced Honors Program should be submitted no later than the semester before the project will take place.  We recommend that for the first semester, team leaders read the latest literature about your research project, assemble their team, and begin receiving proper training on laboratory equipment needed for the project.  Therefore, researchers should allow at least one semester, but more likely one and a half, before students actually begin performing the provided project.  Back to top.

4.  What formal documentation do I need to provide for the Research Team and MFURI itself?

You must introduce yourself and submit a copy of your research project on the online forums, to the Director of Undergraduate Affairs, and to all students who will be performing your project (e.g., all members recruited for the research team).  Back to top.

5.  What obligations do I have regarding the students and MFURI?

We ask that all researchers who utilize MFURI recognized research teams be willing to write all team members letters of recommendation for their contributions.  Members of the research team will be required to submit monthly reports on the online forums.  Team mentors (researchers) should plan on reading these reports and guiding progress.  Additionally, researchers should be in open dialogue with team leaders and the DOUA to appropriately direct the project.  Back to top.

6.  How do I request a team?

You must post your written project in the online forums.  You may also submit it directly to the DOUA, who can contact individuals and inquire for you.  Additionally, the forums do have a separate location for undergraduates looking for projects.  You may read undergraduate's profiles and find someone most suitable for you there.  It should be noted that in the end, you must select / approve your research team.  We do not assign.  Back to top.

7.  Can I act as a faculty mentor and begin a team at my university?

Absolutely!  We highly encourage this.  Back to top.

8.  What size are the research teams?

Teams are intended to range in size from 4-8 students, but can vary according to the needs of the project and the size of the college.  Back to top.

9.  Who may I speak with for additional information?

The Director of Undergraduate Affairs is the go-to person for anyone interested in utilizing undergraduates to perform research.  Back to top.
 
   

The Methuselah Foundation Undergraduate Research Initiative (MFURI)
Recognized and directly supported by the Methuselah Foundation, a charitable 501(c)(3) organization.
main@methuselahfoundation.org