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Written Thesis:     For all students:  Add up your "total" research credits from Fall and Spring.    Each credit of this "total" translates to one page of text:  meaning single spaced, 12 point type text (for most of you that will be 12 pages).   The one page of  single spaced, 12 point type text excludes references, figure legends and figures, schematics etc...  but includes Materials and Methods.

Thesis Format.   The thesis should include a summary of the entire research project that the student has carried out in the lab.  Minimally this includes the Fall semester research but will also include all the semesters of research that a student has done in a given lab. 

The overall format of the thesis uses that of a scientific article.  You should therefore have the following sections in your thesis.  You may include additional sections and change the order of appearance, however, these are the minimal sections and should be indicated this way in the text.

• Conclusion or Abstract (Less than 1 page and it should summarize all the semesters of research)
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results (may include previous semesters work but that should be indicated)
• Discussion (should include work from previous semesters) 
• References

Oral presentation.  This must be done in front of your research advisor and one other member of the scientific faculty at any of the 5 campuses at Rutgers or UMDNJ.  We also require that one MBB faculty member be on the committee.  The presentation is usually 30-50 minutes long and is graded by at least 2 of the faculty who are present.  Although you may schedule it earlier, it is usually best to give the oral presentation in April.  Others may attend if the student and/or faculty members agree.  The format and level of the presentation is that of a regular scientific presentation you would give to a scientific audience. 

When is the thesis due?  The Thesis and Oral Presentation must be completed and handed into the MBB Dept office by the last Friday of the Spring Semester (before the Reading Days and Final Exam period. An exact copy of the thesis must be given to your research advisor and to Shalene Montgomery (445-3979; Nelson Lab Room A325; montgomery@biology.rutgers.edu).   A "T" grade (meaning you will not graduate in May) will be assigned if the paper is not turned in on time.