Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience Research-for-Credit Application

"*" indicates required fields

Applications (and mentor approvals) for Fall 2026 courses are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, 08/07/2026.

Note: This form does not save your responses if you close the tab. You may wish to draft your proposal text in a separate document and then copy & paste your answers into this form when you're ready to submit.

Neuroscience Research Guidelines

The Research in Neuroscience Guidelines or Honors Research in Neuroscience Guidelines (as appropriate) should be reviewed with your research mentor prior to submitting this application. These guidelines outline the responsibilities and expectations of each party.

Please read the following responsibilities for students participating in Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience.

Responsibilities of the Student:

Application: This online application for undergraduate research should be filled out in collaboration with your research mentor. Your research mentor must electronically approve your submitted application. After review and approval by the Director of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience you will be registered for the research course indicated in your application and you will receive an email confirmation.

Research: Proposed projects must meet the definition of scientific research, meaning that, at a minimum, you will: learn the background and scientific context of the research done in your mentor’s lab (through reading the scientific literature and conversations with lab members); be able to articulate the research question and hypotheses of your research project; gather data and/or generate models to help test these hypotheses; and contribute to the analysis and interpretation of your data in consultation with your research mentor.

Research projects must also fall within the field of neuroscience, broadly construed as the study of the structure and/or function of the nervous system. Projects that do not involve the nervous system (e.g., projects focused on the behavior of humans or non-human animals without any investigation of the nervous system) will not be approved.

During the academic year, you are expected to devote a minimum of three to four hours per week per credit to a project. During summer terms, you are expected to devote a minimum of six to eight hours per week per credit. Other research-related obligations like lab meetings may count towards this time commitment. Please note: you are not permitted to be paid (e.g., through UROP) and receive academic credit at the same time.

Neuroscience Faculty Mentor/Sponsor: To find a Neuroscience faculty research mentor, you can review and contact BU faculty listed online, ask your assigned academic advisor for suggestions, or talk with TFs in your courses. If you find a research mentor outside of CAS, Dr. Muscedere will serve as your CAS sponsor and the liaison between the Neuroscience program and your non-CAS mentor. You are expected to meet with your research mentor on a regular basis during the semester to discuss expectations, your research progress, and any issues or questions that you may have regarding your research experience.

Grading: You and your research mentor must discuss their grading requirements and expectations together before the semester starts. for Junior and Senior level classes, this discussion will also include a review of the required assignments listed on the course syllabus (available here). At the end of the semester your Neuroscience faculty mentor will assign your grade or, if you are working in a non-CAS lab, your mentor will communicate a grade to Dr. Muscedere.

BU Hub requirements: Students will earn BU Hub units for research-for-credit courses taken at the Junior or Senior level. The Hub units earned will build with each continuing semester of research. The specific Hub units can be found in the course syllabi.

Please enter your initials to confirm you have read the responsibilities of students participating in Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience:*

Student Information

Name*

First Last

BU Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

BU ID*

Course Information

Fall/Spring Time Commitment*

During fall and spring semesters students are expected to dedicate 3-4 hours per credit per week to their research. Research-related work, like attending lab meetings, can count towards the time commitment. Therefore, students should dedicate a minimum of 6-8 hours a week for two-credit research and a minimum of 12-16 hours a week for four-credit research. Students should not dedicate more hours to research than they can manage with their coursework and other obligations. Students are encouraged to work with their mentor to develop a research schedule that meets the minimum time requirements and respects the student's other obligations.

I will comply with the Undergraduate Research time commitment.

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Summer Session Time Commitment*

During summer sessions students are expected to dedicate 6-8 hours per credit per week to their research. Research-related work, like attending lab meetings, can count towards the time commitment. Therefore, students should dedicate a minimum of 12-16 hours a week for two-credit research and 24-32 hours a week for four-credit research.

I will comply with the Undergraduate Research time commitment.

Are you proposing to conduct research in a non-BU lab (anywhere outside of BU's CRC or BUMC campuses)?*

Yes, and I have already received approval from Dr. Muscedere to do so.

Yes, but I have not received prior approval.

No.

Please contact Dr. Mario Muscedere (mario@bu.edu), Director of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, with the name of your research mentor and their Institution and Department (if known). You will not be able to submit this application until you have received prior approval of your external site. If you would like to continue working on your research proposal in the meantime, please save your answers in a separate document.

What will your class standing be when you take this research course?*

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

How many credits of research do you want to take?*

2 credits

4 credits

Have you done research in a previous semester/summer?*

Prior research experiences can include research for credit courses, UROP, or other significant research opportunities. Please do not include lab components of courses when considering this question.

Yes

Were any of your research experiences UROP-funded?*

Yes

Are you applying for Honors Research (NE 401 + 402)?*

Yes

Did at least one semester or summer of your previous research experience occur in the lab where you are proposing to complete your Honors Research?*

This research could have been done for course credit, a UROP stipend, or just as a volunteer, but this question is specifically asking about research in your proposed Honors Research lab, not any other research experience you may have.

Yes

You cannot apply for Honors Research in a lab unless you have completed at least one prior semester of research there.

What is your GPA?*

A GPA of 3.4 is required for Honors Research in Neuroscience You can check your GPA in the Student Link under Academics then Classes. You will find it at the bottom of the "Cum GPA" column. You may apply for an exception if you have a GPA between 3.2-3.4 and your application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

3.4 or higher.

Between 3.2 and 3.4.

Below 3.2.

Your GPA is below the cutoff to apply for Honors Research.

Your GPA is below the cutoff to apply for Honors Research. Please briefly describe why you believe you should be granted an exception to this requirement.*

Honors Research Requirements*

Completing a year of Honors Research (NE 401 + 402) may be counted as one Neuroscience elective. This will also satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students participating in NE 401 and NE 402 are required to attend lab meetings. Honors students must also write and defend an original thesis describing their research. Successful completion of NE 401 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Successful completion of NE 402 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Digital/Multimedia Communication, Oral and/or Signed Communication, and Writing-Intensive. Please review the Honors Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabi for NE 401 and NE 402, then check below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the requirements of Honors Research.

Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript.*

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Your research course is NE 191/192*

Freshman and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count toward Neuroscience electives or toward the major's Research Requirement, nor do they fulfill any Hub units, but they will contribute credit toward graduation. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 191/192, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 191/192.

Your research course is NE 291/292*

Freshman and sophomore research is worth two credits. These courses will not count toward Neuroscience electives or toward the major's Research Requirement, nor do they fulfill any Hub units, but they will contribute credit toward graduation. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 291/292, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 291/292.

Your research course is NE 371*

Two-credit junior research will not count toward Neuroscience electives or toward the major's Research Requirement, but it will contribute credit toward graduation. Students in NE 371 are required to attend lab meetings and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 371 will earn a single Hub unit in Research & Information Literacy. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 371, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 371.

Have you previously taken NE 191 or 192 or 291 or 292 or 371?*

Yes

Have you previously taken NE 372 or NE 392?*

Yes

Your research course is NE 371*

I understand the above information about NE 371.

Your research course is NE 372*

Two-credit junior research will not count toward Neuroscience electives or toward the major's Research Requirement, but it will contribute credit toward graduation. Students in NE 372 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 372 will earn a single Hub unit in Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 372, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 372.

Your research course is NE 372*

Two-credit junior research will not count toward Neuroscience electives or toward the major's Research Requirement, but it will contribute credit toward graduation. Students in NE 372 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 372 will earn a single Hub unit in Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 372, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 372.

Your research course is NE 372*

Two-credit junior research will not count toward Neuroscience electives or toward the major's Research Requirement, but it will contribute credit toward graduation. Students in NE 372 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 372 will earn a single Hub unit in Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 372, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 372.

You cannot apply for a 2-credit research course

Your prior research experience is too advanced to apply for a 2-credit course, but you may apply for a 4-credit course instead. Please change your credits selection above.

Your research course is NE 391*

One four-credit research course at the NE 391 level or higher can be used as one Neuroscience elective and will satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students in NE 391 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 391 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 391, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 391.

Have you previously taken NE 391 or a combined 4 credits of any of the following: NE 191/192/291/292/371?*

Yes

Have you previously taken NE 372 or NE 392?*

Yes

Your research course is NE 391*

I understand the above information about NE 391.

Your research course is NE 392*

One four-credit research course at the NE 391 level or higher can be used as one Neuroscience elective and will satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students in NE 392 are required to attend lab meetings and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 392 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 392, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 392.

Your research course is NE 392*

I understand the above information about NE 392.

Your research course is NE 392*

I understand the above information about NE 392.

Your research course is NE 393*

One four-credit research course at the NE 391 level or higher can be used as one Neuroscience elective and will satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students in NE 393 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 393 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Creativity/Innovation, Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 393, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 393.

Your research course is NE 491*

One four-credit research course at the NE 391 level or higher can be used as one Neuroscience elective and will satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students in NE 491 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 491 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 491, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 491.

Have you previously taken NE 371 or NE 391 or NE 491?*

Yes

Have you previously taken NE 372 or NE 392 or NE 492?*

Yes

Your research course is NE 491*

I understand the above information about NE 491.

Your research course is NE 492*

One four-credit research course at the NE 391 level or higher can be used as one Neuroscience elective and will satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students in NE 492 are required to attend lab meetings and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 492 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Research & Information Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 492, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 492.

Your research course is NE 492*

I understand the above information about NE 492.

Your research course is NE 492*

I understand the above information about NE 492.

Your research course is NE 493*

One four-credit research course at the NE 391 level or higher can be used as one Neuroscience elective and will satisfy the major's Research Requirement. Students in NE 493 are required to attend lab meetings, give an oral presentation at lab meeting, and write a final report describing the outcome of their research. Successful completion of NE 493 will earn a single Hub unit in the following areas: Creativity/Innovation, Oral and/or Signed Communication. Please review the Research in Neuroscience Guidelines and the syllabus for NE 393, then click below to indicate you have read and understand these considerations.

I understand the above information about NE 493.

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Research designator email 191/192

191/192

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Research designator email 291/292

291/292

Hidden

Research designator email 371

371

Hidden

Research designator email 372

372

Hidden

Research designator email 391

391

Hidden

Research designator email 392

392

Hidden

Research designator email 393

393

Hidden

Research designator email 491

491

Hidden

Research designator email 492

492

Hidden

Research designator email 493

493

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Research designator email honors

honors

Briefly describe your past research experience.*

Mentor/Sponsor Information

If your research mentor is a faculty member at BU in CAS, please select their name from the dropdown below. If your research lab and mentor are located outside of CAS (either in another college at BU or at a non-BU institution), or if they are not listed below, please select the last option in the list and fill in your mentor's name and email address in the boxes that appear. Remember to give the contact information for your faculty mentor, not any graduate students or postdocs you may be working with.

Neuroscience CAS Faculty Mentor*

Non-CAS Research Mentor's Name*

This should be the faculty member or principal investigator in charge of the lab. Do not list grad students, post-docs, or staff members (e.g. research scientists or technicians).

First Last

Non-CAS Research Mentor's Institution and (if known) College/Department*

Research Mentor's Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Required Training and Certifications

Have you signed BU's Intellectual Property Policy?*

All students participating in BU research must read the Intellectual Property Policy found here and then sign and return this form to the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience (upn@bu.edu). Not applicable for non-BU research.

Yes, I signed it in a previous semester

Not yet, but I will read the policy, sign, and return the form before starting my research.

Not applicable, my lab is outside of BU.

Will you be doing research with human subjects?*

Yes

CITI training and IRB approval are required before conducting research with human subjects.

Date CITI training completed*

IRB #*

Date of IRB Approval*

Will you be doing research with vertebrate animals?*

Yes

IACUC training and approval is required before conducting research with animals.

Date IACUC training completed*

IACUC Protocol #*

Date of IACUC Approval*

Research Proposal

Note: If you plan to continue the same research project and take more Research in Neuroscience courses in future semesters, you will need to submit a new application each time. Thus you may want to save your proposal text in a separate document, so you do not have to write it all from scratch each semester (this does not apply to Honors Research in Neuroscience students - if approved for NE 401 in the fall, you will automatically be registered for NE 402 in the Spring, assuming satisfactory performance).

Please note that your research proposal should be written in your own words. You should discuss your proposal with your research mentor and receive their advice and feedback while preparing it, but they should not write any of the text of your proposal for you, nor should you directly copy any text from one of their papers or grant proposals without proper citation.

The fields for you to enter your research proposal text will be visible below once you have filled out the "Course Information" section above.

You do not meet the requirements to apply for Honors Research. If you would like to apply for a standard Research in Neuroscience course, please update your selections in the "Course Information" section above.

Briefly describe your preparation and interest in performing undergraduate research with your chosen mentor.*

Research Project Title*

Use this field to upload your Honors Research proposal*

Instructions for preparing the proposal can be found at the end of the Honors Research in Neuroscience Guidelines

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Provide an abstract.*

A brief scientific abstract is between 150-250 words and should give an overview of what your research will entail. An abstract typically includes information on the background of this research, materials & methods used, and expected results.

Describe the research problem.*

This section should be about 100-500 words. It should describe background information of the previous work by your mentor and other scientists underlying the scientific question and its significance to the field of biology. Use in-text citations for any statements of fact that are not common knowledge (see Cited Sources section below).

Clearly state your hypothesis/hypotheses.*

This section should be 1-2 sentences.

What research methods will be used for this project?*

This section should be about 100-500 words. It should begin with a clear “if-then” sentence as follows: “If (restate the hypothesis) is true, then (state what will happen if you perform this experiment).” This is followed by a brief discussion of the methods being employed, needed controls, etc. Use in-text citations for any sources for methods or reagents previously developed (see Cited Sources section below).

How will the data be collected and analyzed?*

This section should be about 100-500 words. It will require you to describe the format the data will be collected in (e.g., measurements taken through an electron microscope). This could include a description of the expected result if your hypothesis is supported. Be sure to describe how your data will be analyzed so as to confirm or reject any of your hypotheses. This section should end with a description of the next steps for each outcome. Use in-text citations for any proposed analytical methods previously developed by other scientists in the field (see Cited Sources section below).

References*

This section should include a minimum of 3 citations (with in-text citations throughout the Problem, Methods, and Data Analysis sections above). This section should NOT be a simple bibliography list. It should be connected to the in-text citations in the aforementioned sections. The style can be (citation numbers) or author (date).

Assessment Questions

The following questions are only for assessment and improvement of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. Your answers to these questions will not affect the approval of your proposal in any way. Please answer them to the best of your ability.

Will you use statistical methods to analyze your data?*

Yes

Describe what type of statistical analysis program(s) and/or programming languages you will be using.*

Does the project employ computational modeling and/or simulation?*

Yes

Describe what type of computational modeling/simulation program(s) and/or programming languages you will be using.*

Have you published or presented on this research in any of the following ways? Select all that apply.*

First author of a peer-reviewed publication

Co-author of a peer reviewed publication

Oral talk presented by you at a scientific meeting/conference

Poster presented by you at a scientific meeting/conference

Co-author on an oral talk or poster presented by someone else at a scientific meeting/conference

Lab presentation

Other

None of the above

Please explain what you mean by "other."*

Please give the citations for any articles, posters, or scientific meeting presentations for which you are an author/co-author.*

Have you talked to your research mentor about future presentation or publication of your research in any of the following ways? Select all that apply.*

Please do not consider any articles or presentations that have already occurred or been published (list those in the previous question instead).

That you could be the first author on a peer-reviewed publication.

That you could be a coauthor on a peer-reviewed publication.

That you could present an oral talk at a future scientific meeting/conference.

That you could present a poster at a future scientific meeting/conference.

That you could be a coauthor on an oral talk or poster presentation given by someone else at a future scientific meeting/conference

Other

None of the above

Please explain what you mean by "other."*

Demographic Questions

The questions below concern your identity. We are asking these questions so that we can collect data on how well the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience is doing at providing research opportunities for all of the different students in our program. We acknowledge that these questions are personal and that you may prefer not to answer them. Your answers (or your choice not to answer) will not be forwarded to your research mentor as a part of their approval form, and will not be read by Dr. Muscedere before he evaluates your application, and therefore will have no impact on how your application is evaluated.

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Are you Hispanic or Latino?*

If you select "Yes," an additional question will appear below with options for you to provide more detail, if you desire to do so.

Yes

Prefer not to answer

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Are you Hispanic or Latino (expanded options)?*

Please select from below, if desired.

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Please select one or more of the following races.*

For each race you select an additional question will appear below with options for you to provide more detail, if you desire to do so.

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

Prefer not to answer

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Please select one or more of the following races (expanded options).*

Please select from below, if desired.

American Indian

Alaska Native

Prefer not to further specify

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Please select one or more of the following races (expanded options).*

Please select from below.

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Please select one or more of the following races (expanded options).*

Please select from below.

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Please select one or more of the following races (expanded options).*

Please select from below.

Guamanian

Kiwi

Melanesian

Native Hawaiian

Polynesian

Samoan

Other Pacific Islander

Prefer not to further specify

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Please select one or more of the following races (expanded options).*

Please select from below.

Arab

Middle Eastern or North African

Central American

South American

Other White

Prefer not to further specify

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What is your legal sex?*

Male

Female

Nonbinary ("X")

Prefer not to answer

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What is your gender identity?*

If you choose "Not listed here" another question will appear below to allow you to provide your answer.

Woman

Man

Nonbinary

Not listed here

Prefer not to answer

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What is your gender identity?*

Hidden

Do you identify as transgender?*

Yes

Prefer not to answer

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Are you a first-generation college student?*

BU defines first-generation college students as "those in the first generation of their families to go to college–i.e. students whose parents did not earn bachelor’s degrees, although elder siblings and cousins may be attending college already or have earned four-year degrees."

Yes

Prefer not to answer