Human Biology, Health & Society (HBHS)
Nutritional Sciences (NS-CALS) Nutritional Sciences (NS-CHE)
What is This Program About?
The Honors Research Program in the Division of Nutritional Sciences is designed to challenge the research- oriented NS, HBHS, or NFA majors. This structured research experience involves 1) a course in research (NS 398), 2) the conduct of a research project through which the student becomes intellectually engaged in the whole research process, 3) the completion of a written thesis that reports the research, and 4) an oral presentation of the project at the Undergraduate Honors Symposium. Students in the College of Human Ecology completing the program receive a “bachelor's degree with honors.” Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences completing the program receive a “bachelor's degree with distinction in research.”
Who Should Consider the Honors Research Program?
The Honors Research Program is an excellent opportunity for students who are highly interested in research and wish to commit substantial time and intellectual energy to a project that will span at least 4 semesters of their undergraduate experience. Honors students experience the excitement of designing a project to generate new knowledge on a topic that interests them and reporting the project findings. By working with faculty mentors and other researchers, they develop skills in research methods and data analysis. Students also learn that research projects are labor intensive and that writing research reports, such as the honors thesis, is a vital, but time-consuming aspect of the research process. This intensive research experience is not suitable for all students, and those who wish a less intensive research experience may conduct research with a faculty member under NS 401.
How Do You Apply to the Program?
Students interested in the program should review the program requirements, take NS 398 in the sophomore or junior years, and speak with the program directors. Application to the program typically occurs in February of the junior year. Applications may be accepted at other times for students who demonstrate that they can complete the program requirements before graduation. Acceptance into the honors research program occurs when the student 1) is accepted into a faculty member’s research program and 2) submits a research proposal abstract that is approved by the directors of the honors research program.
What Are the Program Requirements?
1) NS 398 Research in Human Nutrition and Health. 1 credit, S/U grade only, Fall (some Spring semesters)
Students are advised to complete NS 398 by the fall of the junior year, but may complete NS 398 at any time.
This lecture course focuses on the structures and practice of professional research conducted in human nutrition and health, a field that encompasses a wide range of questions ranging from subcellular components to population level issues. The course introduces the various approaches and methods used by researchers, and address the topics of ethics and research controls. The course describes the structure of the scientific literature, preparation of research proposals, roles of scientific organizations, and funding sources. Students are required to attend research seminars on campus and submit a report at the end of the term.
2) Be accepted into a faculty member’s research program
Students spend the spring sophomore and fall junior term exploring honors project opportunities with prospective faculty mentors. Students are responsible for contacting faculty members and applying to their research programs, although some guidance in this process will be provided in NS 398. By the fall of the junior year, the student is expected to have identified their faculty member and be working with them on a proposal abstract, which is due early in the spring junior term.
3) Complete 6 credits of NS 499 Honors Problem
Students receive academic credit for work on their honors project under NS 499. The 6 required credits may be taken over several semesters. How much time is spent on the project each term will be the decision of the student and the faculty mentor. For each 3-4 hours of work, the faculty mentor usually will assign one hour of academic credit. This applies to the preparation of the research plan and necessary library research (usually completed during the junior year) as well as the carrying out of the research itself and preparation of the thesis.
The student may complete more than 6 credits of NS 499 as desired.
4) Complete an honors thesis & present at Honors Student Symposium
The honors research project comprises the major component of the honors research program. It should be well defined and sufficiently circumscribed to give the student the opportunity to develop the research plan, execute the research and write an acceptable thesis within the limited time available to students carrying full academic loads. Typically, the project is designed early in the junior year, conducted in the spring junior term and fall senior term. Students may arrange with their faculty mentor to work on the project during the summer. The spring senior term is usually devoted to writing the thesis (an original research report of at least 25 pages). The student works with the faculty mentor to prepare a draft of the thesis, which is submitted by spring break to a second faculty member for evaluation. When comments are received from the reader, the student must revise the thesis to meet the criteria for acceptance. The student presents the thesis at the Honors Student Symposium at the end of the term.
5) Achieve satisfactory GPA for Honors Research Program
To graduate with honors, the student must maintain the minimum GPA required for the Honors Research Program. Students accepted into the program will be informed of the specific GPA that is required.
6) Meet all program requirements and deadlines
To graduate with honors, the student must meet all program requirements and deadlines as set by the faculty directors of the program (information documents for the class of 08 and class of 09). Students who do not meet all program requirements may receive academic credit for research work under NS 499 if recommended by the student’s faculty mentor.
Target Dates for the Class of May 2008
Target Dates for the Class of May 2009
Honors Research Projects in 2007
The role of pre-mastication in the evolution of complementary feeding strategies: a bio-cultural analysis. Yuan Yuan Zhang (Mentor: Professor G. Pelto) Assessment of Growth Patterns and the Adequacy of a Preventive and a Recuperative Model to Address Malnutrition in Haiti: Analysis of Data from the IFPRI-Cornell University-World Vision Haiti Project. Amanda Zongrone (Mentor: Professor G. Pelto) Family Meals and Obesity: Variations in BMI by Roles and Whole Family Groups. Jeffrey Chan (Mentor: Professor J. Sobal) Predicting Non-Hungry Eating. Alison Kamil (Mentor: Professor D. Levitsky) The Effects of Choline Supplementation on Attentional Function in Ts65Dn Mice: A Mouse Model of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. May Chen (Mentor: Professor B. Strupp) The Effect of Studying Abroad on Students' Lifestyles. Risa Wolk (Mentor: Professor D. Levitsky) Probing the interaction between alpha Tocopherol Transfer Protein and lipid membranes using fluorescence assays. Nihkil Shyam (Mentor: Professors R. Cerione and D. Manor) Eating Restraint and Food Power as a Predictor for Consumption and Freshman Weight Gain. Georgia Giannopoulos, (Mentor: Professor D. Levitsky) Electrospun Cellulosic Membranes of Differing Hydrophilicity for Biosensory Substrates. Jamie Mullally (Mentor: Professor M. Frey) Health and the Persistence of Food Insecurity in Rural New York Families. Lindsay Petrovic (Mentor: Professor C. Olson) The relationship between iron status and physical activity in non-obese, female Mexican factory workers. Emily Bielecki (Mentor: Professor J. Haas) Red blood cells, plasma phospholipids, and skeletal muscles as surrogate markers of polyunsaturated fatty acid status in neonatal piglet organs. Joon-Hyung Kim (Mentor: Professor J. T. Brenna) Isotopic evidence that the omega-3 PUFA in retinas of corn-fed cattle are not from corn. Tara Kelly (Mentor: Professor J. T. Brenna)
DNS Honors Program, Directors:
Professor Tom Brenna and Professor Carole Bisogni
Updated: August 19, 2007