Undergraduate Research Program
Through undergraduate research, you can expand on your classroom studies through in-depth, hands-on experiences that will allow you to discover how research advances our understanding of animals. In addition, you will learn about the processes of experimental design, implementation, and analysis. Your project could include everything from isolating a specific gene to developing improved methods of estrous synchronization to investigating the workings of the digestive systems.
Explore research in:
- Animal Management
- Biofuel/Bioenergy
- Food product safety and quality assurance
- Genetics
- Growth and Development
- Microbiology
- Nutrition and Nutrition Management
- Physiology
- Pre and Post-harvest Food Safety and Quality
- Reproduction
Students who participate in research expand their critical thinking and communication skills, creativity, and confidence while opening up new career opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to present your research and compete in research presentation competitions at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Research Forum, The Ohio State University Denman Research Forum, and at various industry professional meetings such as the:
- American Dairy Science Association
- American Society of Animal Sciences
- American Meat Science Association
- Equine Science Society
- Poultry Science Association
- Tri-State Dairy Conference
In addition to presenting, and possibly publishing your work, you can now graduate with research distinction as a non-honors program student. Students in the Honors Program graduate with distinction as having completed research and courses taught at a higher level as part of the Honors Program.
Interested in research or want to find out what it is all about?
Internship positions are now available for undergraduate Animal Sciences majors who are interested in research in the Department of Animal Sciences! Detailed position descriptions may be viewed in room 116 Plumb Hall. Positions are located in Columbus and at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio. These positions are available for $8/hour for 400 hours maximum (work schedules will vary with individual positions) and qualify for a maximum of 5 credits applied to ANIM SCI 3191 (formerly 489). Guidelines for completing ANIM SCI 3191 are available at Carmen.
The application deadline for Summer 2012 Research Experiences is Wednesday, January 04, 2012.
Minimum requirements for application for these positions include:
- You are an Animal Sciences major
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
To apply you will need:
- Cover letter indicating why you are interested in a research experience and outlining your top three preferred positions.
- Resume (include contact information for two references, at least one reference should be a faculty member in Animal Sciences).
- Your most recent advising report (available at http://buckeyelink.osu.edu)
- E-mail a hard copy of these items no later than January 04, 2012 to:
Pasha A Lyvers Peffer
Department of Animal Sciences
lyvers-peffer.1@osu.edu
Include in the subject: ANIM SCI UGR Internship Application 2012
Please note that the research internship positions are available for ANIM SCI 3191 credit and thus cannot be used for 4999H (formerly H683) credit.
Why consider research? [pdf]
Who/what does research benefit? [article]
Finding a research opportunity [pdf]
1. Current Research Positions (see current Animal Sciences Student Success Center Newsletter)
2. Contact a Faculty member
Research Courses
ANIM SCI 299 – Freshman Research Seminar: Contemporary Animal Biology Research: Exploration of prominent scientists and emerging issues in animal biology research.
ANIM SCI 489 Internship in Animal Science: Supervised preplanned employment experience and/or on-site problem solving study program with approved animal production industry or research enterprise; written comprehensive report and formal presentation required.
ANIM SCI 593 – Individual Studies: Special assignments and elementary research; problems assigned after consultation with instructor
ANIM SCI H683 Honors Project: Conducting and reporting the honors project
Undergraduate Research Presentation Opportunities
CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum
Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
OSU Fall Undergraduate Research Day & Student Poster Forum
Spotlight
Drew Enigk
“I completed research during the summer of 2009 with Dr. Naomi Botheras, an Animal Sciences professor who studies animal behavior and welfare. The project that I worked on involved the behavioral fear response of commercial turkeys to humans and how human-animal interactions affect this response. After performing video observations and data analysis of behavior, I was much more prepared to successfully complete future animal behavior research.” Drew Enigk, Senior
“My research was done within my internship with Dr. Hogan. I was able to present the results of my project at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Research Forum as well as the Ohio State Denman Research Forum. The research itself helped me understand the processes involved in such projects and the research forums were great for strengthening my presentation and public speaking skills.” Lindsey Raubenolt, Senior
Shasta Madden
“I helped in a couple of research projects out at the OSU horse barn with Dr. Kimberly Cole. We did a nutrition and glycemic response in horses along with immunoglobulin transfer between mares and foals. It taught me extreme patients and how to conduct a professional experiment in order to maintain constant, real results.” Shasta Madden, Senior
“Dr. Pasha Lyvers Peffer. My research experience has completely changed my life. I never thought that I would ever be interested in research when I was coming out of high school, but now I plan to spend the rest of my life in a research-related career.” Jack Andrews, 3rd year
Kasey Godden
“I started a research internship this past summer under Dr. Firkins in the dairy nutrition lab. Research has allowed me to apply information I learned in the classroom to issues in the real world. I love working in an environment that allows me to solve problems in a field I’m interested in and being able to interact with the dairy cows on the OSU farm is an added bonus.” Kasey Godden, Senior
Kathleen Shircliff
“I am working with Dr. Zerby, Dr. Wick and Dr. Moeller and I will present my research this spring. Working on a research project has given me the opportunity to work in a lab setting and given me a better understanding of the science and methods behind research.” Katy Shircliff, Senior
Darryl Pronty
“I’ve done research at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio. I really enjoyed working there because I got to do meaningful research while working with top students from different universities and countries.” Darryl Pronty, Junior
Drew Lagergren
“I did my research with Dr. Latshaw. My research has impacted my thought process and gave me a great opportunity to understand how research is done correctly and efficiently. I loved it!” Brittani Jones, Senior
“I assisted Dr. Cole’s researchers in poultry research in Wooster. The research helped me get hands-on experience with poultry, which I had no experience with beforehand. I also learned more about the facilities available to Ohio State for research studies.” Drew Lagergren, Graduated 2010
Resources
Ohio State
Undergraduate Research Office
Denman Undergraduate Research
OSU Knowledge Bank
Professional
American Dairy Science Association
American Meat Science Association
American Society of Animal Sciences
Federation of Animal Science Societies
National Science Foundation
NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
Poultry Science Association
Society for the Study of Reproduction
TriState Dairy Nutrition Conference