Junior Research

CVGS Junior Research

2011 Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS), University of Richmond

Instructors:  Shannon Beasley, M.S.
                        Stephen Smith, Ed.D.

Research Mentor:   Cheryl Lindeman, Ed.D.

Course Description: 
Junior Research is an exciting and unique course.  Each junior will explore a research idea of his or her choosing, translate the idea into a descriptive or experimental study, and work with the idea throughout the year, learning about the various components of the research process along the way. 

In the fall, student researchers develop a research question and hypothesis, learn how to construct a materials and methods section, and learn how to search for reputable literature sources and conduct an appropriate literature review.  Students also become proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, learning how to format their writing and how to analyze research data with both descriptive and inferential statistics. 

In the spring, student researchers learn how to construct an abstract as well as write the results and discussions and conclusions sections.  Students also learn the essentials of effective communication of a research report as they design and share Power Point presentations, tri-fold poster displays, and webpages. 

Course Materials:  Google Documents is home to the Junior Research folder where instructors and students communicate daily.  This forum is where all important guidelines, assignments, and activities can be found.  Each student also has a research binder that is shared with their research mentor.  Peer-reviewed journal article critiques and various guidelines, forms, and reference resources are placed in this binder throughout the course of the year.

Active Collaborations:
Many projects in the junior research course are facilitiated through the volunteer efforts of contributing scientists, engineers, and business people within the central Virginia region and beyond.  The research mentors would like to express our thanks to all our many collaborators over the years, and especially to those who are currently support our student research efforts:

AREVA
BWXT
Lynchburg College Psychology Dept.
Lynchburg Grows
Partnership for Research and Education in Plants, Virginia Tech
Randolph College Psychology Dept.
Sweet Briar College Biology Dept.  
University of Virginia Astronomy Dept.
VA Department of Enviromental Quality