Senior Biological Research 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Senior Biological Research elective?

This course offers a space for students to continue their research experience from their junior year Biological Research and/or the Summer Research tracks of the Poly Research Initiative. 

Here's a link to student work from 2023.

2. Do I have to attend the Summer Research Intensive in order to take the Senior Biological Research elective?

No, if you’ve taken the junior PE Biological Research course but yes, if you have not. The rationale is that a student should have demonstrated foundational research skills before engaging with a more advanced project environment like the Senior Biological Research Elective.

3. If I've taken a biology course other than the junior year Biological Research course, am I still eligible for the Senior Biological Research elective?

Yes, only if you've taken elective Summer Research Intensive.

4. How is the Senior Biological Research Elective different from the PE Biological Research course or the Summer Research Intensive?

The Senior Biological Research Elective provides students with the time and space to apply their foundational research skills, developed through PE Biological Research or the Summer Research Intensive, within the context of advanced research projects that provide an independent research track for students to explore.

Note that if interested, a student may take PE Biological Research, the Summer Research Intensive and the Senior Biological Research Elective in order to get the maximum time and space to develop independent research skills.

Student commentary from the 2023 class: