Undergraduate research authors: Please read

Undergrad researchers: see below and discuss with your PIs!

To highlight the research achievements of the next generation of scientists, on behalf of Jo Handelsman and the Senior Editors of DNA and Cell Biology, I invite you to submit papers to a special issue of the journal focused on undergraduate research. Many studies establish that conducting research is a critical part of attracting, retaining, and teaching young scientists. Undergraduates also contribute to research in unique ways. As novice researchers, many undergraduates are less confined by previous work and paradigms. Unlike graduate students, undergraduates receive their degrees whether their experiments work or not. Thus, they may be less afraid to ask questions, propose unusual experiments and instigate out-of-the-box thinking.

Science is about inquiry, not just about establishing knowledge - and we owe our undergraduate students the authenticity of the research laboratory. Please join DNA and Cell Biology in highlighting their findings and encouraging their efforts. All papers must be submitted by November 1, 2009 for inclusion in the special issue and at least one of the authors of the paper must have been a college undergraduate at the time the experiments were performed. For more information on manuscript submission, please see the journal website (www.liebertpub.com/dna) or contact the editorial office (dnacellbio@bact.wisc.edu).