Applications for all NEUR projects are due mid-March of the winter semester prior to the project's start date. This means if you are planning to register in an honours project for Fall 2024/Winter 2025, the deadline to apply is in March 2024.
For projects requiring a supervisor, part of the application requires identification of up to three supervisors that you have discussed working under. This process mirrors many research-based graduate programs where you can only apply once a researcher has confirmed they will take you on.
Begin reaching out to potential supervisors in early October of your third year (typically when you take NEUR 3206) and be sure to have spoken to a few before the end of February Reading Week at the absolute latest. Keep an eye out for information sessions and classroom visits to seek clarity on the process.
The application portal becomes available in early winter semester and is posted on the main Honours Project website. Eligible students are also notified by an email from Carleton Neuroscience Administration (neuroscience@carleton.ca)
Yes. Audits will initially be reviewed immediately after the application deadline (before winter grades are posted) and will then be reviewed again once winter grades, as well as after the deferral exam period and before fall term begins.
Where appropriate, conditional offers of acceptance may be granted. If the Major CGPA requirement is no longer met by the time fall term begins, it may not be possible to continue with the desired project, and you will be contacted via email to set up an advising session.
If you are on the cusp of 4th-year standing and have completed or are currently completing NEUR 3206 and 3207, then you can still apply if you meet the other prerequisites.
Audits are verified at the time of application and also before the projects begin in fall term. As long as you will have 4th-year standing (or be on the cusp) by fall term, then it is likely you will be able to proceed with the project.
Option 1: When discussing potential supervision with a researcher outside of Carleton you can ask them if they currently collaborate with a faculty member in the Department of Neuroscience. If so, that would be the first person to approach about co-supervision. If they do not, then you can ask a neuroscience faculty member who does similar research.
Option 2: Ask the Undergraduate Chair to serve as co-supervisor for administrative purposes only.
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Note, if the potential supervisor is outside the Department of Neuroscience but still works at Carleton (e.g. Biology, Health Sciences, Psychology) then a co-supervisor is not required. However, you still need to run the nature of the project by the Undergraduate Chair for approval.
If you have connected with a potential external supervisor and are unsure of next steps or want to verify the nature of the project is appropriate, please contact the Undergraduate Administrator.
It doesn't. The NEUR 4907 must be supervised by a faculty member in the Department of Neuroscience.
The Department strongly advises against this, as the work needs to be done in a condensed timeframe, and it can be difficult to secure a supervisor. If, however, you do find a supervisor willing to accept you for the summer, the Department will consider the request.
You will need to contact the Undergraduate Administrator very much in advance of summer semester (i.e. before end of March) to discuss your particular scenario. Note, this is only an option for NEUR 4907 and NEUR 4908.
You can expect to dedicate at least 15 hours per week for any of the supervised projects, but due to the nature of the lab-based NEUR 4908, the hours are much less flexible.
Students doing NEUR 4908 are often working under a graduate student, or along with other undergraduate students and volunteers, and the schedule of the experiments will ultimately determine time spent in the lab. Most lab work occurs between 9am and 6pm to comply with lab safety procedures, for which you must complete training, and you must follow the timeline of the research, which can vary greatly from project to project.
Outside of the lab is when you’ll be writing your thesis in successive drafts, to be reviewed by your supervisor prior to the final submission deadline.
If you have a job, are involved in extra-curricular activities, or have a very full and heavy course load and other commitments in your fourth year, you may want to consider projects other than the NEUR 4908 because there is no lab training involved, and overall there is more flexibility as you are working on your own schedule even though you have to adhere to checkpoint deadlines as listed in your syllabus.
If you need clarification on any of the above or would like to discuss extenuating circumstances, you can email the Undergraduate Administrator at neuroscience@carleton.ca