Research Interest Form
Our Department of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences is committed to engaging students in meaningful research experiences. Please complete the Nutritional Sciences Research Interest Form, which will help us match interested undergraduate students with nutritional sciences faculty conducting research aligned with their interests, skills, and availability. For consideration, please complete all questions and submit the survey by the specified deadlines (August 1 for fall semester; December 1 for spring semester; April 1 for summer).
Experiential Learning Standards
Three credits of Experiential Learning (EL) are required for graduation from SEBS. Within the Nutritional Sciences major, students in the Dietetics, Community Nutrition, and Food Service Management tracks fulfill this requirement through required coursework (Food Production Management and Food Service Lab (11:709:448/449). For students in the Biomedical Nutrition track, EL is a hands-on experience that is arranged between students and faculty, or students and external supervisors. However, these credits must appear as a "course," for which you register and earn credits to fulfill the EL requirement.
There are many ways that students can earn these credits as highlighted below. Regardless of the option chosen, a signed EL contract must be completed by the faculty member (EL Mentor) and the student in the same semester that the student is doing the work. As part of the EL contract, all students must complete a summary/reflection of their experience as well as other agreed upon outcomes with their EL Mentor such as a lab report, research paper, and presentation.
- Working with Faculty at Rutgers. The most common way students earn EL credits is to make arrangements with a faculty member (EL Mentor) to perform research in their lab or in the field. Students will work either directly with the EL Mentor, alongside a Near-Peer Mentor, or in a Collaboratory guided by the EL Mentor. In all these situations, the EL Mentor will provide the student with a Special Permission Number to register for 11:709:493 or 11:709:494. Students typically register for 1, 2, or 3 credits per semester. Each credit requires a minimum of 45 hours of work (about 3 -5 hours per week during the semester).
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Completing an Internship outside of Rutgers. If you have applied and been accepted for an internship related to Nutritional Sciences, you still must register for credits to meet the EL requirements.
If the internship is paid, students must go through the SPIN program. For this program, you will need to complete a form similar to the EL contract, identifying project learning goals with your internship supervisor. The undergraduate program director (UPD) or your academic advisor can serve as your internal Faculty Sponsor. Once your application is approved, you will be given a Special Permission Number and course number to register for the credits.
If the internship is either unpaid or minimally paid or less than 160 hours total you have the option of registering for 11:709:493 or 11:709:494, but you must work with the UPD to be given a Special Permission Number. In this case, the UPD will work with you and your supervisor to complete the required EL contract. - Participating in one of the many undergraduate research programs at Rutgers including ARESTY or the George H. Cook Scholars Program (these come with course codes that appear in your Degree Navigator).
- Participating in a study abroad program through Rutgers Global programs (so long as it appears with a course code). Note that these need to be approved by the UPD.
Below is the EL Contract that your faculty advisor (EL Mentor), and in the case of an external internship, your job supervisor, and you must fill out before the start of the semester/internship. If you have any questions, contact the EL Coordinator, Dr. Virginia Quick (vquick@njaes.rutgers.edu).