Senior Thesis Workshops

An honors thesis is one of the capstones of an undergraduate education. Working usually in close collaboration with a faculty member, you undertake original research that draws upon the topical knowledge and research skills you have developed in the MBB program. This research is the most important contribution you can make to the study of mind/brain/behavior.

An important related activity is sharing your research with the scholarly community. The MBB Program offers both un-structured and structured interactions with fellow thesis writers and seasoned researchers. In addition to the informal, course-based, and laboratory-related contacts with faculty and fellow students, the Program holds a required, non-credit series of small group discussions for thesis writers. These thesis workshops are a full-year, seminar style series of modules that focus on developing presentation and communication skills, as well as bolstering the diverse community of concentrations. These meetings will allow you to report your thesis findings and discuss them with your fellow MBB thesis writers, as well as provide feedback to your peers as you learn about their work. By listening to each other, you will also learn about the other areas in mind/brain/behavior, some quite different in topic and approach from that of your own thesis. Finally, these thesis discussion groups will also be a forum to explore and examine wider issues, from MBB-related issues, topics, and research to communicating science and developing the writing, creative, and speaking skills to do so effectively.

Fall 2026

The fall workshops are focused on building an interdisciplinary community. We will hear about each other’s thesis hypothesis/question and then about the methods we will be employing to test that hypothesis or explore that question.

Track seniors should attend both Workshop One and Workshop Two. In addition, they have been emailed a short video introducing the workshops and should view it before the start of workshops. 

Workshop One: Introductions, Possible Resources, Thesis Questions
Shana Birly, Julia Etkin
     Wednesday 23 September, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
     CGIS/Knafel K-050 (1737 Cambridge Street)

Workshop Two: Thesis Research Methods
     choose one of two
        live with Shana Birly: Friday 6 November 3-5 p.m., Northwest Building room 353
        virtual with Julia Etkin: Friday 20 November 10 a.m. – 12 noon, zoom link will be emailed

Make-Up Workshop
Attend if you missed either Workshop One or Workshop Two.
     Monday 7 December, 12 – 2 p.m.
     Northwest Building room 353
 

Spring 2027

Spring workshops will focus on sharing work beyond disciplinary boundaries. Thesis writers will prepare a thesis poster, present and discuss their thesis research and findings, and discuss the work of fellow thesis writers.

Workshops One and Two: Thesis Presentations and Discussions
Each thesis writer will present their research and discuss them with fellow MBB track seniors.
      Both workshops will take place in April, to be scheduled earlier in the semester.

Research Showcase
All thesis writers will present posters (along with graduate students and postdoctoral fellow whose projects MBB has funded). This is an MBB community-wide event.
     Thursday 29 April, 3-5 p.m., Northwest Building First Floor

MBB Senior Recognition Ceremony
MBB will celebrate the Class of 2027 with MBB graduates and their families.
     Wednesday 26 May, 9-10:30 p.m., Harvard Faculty Club

 

Forthcoming