Polk Library

Biology 450-650_Advanced Microbiology

🔬 Sample Microbiology Research Workflow

Goal: Taken your broad interest and explore topics and questions. (additional resource page)

Step 1: Brainstorm Vocabulary & Research Angles

Consensus can be used to:

  • Brainstorm focused, researchable questions
  • Identify technical vocabulary and synonyms
  • Test whether research depth appears to exist

Important: AI helps you brainstorm topics and questions. It does not replace reading primary research.

Copy/Paste Prompt

I am an upper-level microbiology student preparing a research presentation on a bacterial or archaeal response related to ecology, metabolism, regulation, stress response, or lifestyle.

 

I am interested in exploring:

[insert general area of interest: such as quorum sensing, biofilms, or antibiotic resistance ]

Please suggest several focused, researchable questions that:

  • Investigate a specific microbial mechanism
  • Are supported by peer-reviewed primary research
  • Involve experimental evidence
  • Allow exploration from at least two biological angles

For each question, identify key terms, phrases in parenthesis or simple search strings for databases like PubMed or Web of Science.

Step 2: Search Strategically Across Databases

No single database indexes all scientific literature. Choose databases based on your research angle and compare results.

🔬 Major Research Databases

📘 Discipline-Specific Journal Platforms

Best Practice:

  • Search at least two databases.
  • Compare terminology and results across platforms.
  • Use citation chaining (“Cited by” and reference lists).
  • Refine your Boolean search string as vocabulary evolves.

Your goal is to locate peer-reviewed primary research articles with experimental data, not summaries or background overviews.

Not sure which database best fits your topic? Consider the research angle below.

🔎 Advanced Strategy

If your topic spans multiple biological scales (e.g., gene regulation + metabolism + ecological impact), you may need to search different databases separately.

  • Molecular mechanisms → PubMed
  • Interdisciplinary or citation mapping → Web of Science
  • Ecological systems → Wildlife & Ecology Studies Worldwide
  • Metabolites or signaling molecules → ACS Journals

Advanced research often requires strategic comparison across databases.

Step 3: Evaluate Experimental Strength

Before using an article, confirm:

  • ✔ Contains a Methods section
  • ✔ Includes original experimental data (figures/tables)
  • ✔ Tests a hypothesis
  • ✔ Uses appropriate controls

Review articles are useful for background but should not be your main evidence.

Reference Management

Zotero: Save citations, attach PDFs, and generate bibliographies.