The Monmouth University School of Science Summer Research Program (SRP) ( monmouth/srp )

1. Involving Undergraduate Students in Biological Research: Practices from the Biology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Michael A. Palladino, Ph.D., Dean, School of Science, Associate Professor of Biology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJSibdas Ghosh, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CATimothy Lyden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WIRachelle M. Spell, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GALouise Temple, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Integrated Science and Technology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA At the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, we have approached the development of an undergraduate (UG) research culture in a somewhat unique manner. At our campus, the formal organization which fosters and now supports UG research, scholarly and creative activities or RSCA is actually a student generated and administered group called the Society for Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities. This organization functions to promote the development of a scholarly community which embraces independent faculty-mentored RSCA through an annual “Gala Evening of RSCA”, participation in NCUR for the past 9 nine years as well as various other state and local RSCA presentation events and a peer-reviewed/administered RSCA grants program which distributes more than $75,000 a year across the campus. This past year, SURSCA spearheaded and helped organize a regional effort to transport students from throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota to Missoula, Montana for NCUR 2010. In the end, this effort resulted in SURSCA chartering two jets and the transport of some 360 scholars and faculty/administration supporters to the conference. Of these, 75 were from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. To date, since it’s inception in 2002, SURSCA has assisted more than 300 students from across our campus to attend NCUR meetings and encouraged many more to engage in this significant ‘high impact” educational activity. In addition, SURSCA provides the participating officers with leadership skills as well as critical insights into grantsmanship and research funding activities. Contact: Timothy Lyden, timothy.lyden@uwrf.edu The Monmouth University School of Science Summer Research Program (SRP) (www.monmouth.edu/srp) Undergraduate Research as a Means of International Collaboration and Study Abroad: The IRES Program at Emory University(http://college.emory.edu/home/academic/research/sire/summer/ires.html) • The SRP is a 12-week research experience for students (high school, • undergraduate, and graduate students) to work on collaborative research • projects under the supervision of science faculty and staff. • Program Highlights for Students • Employment as a student researcher; on-campus housing is • available at reduced rates; potential to earn college-credits for research experience. • Outstanding opportunity to be a researcher in a student-faculty collaborative research team. • Gain research experience that is invaluable for future employment in industry and for entry into graduate and professional schools. • Present research at an informal symposium. • Seminars (research ethics, attending graduate school). • Weekly lunches to interact with SRP students and faculty. • Research Projects: SRP participants have the opportunity to carry out exciting original • research in the following areas: • Biology (cell biology, cancer biology, entomology, molecular biology, neuroscience, marine • and environmental biology, reproductive biology) • Chemistry (bioorganic chemistry, green synthetic chemistry, environmental analytical • chemistry, computational chemistry) • Computer Science (computer networks, databases, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence) • Mathematics (statistical applications of mathematics) • Software Engineering, Rapid Response Institute (homeland defense and emergency • preparedness for natural and manmade disasters) • Urban Coast Institute (watershed management, coastal ecosystems) • Contact: Michael A. Palladino, mpalladi@monmouth.edu • Undergraduates seeking summer internships and international experiences can combine both in international undergraduate research experiences.  Emory has successfully fostered these opportunities for many students in various locations through IRES program administered by Dr. Leah Roesch. • Funding: Emory, HHMI grant, DAAD-RISE program, American Chemical Society IREU, and Pasteur Foundation • Implementation • Select students with previous research experience • Required directed study with syllabus containing information about research abroad • Required communication through blog while abroad and presentation and written reflection upon return • Strengths • Fosters collaborations between Emory and international scholars • Works to create new opportunities for study abroad for science students • Strengthens student confidence, skills, and preparation for future opportunities • Significant cultural immersion • Students LOVE it and report a life-changing experience • Challenges • Complicated visas • Unclear international mentor expectations- due to unclear or negative impressions of undergraduates or undergraduate research • Difficulty creating community with one person exchange • Success is very dependent on outgoing student personality • Contact: Leah Anderson Roesch, leah.roesch@emory.edu Dominican University of California (DUC): Undergraduate Research-Based Curriculum(http://www.dominican.edu/) James Madison University: Reaching More Students in Original Research in Classroom Settings(http://phage.cisat.jmu.edu/hhmi/) • At Dominican University of California (DUC), the undergraduate research • program in biological sciences provides a solid foundation of scientific • methodology, enabling a smooth transition from faculty-directed activity • into student-driven investigations. • The goal of the program is to give students the: • ownership of their research problems • opportunity to develop an intensive and long-term project • iii. environment to interact with peers, building a sense of community, and where faculty investigators engage students in research to develop a learning community. • Toward this goal, DUC has developed and implemented a strong undergraduate research program of 6 laboratory credits over 3 academic years. This program separates the developmental stages of the student-as-scholar into a series of four courses (1C + 2C + 2C +1C). All biology majors start the series by enrolling in a 1C class during second semester of their first year. These beginning learners have an introduction to research methodology with a focus on the scientific method and communication skills. The following year (sophomore), the intermediate learners have two semesters (4 credits total) of experimentation, data collection, and data analysis. The advanced learners have a culminating research experience through a final 1C class during first semester of their junior year. This class typically includes a written thesis and oral presentation as well as an oral/poster presentation at the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research or other professional conferences. • Contact: Sibdas Ghosh, sibdas.ghosh@dominican.edu *Essential requirements    1. Eager and energetic faculty and appropriate workload credit.    2. A research question that requires production of many items or data points, all of which can be unique and useful for further study.    3. A venue for sharing findings/materials with the larger scientific community*One example is discovery of bacterial viruses from soil, a large project sponsored by Howard Hughes Medical Institute and carried out by ~40 universities and colleges across the US.     1.  Faculty are biologists and chemists from a variety of sub-disciplines.  (Some had no prior experience with this particular kind of work).  Nearly all teach in teams of two, having from 12-24 students in a lab section.    2.  The research question is discovery of environmental viruses that might have medical implications for the future.  Students isolate and purify the viruses in semester one and do genomics and bioinformatics in semester two.  No previous college experience is required, so everything is taught on a “need-to-know” basis.    3.  The different participating institutions are connected electronically and by occasional national or regional meetings.  Faculty and students have presented both educational and scientific information at professional meetings. Contact: Louise Temple, templelm@jmu.edu University of Wisconsin-River Falls: The Society for Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities, a grass-roots solution to developing the research culture at a Mid-Western American University (http://sursca-uwrf.blogspot.com/)