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Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Explore exciting research opportunities in agriculture at UVI! Students receive mentorship and course credit while conducting research in the fields of agronomy, animal science, biotechnology, agroforestry, horticulture, and aquaculture. Funding sources such as NSF programs and research grants support student research activities. Join us and be part of the thriving academic and industry community in agriculture.

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Undergraduate Research Opportunities

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  1. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Presented at the AP-AES Joint Meeting September 18-19, 2012 Atlanta, GA Bob Godfrey Director & Professor – Animal Science

  2. Situation at UVI • UVI has no teaching program in agriculture; only AES and CES • Funds obtained through grants have been used to provide opportunities to support student research activities in AES labs • Students are mentored by faculty/professional staff in Agronomy, Animal Science, Biotechnology & Agroforestry and Horticulture & Aquaculture • Students are taught how to conduct research by being involved in all aspects of a project from experimental design to data analysis and presentation • Students enroll in BIO 495– Directed Independent Study and receive course credit for their time conducting research

  3. Funding Sources • NSF Minority Biomedical Research Support - Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS-RISE; 2003 - present) • NSF Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC; 2003 - present) • USDA-NIFA Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA; 2006 - present) • NSF - VI EPSCoR Program (2003 – present) • Other research grants when available (S-SARE, WRRI)

  4. Limitations • Small size – UVI and AES • No agriculture curriculum to recruit students from • Low level of student interest in agriculture • Misconceptions about agriculture • Not just “farming” • Limited funding support for students in AES • AES faculty are 100% research appointments (Hatch funds) • Part time teaching faculty support from other funds

  5. Outputs • Since 2006 RIIA funds have supported 24 undergraduate and 1 graduate student in AES • Prior to that we had 8 MARC and RISE students that worked in AES labs • Students have published their research and presented results at local, regional, national and international conferences • ASAS, AHS, CFCS, SAAS • UVI hosts two Student Research Symposia each year (STT and STX) • UVI developed the Emerging Caribbean Scientist program

  6. Outcomes • UVI undergraduate students have won awards for presentations at: • Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) • Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) – Horticulture section • American Society for Horticultural Science • Several students have gone on to grad school & vet school or have obtained jobs in academia or industry

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