An award has been made to the Department of Biology at Western Kentucky University (WKU) that will provide research training for 10 weeks for 10 students, for the summers of 2010-2012. The research program focuses on the interdisciplinary field of investigative biotechnology. Students are assigned to a research project based on their interests. The projects, directed by faculty mentors from a wide range of disciplines (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science), span broad areas of animal physiology, plant gene expression, microbiology, virology, biochemistry, protein structure and modeling, bioinformatics, neurophysiology, and mathematical biology. Students will work closely with their faculty mentor and interact with graduate students, post-docs, fellow undergrads, and research technicians. WKU faculty mentors will provide instruction in, and facilitate discussions of, the responsible conduct of research and ethical issues in biological research. Additionally, students will benefit from a series of workshops on graduate school applications, grant writing, and professional literature in the field. Through participation in the REU program, students will gain knowledge in a variety of research areas and develop the skills to prepare them for graduate studies. A major goal is to offer opportunities to undergraduates from groups underrepresented in graduate education or from institutions with limited or no research facilities. Partnerships with four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Georgia and Alabama, two institutions serving the Appalachian region in Kentucky and Tennessee, and a community college in Kentucky will facilitate the recruitment of students to the program. Participants will be selected on the basis of faculty recommendation, GPA, student career plans, academic preparation, and scientific interests. Program evaluation will use several mechanisms, including the NSF-supported common assessment tool, and input from students, faculty mentors, and the REU support staff. Program success will be measured by tracking student publications and presentations, and the number of students who attend graduate school in the sciences. To track the long-term outcomes, social networking sites (like Facebook), as well as direct e-mail communication, will be used. More information is available by visiting http://bioweb.wku.edu/, or by contacting the PI, Dr. Shivendra Sahi at shiv.sahi@wku.edu.

Project Report

The Department of Biology and the Office of Scholar Development (OSD) at Western Kentucky University (WKU) developed and administered a learning intensive REU site for summer research that centered on interdisciplinary studies in Biotechnology. The objective of the WKU REU site was to both ameliorate disadvantage and amplify success for students in groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate education: minorities, first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and students attending schools that do not offer opportunities for research engagement. To achieve these goals, we offered in-depth training that aimed to move students from dependent learners to independent researchers. Students who were invited to participate in the WKU REU program received a stipend, a meal and travel allowance, and free housing. The WKU REU program provided exciting, carefully mentored, authentic and collaborative research experiences to 10 students for 10 weeks during the summer. WKU faculty mentors from Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics volunteered to serve as research mentors. The mentors’ research expertise spanned broad areas of Biotechnology including animal physiology, plant gene expression, microbiology, virology, biochemistry, protein structure and modeling, bioinformatics, neurophysiology and mathematical biology. The diversity of research projects allowed us to match students according to their research interests. Students worked closely with their chosen faculty mentor and interacted with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and research technicians. Through these interactions and with the guidance of the experienced faculty researchers, the REU students developed an in-depth understanding of the core research skills in Biotechnology. Enrichment activities throughout the program were aimed at social and intellectual integration and scholarly and professional development. Socially, we sought to build a sense of community at multiple levels—among the REU students and between REU students and REU mentors. We hosted trips and events to foster this sense of community and to balance formal lab interactions with less formal activities. For example, students and mentors toured Mammoth Cave National Park (home of the world’s largest cave system) with a world famous Geologist. In addition, students went canoeing on the Green River at the WKU Biopreserve. Other enrichment activities were aimed at enhancing and developing the skills that were designed to prepare REU students for graduate school. Students attended a series of three workshops on the process of applying to graduate school. The first session provided a general overview of the application process and funding opportunities and provided the students with concrete information on the GRE and study strategies. Additionally, students learned more about letters of recommendation, who to ask for letters, and how to approach potential letter writers. The second session focused more explicitly on graduate education in the sciences, explaining both application and programmatic expectations and answering student questions about the graduate experience. This session also explored specific fellowships, like the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and provided information on how to develop a strong application. The third and final session focused on key application elements: the personal statement and the resume/CV. Participants in the WKU-REU also attended a series of skills-based and career-focused seminars and field trips. They learned how to read journal articles, how to develop poster presentations, and how to network at conferences. They also met with several Biotechnology professionals at Kentucky Bioprocessing (a firm that develops plant-based technologies) and at the Owensboro Cancer Research Program (a firm that uses plants to produce cancer therapeutics). These unique opportunities helped students to learn more about research careers in settings beyond the university. The WKU REU program was successful in providing intensive research training and professional development opportunities to undergraduate students who are members of underrepresented groups. Students who participated in the WKU REU program generated 37 scientific presentations and 3 peer-reviewed publications. One participant has since completed a MS in Biochemistry, 2 participants are currently in graduate school, and at least 4 participants have applied to graduate programs. All participants were asked to evaluate their summer research experience and they consistently expressed high satisfaction with the WKU REU program.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
1004665
Program Officer
Sally O'Connor
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2010-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$321,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Western Kentucky University Research Foundation
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Bowling Green
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
42101