9732442 This REU Site will train highly qualified students in biology through participation in undergraduate research. The program will enable students to develop skills in effective experimental design and execution, oral and written communication, and critical thinking. In doing so, outstanding students will be encouraged to pursue careers in biological research. Working with their faculty mentors, students will formulate working hypothesis, design and execute experiments, collect and analyze data, and present their findings in both oral and written forms. In addition, the program will include seminars by visiting scholars, weekly group research meetings, journal clubs, and workshops in ethics, scientific writing and career development. Students will also visit three types of institutions that represent a range of research environments different from the university: institutions that combine research with public education, traditional research institutions, and industrial research-and-development divisions. Students will participate in a broad range of projects, which will help students understand the interrelationships within and between the various levels of biological organization. The REU Site at Towson University will offer ample opportunities to each participant through well-equipped research laboratories, numerous field sites, and the availability of highly specialized facilities at allied institutions. Towson University's commitment of financial and human resources to the proposed project demonstrate institutional support for undergraduate research. Special efforts will be made to involve minority students and women in the program. The Site will train 48 undergraduate students over a three year period, one-third of whom will be fully supported by Towson University.
