This award provides funds to The College of Sciences at San Diego University to direct a Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site for Summer/Academic Years 1991-92, 1992-93, and 1993-94. The program will provide undergraduate students with research experience in the laboratories of a strong group of molecular biologists who are faculty members of the Departments of Biology and Chemistry. Both plant and animal science areas are represented among the research interests of nineteen participating faculty members. Eight students will participate for two months in the summer and 30 weeks in the following academic year. Students will be selected from biology and chemistry majors at eight local community colleges as well as undergraduate colleges and universities in San Diego County, including San Diego State University. Additionally, students will be recruited from Imperial Valley Community College and San Diego State University's Imperial Valley Campus (SDSU IVC). The program design will permit students who commute from the Imperial Valley to participate in all components of the program during summer and on Tuesdays and Thursdays of the academic year through transportation by van to the main campus of the University. Imperial Valley institutions and three of the eight San Diego County community colleges have diverse ethnic student populations, especially black and Hispanic. Consequently, the institutions selected for participation will assure access of under-represented minority students to the program. Students will participate in laboratory activities for 40 hours per week in the summer and for 10 hours per week in the academic year. Both summer and academic year programs will include weekly (summer) or bi-weekly (academic year) enrichment colloquia which will introduce students to such topics as ethics in research, academic advising, and career planning. Student-suggested science topics to improve understanding will be presented by appropriate faculty members, and the students themselves will report on their research activities to the group several times during the year. The primary objective of this project is the encouragement and preparation of students to enter advanced, especially Ph.D., degree programs in the sciences. The components of the project should make these highly competitive for openings in a variety of advanced degree programs.
