A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Sites award has been made to the University of Montana that will provide research training for 6-8 students per year, for 9 weeks during the summers of 2012-2014. This REU program, hosted by the University of Bangalore in India, is supported by the NSF's Offices of International Science and Engineering (OISE), Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO) and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE). The REU program focuses on topics in biology, chemistry, systems ecology, economics, and social sciences related to the impacts of climate change and changes in socio-economic structures on the development of sustainable Indigenous communities. This highly interdisciplinary REU program is designed to develop research expertise as well as intercultural scientific communication skills. Approximately eight U.S. faculty mentors representing a variety of disciplines within the natural and social sciences will collaborate with counterparts in India to provide students with meaningful research experiences across a variety of subject areas. Student participants will be engaged full-time in lab and/or field research during the course of the internship. Students will also participate in seminars, workshops, and related training that includes responsible conduct in research; laboratory safety; professional communication skills; career opportunities in the sciences; and graduate school application process. Students are selected based on academic record, research performance, and individual potential for conducting outstanding research in the natural or social sciences. The application process requires students to submit academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of interest and intent. Longitudinal tracking will be implemented to determine continued interest in the students' respective fields of study, their career paths, and lasting influences of the REU experience. Program success is assessed by various means, including use of a common REU assessment tool. More information is available by visiting www.umt.edu/narl, or by contacting the PI (Dr. Michael Ceballos at rmichael.ceballos@umt.edu).
provided research internship opportunities for students to conduct research in collaboration with Bangalore University in India. Research focused on elucidating bioactive compounds and general phytochemical analysis of traditional-use plants and the study of culturally-relevant natural resources. As many as six (6) students per cohort completed a 9-10 week summer internship with 6-10 weeks spent in India. In addition, to their group research projects, students engaged in cultural information sessions and cultural activities within several tribal communities in south central India. All student participants prepared poster presentations covering their research projects. Furthermore, two student co-authored publications resulted from this program. These included co-authorship from students from racial/ethnic and/or economic groups that, historically, have been underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Longitudinal tracking of student indicates that ~90% of student participants completed bachelor's degree requirements and at least two student participants are now enrolled in graduate programs (one at the PhD level). This retention and degree completion rate suggests that providing culturally-relevant and 'hands-on' research experiences to undergraduates may contribute to overall student success for select individuals from underrepresented groups.
