9322251 Brinkley This award provides funds to Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) to continue a successful REU Program. Ten college undergraduates selected from a nationwide pool of hundreds of applicants will be exposed to a research atmosphere for 10 weeks in a summer career development program. Participants will be selected by a committee of faculty from basic science departments. Students will be matched with faculty mentors and become functioning members of their labs. The unifying focus of the REU Site will be cellular signal transduction. The faculty of BCM have already gained experience in designing undergraduate research projects and interacting with college students through participation in a five-year program, two years as an REU Site. Students will be matched by interest and background to a project that will promote learning new technical skills and development of an understanding of how to approach and conduct research. Students will use advanced techniques, often in molecular biology, that may not be available on their home campuses. The laboratory oriented aspect of the program will be supplemented by participation in research discussions, seminars, career development activities and social/cultural activities sponsored by the SMART Program. NSF sponsored participants will have the benefit of interacting with 100 undergraduates from throughout the nation and of entering an established program that effectively promotes interest in science and prepares undergraduates to enter research oriented careers. ***
