The Research Improvement in Minority Institutions (RIMI) program was established to provide support to strengthen the research environments and capabilities of predominantly minority institutions or institutions that have substantial minority student populations. Eligible institutions must also have graduate programs in science or program in engineering. Funding is provided for faculty research in fields of science and engineering supported by the Foundation and for the acquisition of research instrumentation. Sul Ross State University will use RIMI support to study insect-resistant range grasses of the Chihuahuan Desert Region (CDR). Certain compounds are known to have a protective function against various herbivores and researchers at Sul Ross propose to select grasses that are resistant to grasshoppers, a major pest of rangeland forage grasses. This project will entail a genecological survey of CDR range grasses in order to assess genetic and environmental variability of these rangeland resources. The principal investigator is well trained in chemical systematics and has published in refereed journals. The Foundation has supported this project because it will provide minorities in the southwest with greater opportunities to participate in meritorious research.
