This award will provide continuing support for a Research Experiences for Undergraduate Site at Louisiana State University. The primary activity will involve an eight week summer session of independent research in biological science. A select group of ten students, of junior or senior standing, will be invited to participate in the program. Each student will be under the direct supervision of an LSU faculty member who will serve as the research advisor and be directly responsible for the student's progress. Faculty participants have been chosen on the basis of their experience working with undergraduates in the laboratory, suitability of research projects and general research productivity. Additional components of the program will be a formal library orientation and a series of weekly communication skills workshops for all REU investigators. The program will also involve a weekly seminar series for all participants, including the faculty advisors and members of their research laboratories. The latter activities will be coordinated by the P.I.. Upon completion of the summer research program, each REU investigator will present his/her research results as an oral seminar and written paper, the latter in a form suitable for publication. A number of follow-up activities are planned to encourage REU investigators to present the results of their completed work to a scientific audience.
