This award provides funds to the Northeast Missouri State University (NMSU) Science Division to establish an NSF-REU program. During the summer of 1992 eight undergraduate students will be given financial support to allow them to participate in an intensive, full-time research experience. As demonstration of its strong commitment to undergraduate research, NMSU will provide a number of commitments, including: clerical support, free on-campus room and board and a waiver of tuition and fees for 3 college credits to student participants. Students, 4 from NMSU and 4 from off-campus, and faculty mentors will form a research team, focusing on the study of a single system: grass/fungi endosymbioses. Students will be selected based on their research potential and capability, their independence and motivation, and their professional goals. Discussions between student and mentor will form the basis for matching students to specific research areas. Students will work in research areas that range widely from chemical analysis of fungal alkaloids, to ecological implications for grasses of harboring a fungus, to effects of fungal alkaloids on insect and mammalian consumers of the fungus. The central focus will integrate study at different levels of biological organization and will help foster unity and community among group members. The program includes several opportunities for students to communicate about their work, including a required oral presentation of their findings, and is aimed to develop project ownership by the student.
