This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2004. The goal of the fellowship is to increase the participation of minority scientists at the postdoctoral level and to prepare them for positions of scientific leadership in academia and industry. To attain this goal, the fellowship provides opportunities for postdoctoral training and research of the highest quality to recent doctoral recipients. It is expected that Fellows supported through these fellowships will play important roles in training of the future workforce.
The research and training plan is entitled "Hybridization, introgression, disease resistance and conservation of native elms." Genetic assimilation following hybridization between red elm, Ulmus rubra, and the exotic invasive, U. pumila, makes the long-term survival of red elm uncertain. Using molecular markers, this research examines hybridization and introgression and the susceptibility of U. rubra X pumila hybrids to Dutch elm disease (DED). Results will help evaluate the threat that introgression with U. pumila represents to native elms and be useful in developing strategies for the long-term conservation of U. rubra.
