This award will support the participation of undergraduate biology students in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program offered by Emory University. From extensive prior experiences with undergraduate training, the faculty at Emory have become convinced that meaningful research experiences are the optimal way to encourage undergraduate students to enter research careers in the biological sciences. Recruitment efforts for this program will continue to focus primarily on students from regional undergraduate institutions, women and minority students. Although research interests of the Emory faculty cross a number of specialties and use different approaches to biological problems, they share a common interest in experimental approaches to biological questions. The goals of the program are : (1) to provide an intensive research experience in one subdiscipline; (2) to provide formal and informal introductions to the processes of science; (3) to provide perspective by examining alternative approaches to biological research at different hierarchical levels; and (4) to maximize participant interaction with other undergraduate and graduate researchers, the research mentor, and his/her research group. The program will include the following components: (1) independent student research projects; (2) research methods workshops; (3) "On Being a Scientist," a seminar series designed to assess different approaches to biological questions; (4) departmental seminars and journal clubs in research areas; and (5) a series of discussions on scientific integrity. This award will foster the continued education and training of individuals who will be part of the next generation of basic researchers in biology.
