Objectives and Relevancy: This project supports Dr. John Scocca to spend four weeks at the Center for Advanced Molecular Biology at the University of Punjab, in Lahore, Pakistan. During this period he will collaborate with Dr. S. Riazuddin, director of the center, in conducting a workshop on molecular biology techniques. They will be joined by two scientists from England and India as well as scientists from Pakistan. Students will be young researchers from Pakistan as well as from neighbouring countries. In addition, Dr. Scocca will review with Pakistani scientists their research in this field and examine areas where future collaborative research can be beneficial to the two countries. Special emphasis will be on the application of these techniques to plant research. He will also deliver lectures describing his current work. The Science in Developing Countries program supports participation by U.S. scientists in workshops in a foreign country to assist in the application of science and technology to development. The training of these Pakistani scientists is useful to both countries because their laboratory is currently carrying extensive experiments in conjunction with scientists from several top U.S. research institutes, and the proposed investigation will help the work on improving agriculture products in Pakistan. Merit: The P.I. is a capable researcher in the field of the workshop. The pakistani scientist is one of Pakistan's best known in molecular biology experimentation, who has conducted productive research under NSF grants in the last seven years. The workshop is likely to help the participants from Pakistan and neighbouring countries by exposing them to the most recent techniques of research in the field. The interaction is likely to increase the interest in the field and in collaboration with the U.S. to the advantage of both countries. Funding: None other than this grant.
