REU: Biology of Endophytic Fungi: An Integrative Approach

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This award provides funds to the Northeast Missouri State University (NMSU) Science Division to continue a successful NSF-REU program . During the summers of 1993 and 1994 seven undergraduate students will be given financial support to allow them to participate in and intensive, full-time research experience. As demonstration of its strong commitment to undergraduate research, NMSU will make several contributions, including: clerical support, free on-campus room and board and a waiver of tuition and fees for 3 college credits to student participants. Students, 3 from NMSU and 4 from off-campus, and 7 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 independence and motivation, research potential, and 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 and physiological 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 their work to others, including a required oral presentation of their findings, and is aimed to develop project ownership by the student.