URM: Research Experiences in a Changing World: Preparing Underrepresented Students for Graduate Programs through Research in Environmental Biology

加州州立大学富勒顿分校(CSUF)被授予建立本科生研究和指导(URM)计划的奖项。该计划将从2011年春季开始，一直持续到2015年冬季，为五名学者(每组五名学生)提供为期两年的环境生物学和生态学研究经验。每组将包括五名学生，他们将接受涉及与土著生态系统可持续性有关的问题的研究培训。CSUF-URM学者将研究这些生态系统，并开发高质量的研究技能，这些技能应用批判性思维，而不是通常在本科课堂上取得的成就。到他们在该项目的任期结束时，学者们将为进入竞争激烈的环境和生态学科的研究生项目做好准备。CSUF-URM计划将包括三个主要部分：(1)夏季实地课程；(2)为期两年的独立研究，由教师直接指导，并最终形成高级论文；以及(3)促进队列建设和网络、同行指导、沟通技能建设、道德培训和职业发展的强化活动。学者的选择将基于他们的兴趣、职业目标和生产性研究的能力，这些能力是由过去的经验、学术表现和推荐信决定的。学者们将围绕教师导师的专业知识研究各种项目，包括(1)干扰对群落和行为的影响，(2)非本地物种的生理和生态影响，(3)物种对当前和未来气候条件的反应，(4)本地物种的保护方法，以及(5)脆弱生境的基线生态条件。学者们的研究将在全国会议上发表，并构成本科生研究论文的基础。CSUF-URM的所有学者将发展研究技能，这些技能将(1)直接有助于更多地了解我们正在变化的地球，(2)提高南加州许多文化部门对环境科学的能见度和认识，以及(3)提高个人进入研究生院的竞争力。通过对学生成绩和结果的监控，计划对项目的成功进行评估。欲了解更多信息，请访问http://biology.fullerton.edu/scerp/index.html，，或联系威廉·霍斯(bhoese@fullerton.edu)或达伦·桑德奎斯特(dSandquist@fullerton.edu)。

An award has been made to California State University Fullerton (CSUF) to establish an Undergraduate Research and Mentoring (URM) program. The program will provide two-year research experiences in environmental biology and ecology to five cohorts of scholars (five students per cohort) starting in spring 2011 and continuing through winter 2015. Each cohort will comprise five students who will be trained on research involving problems related to the sustainability of native ecosystems. CSUF-URM scholars will study these ecosystems and develop high-quality research skills that apply critical thinking beyond what is typically achieved in an undergraduate classroom. By the end of their tenure in the program, scholars will be well positioned for admission into highly competitive graduate programs in the environmental and ecological disciplines. The CSUF-URM program will include three main components: (1) a summer field course; (2) two years of independent research, mentored directly by faculty, and culminating in a senior thesis; and (3) enhancement activities to foster cohort-building and networking, peer mentoring, communication skills building, ethics training, and career development. Scholars will be selected based on their interests, career goals, and ability for productive research as determined by past experiences, academic performance, and letters of recommendation. Scholars will investigate a diversity of projects built around the expertise of the faculty mentors, including (1) the effects of disturbance on communities and behavior, (2) the physiological and ecological impacts of non-native species, (3) the response of species to current and future climate conditions, (4) conservation methods for native species, and (5) baseline ecological conditions in vulnerable habitats. Research performed by scholars will be presented at national conferences, and form the basis of an undergraduate research thesis. All CSUF-URM scholars will develop research skills that will (1) contribute directly to the greater knowledge of our changing Earth, (2) increase visibility and awareness of environmental sciences across the many cultural divisions of Southern California, and (3) increase individual competitiveness for admission to graduate school. Evaluation of program success is planned through monitoring of student accomplishments and outcomes. More information is available at http://biology.fullerton.edu/scerp/index.html, or by contacting William Hoese (bhoese@fullerton.edu) or Darren Sandquist (dsandquist@fullerton.edu).