REU: Global Engagement Research Experience for Undergraduate Students in Food Security: A focus on Indigenous Vegetables and Grain Crops; the "Forgotten Food" Crops of Kenya

该REU网站奖授予位于马里兰州鲍伊的鲍伊州立大学（BSU），将在2019-2020年夏季为期10周的课程中支持8名学生的培训。该项目由北京州立大学自然科学系、肯尼亚内罗毕大学和埃格顿大学（肯尼亚作物、园艺和土壤系）主办。学生们在BSU的第一周将参加一个密集的训练营，内容包括肯尼亚的历史和文化、安全、伦理/负责任的研究行为、基本的科学原理和为研究项目做准备的技能。接下来的8周将在埃格顿大学（一年级）或内罗毕大学（二年级）进行实地考察，然后在BSU进行最后一周的研究，学生将在那里展示他们的研究成果。研究重点是作物在不断变化的环境中做出反应的遗传、生理和生态机制，以实现粮食安全。学生项目的例子包括黄曲霉毒素谷物污染的分子研究、甜高粱基因型和生态型、本土蔬菜丁香的遗传和代谢物多样性、甜高粱酶的分析以及Dolichos实验室根瘤菌物种的表征。讲习班侧重于专业技能（例如，文献综述、实验技术和设计、数据收集和分析、口头和书面陈述技能）。招募和参与者选择将侧重于具有杰出研究潜力的学生，特别强调来自代表性不足群体的学生。预计总共将有16名学生，主要来自研究机会有限的学校，将在该项目中接受培训。学生将学习如何进行研究、分析和交流。许多人将在科学会议上展示他们的工作成果，有些人将在同行评议的期刊上发表结果。由生物基础设施部（生物科学理事会）资助的所有REU项目使用的通用网络评估工具将用于确定项目的有效性。学生在项目结束后需要被跟踪，并且必须回复通过NSF报告系统发送的自动电子邮件。教育和人力资源理事会的人力资源发展司也支持这个资源评价小组。更多信息可通过访问https://www.bowiestate.edu/academics-research/colleges/college-arts-sciences/departments/natural-sciences/research-experience-for-underg/或联系PI， Anne Osano博士aosano@bowiestate.edu.This奖反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This REU Site award to Bowie State University (BSU), located in Bowie, MD, will support the training of 8 students in a 10-week program during the summers of 2019-2020. The program is hosted by the BSU Department of Natural Sciences and the University of Nairobi in Kenya and Egerton University (Kenya, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils). Students spend the first week at BSU for an intensive boot camp on the history and culture of Kenya, safety, ethics/responsible conduct of research, basic scientific principles, and skills to prepare for the research project. The next 8 weeks are dedicated to research at Egerton University (Year 1) or the University of Nairobi (Year 2) with field sampling trips, followed by a concluding week at BSU where students present the results of their research. Research focuses on the genetic, physiological, and ecological mechanisms that underlie crop responses in a changing environment with a goal towards food security. Example student projects include molecular studies of aflatoxin grain contamination, sweet sorghum genotypes and ecotypes, genetic and metabolite diversity of the indigenous vegetable Cleome gynandra, analysis of sweet sorghum enzymes, and characterization of Rhizobia species in Dolichos lablab. Workshops focus on professional skills (e.g., literature review, experimental techniques and design, data collection and analysis, oral and written presentation skills). Recruitment and participant selection will focus on students with outstanding research potential with special emphasis on students from underrepresented groups. It is anticipated that a total of 16 students, primarily from schools with limited research opportunities, will be trained in the program. Students will learn how research is conducted, analyzed, and communicated. Many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences, and some will publish the results in peer-reviewed journals.A common web-based assessment tool used by all REU programs funded by the Division of Biological Infrastructure (Directorate for Biological Sciences) will be used to determine the effectiveness of program. Students are required to be tracked after the program and must respond to an automatic email sent via the NSF reporting system. This REU is also supported by the Division of Human Resource Development in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. More information is available by visiting https://www.bowiestate.edu/academics-research/colleges/college-arts-sciences/departments/natural-sciences/research-experience-for-underg/ or by contacting the PI, Dr. Anne Osano at aosano@bowiestate.edu.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.