REU Site: Re-IMAGiNE Life, Exploring Function through Adaptation

该REU网站奖授予位于阿拉巴马州塔斯卡卢萨的阿拉巴马大学，将在2022年至2024年的夏季每年培训10名学生，为期10周。预计总共有30名学生将接受该项目的培训，这些学生主要来自研究机会有限的学校或代表性不足的群体。非传统背景和学术路径的学生，包括那些对生物学有热情但在传统课堂环境中表现不佳的学生，特别适合这种体验。学生将学习进行研究，许多人将在科学会议上展示他们的工作成果和/或为同行评审的出版物做出贡献。对项目的评估将通过一项标准化的调查来完成，并在项目结束后对学生进行跟踪，以确定他们的职业道路。了解基因组和环境变化如何结合起来，通过适应产生复杂的性状是生物学的关键挑战之一。这个REU网站将重新想象（在网络和跨环境中整合基因适应机制）生命，为学生提供一个探索生命之树中适应策略多样性的机会。学生将在生物科学系进行综合研究，并有机会学习生物学的多个分支学科。潜在的项目将探索生物如何适应从淡水生态学到医学微生物学到进化基因组学等领域的生物和环境压力。参与者将探索研究的各个方面，包括文献综述、研究伦理培训、实验设计、实验室和/或现场实验、数据分析和结果展示。其他活动将包括研讨会，展示新颖的研究，实地考察阿拉巴马州的研究中心，和专业发展活动，促进不同的科学事业。有兴趣的学生可以通过我们网站上的申请链接（https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate-studies/reu-program/）进行申请。没有先前的研究经验的期望或需要。在最终选择参与者之前，将安排与顶级申请人进行多次Zoom对话。有关该计划的更多信息可访问https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate-studies/reu-program/，或联系PI （Olson博士jolson@ua.edu）或co-PI （McKain博士mrmckain@ua.edu）。该奖项反映了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，认为值得支持。

This REU Site award to The University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, AL, will support the training of 10 students for 10 weeks each year during the summers of 2022- 2024. It is anticipated that a total of 30 students, primarily from schools with limited research opportunities or from an under-represented group, will be trained in the program. Students of non-traditional backgrounds and academic paths including those that have a passion for biology but may underperform in the traditional classroom setting are especially targeted for this experience. Students will learn to conduct research and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences and/or contribute to a peer-reviewed publication. Assessment of the program will be done through a standardized survey and students will be tracked after the program to determine their career paths.Understanding how genomic and environmental variation are integrated to give rise to complex traits via adaptation is one of the key challenges in biology. This REU Site will Re-IMAGiNE (Integrating Mechanisms of Adaptation with Genes in Networks and across Environments) Life, providing students an opportunity to explore the diversity of adaptive strategies found across the tree of life. Students will perform integrated research in the Department of Biological Sciences and have opportunities to learn from multiple subdisciplines of biology. Potential projects will explore how organisms adapt to biological and environmental-derived stress in fields ranging from freshwater ecology to medical microbiology to evolutionary genomics. Participants will explore all aspects of research, including literature review, research ethics training, experimental design, lab and/or field-based experimentation, data analysis, and presentation of results. Other activities will include seminars demonstrating novel research, field trips to Alabama research centers, and professional development activities promoting diverse science careers. Interested students should apply using the application link on our website (https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate-studies/reu-program/). No prior research experience is expected or needed. Multiple Zoom conversations will be scheduled with top applicants before the final selection of participants. More information about the program is available by visiting https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate-studies/reu-program/, or by contacting the PI (Dr. Olson at jolson@ua.edu) or the co-PI (Dr. McKain at mrmckain@ua.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.