REU Site: Microbiology of Low Oxygen Ecosystems (MLOxE) at Montana State

REU网站授予蒙大拿州立大学，该大学位于蒙大拿州的博兹曼，将在2024-2026年的夏季为10名学生提供为期10周的培训。预计该项目将培养30名学生，主要来自研究机会有限的学校。这些学生将学习如何进行研究，许多人将在科学会议上展示他们的工作成果。参与将帮助学生通过理解微生物在生态系统中的作用来帮助解决当代科学和社会问题。课程评估将通过在线工具完成，学生在课程结束后的职业道路将被监控。这个REU项目让学生沉浸在低氧生态系统微生物学（MLOxE）的研究中。生活在无氧环境中的微生物影响着地球上一些最重要的过程（例如，养分或温室气体循环），在人类健康中发挥着至关重要的作用，并为了解生命如何在这个星球上最初出现和多样化提供了洞见。学生将探讨三个主题领域的问题：微生物相互作用，代谢和生理学，以及群落和生态系统功能。学生项目可能涉及不同的低氧系统，如人类微生物组，黄石温泉，或海洋沉积物。参与的指导教师代表微生物与细胞生物学、土地资源与环境科学系、化学与生物化学系、植物科学与植物病理学、化学与生物工程系。在为期10周的课程中，学生将在导师的实验室进行实验室、实地或计算研究，并参加一系列其他活动，包括实地考察、教育和职业发展研讨会、道德和负责任的研究行为培训，以及建立网络，使学生能够将科学作为职业，并建立支持性的专业和社区关系。由申请表、成绩单和推荐信组成的申请通过NSF ETAP在线提交。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识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 Montana State University, located in Bozeman, MT, will support the training of 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2024-2026. It is anticipated that this program will train a total of 30 students, primarily from schools with limited research opportunities. These students will learn how research is conducted, and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. Participation will prepare students to help solve contemporary scientific and societal problems through understanding the role of microorganisms in ecosystems. Program assessment will be done through an online tool, and students' career paths beyond the program will be monitored. This REU program immerses students in research on the Microbiology of Low Oxygen Ecosystems (MLOxE). Microorganisms living without oxygen influence some of Earth's most important processes (e.g., nutrient or greenhouse gas cycling), play essential roles in human health, and provide insight into how life first arose and diversified on this planet. Students will explore questions in three thematic areas: Microbial Interactions, Metabolism and Physiology, and Community and Ecosystem Function. Student projects may involve diverse low-oxygen systems, such as the human microbiome, Yellowstone hot springs, or marine sediments. Participating faculty advisors represent the Departments of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. During the 10-week program, students will conduct lab, field, or computational research in the lab of an advisor and participate in a range of other activities, including field trips, educational and career development workshops, training in ethics and responsible conduct of research, and networking to empower students to pursue science as a career and build supportive professional and community relationships. Applications consisting of an application form, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are submitted online via NSF ETAP.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.