REU Site: Exploring the Limits of Life - Understanding Biofilms in Extreme Environments

为期三年的REU网站：探索生命的极限-了解极端环境中的生物膜由蒙大拿州立大学(MSU)卓越中心、热生物学研究所(TBI)和生物膜工程中心(CBE)主办。REU网站每年支持10名学生。参与者将通过以团队为导向的学习和指导性研究，探索极端环境中生命的极限，帮助学生研究极端环境中形成生物膜的微生物的物理、化学和生物学基础。REU计划的目标是：1)增加来自低代表性群体的学生以及来自创新科学和工程研究机会有限的机构的学生的参与；2)使更多的本科生能够攻读工程学、微生物学和相关学科的高级学位；以及3)通过新颖的研究和专业发展，加强和鼓励学生在STEM的坚持不懈。学员还将学习如何以书面和口头形式交流科学发现。创建学习者/研究人员社区是REU网站的前沿，学生们参与学术和社交活动，包括专业发展研讨会、每周一次的研讨会、当地的科学和技术会议、在蒙大拿州体验生活的郊游，以及通过为期三天的抽样旅行沉浸在黄石国家公园的极端生物膜中。REU网站：探索生命的极限-了解极端环境中的生物膜由蒙大拿州立大学(MSU)卓越中心、热生物研究所(TBI)和生物膜工程中心(CBE)主办。REU网站每年支持10名学生，参与者将在教师专家的指导下从事极端生物膜研究项目。作为研究的一部分，项目参与者帮助a)了解和预测极端环境中生物膜的可观察特征，b)检查目标建筑环境中的生物膜活动，以及c)筛选极端微生物膜以进行新的降解、定价和/或活性功能材料的使用。学生参与研究项目的所有阶段，从制定研究工作计划和理解研究方法到收集和解释数据。项目评估将利用在线SALG Urssa评估工具和学生访谈，并在项目结束后使用纵向跟踪调查，以衡量我们的REU经验在多大程度上对留住科学和工程专业的学生产生了持久影响。学员还将学习如何以书面和口头形式交流科学发现。创建学习者/研究人员社区是REU网站的前沿，学生们参与学术和社交活动，包括专业发展研讨会、每周一次的研讨会、当地的科学和技术会议、在蒙大拿州体验生活的郊游，以及通过为期三天的抽样旅行沉浸在黄石国家公园的极端生物膜中。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The three-year renewal REU Site: Exploring the Limits of Life- Understanding Biofilms in Extreme Environments is hosted by Montana State University’s (MSU) centers of excellence, the Thermal Biology Institute (TBI) and the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE). The REU Site supports 10 students each year. Participants will explore the limits of life in extreme environments and through team-orientated learning and guided research, helping students study the physical, chemical, and biological underpinnings of biofilm-forming microorganisms in extreme environments. The goals of the REU program are to 1) increase the participation of students who are members of underrepresented groups and students from institutions with limited research opportunities in innovative science and engineering research; 2) empower more undergraduates to pursue advanced degrees in engineering, microbiology, and related disciplines; and 3) strengthen and encourage the persistence of students in STEM through novel research and professional development. Participants will also learn how to communicate scientific findings in written and oral formats. Creating a community of learners/researchers is at the forefront of this REU Site, with students participating in academic and social events, including professional development seminars, weekly workshops, a local science and technology meeting, outings to experience life in Montana, and immersion in the extreme biofilms of Yellowstone National Park via a three-day sampling trip.The three-year renewal REU Site: Exploring the Limits of Life- Understanding Biofilms in Extreme Environments is hosted by Montana State University’s (MSU) centers of excellence, the Thermal Biology Institute (TBI) and the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE). The REU Site supports 10 students each year, and participants will work on an extreme biofilm research project under the guidance of faculty experts. As part of their research, program participants help a) understand and predict the observable characteristics of biofilms in extreme environments, b) examine biofilm activities in targeted built environments, and c) screen extremophilic biofilms for novel degradation, valorization, and/or living functional materials use. Students are involved in all phases of their research project, from formulating a research work plan and understanding research methods to gathering and interpreting data. Program assessment will leverage the online SALG URSSA evaluation tool and student interviews, with longitudinal tracking surveys used after the program to gauge the degree to which our REU experience has had a lasting effect in retaining students in science and engineering. Participants will also learn how to communicate scientific findings in written and oral formats. Creating a community of learners/researchers is at the forefront of this REU Site, with students participating in academic and social events, including professional development seminars, weekly workshops, a local science and technology meeting, outings to experience life in Montana, and immersion in the extreme biofilms of Yellowstone National Park via a three-day sampling trip.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.