UMEB: Integrating Environmental Biology and Molecular Approaches at the University of Texas at El Paso

德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校（UTEP）生物科学系的一大优势是环境生物学和分子技术的整合。这个UMEB计划的目标是在整合这两个领域的研究中培养代表性不足的少数民族学生。许多生物学系已经将分子生物学技术纳入环境生物学问题的研究中。例如，UMEB的学者可以使用DNA测序来回答有关轮虫系统学和蛇毒进化的问题。他们可以使用DNA指纹技术，如AFLP分析，以评估格兰德河的轮虫和鱼类的遗传多样性。UTEP的UMEB学者的项目活动明确要求在环境和分子生物学方面的培训。UMEB学者每人有两名导师。一位导师专注于环境生物学的培训，而另一位导师则专注于培训学生将分子方法纳入环境生物学研究。我们认为，在环境生物学中招募和留住少数民族学生的最成功的计划将包括分子生物学的培训，因为这些领域的技能往往缺乏经典训练的学生，但研究生院和其他雇主青睐雇用那些谁可以执行更新的分析。所有UMEB研究项目都涉及大量的实地调查和研究自然种群，但学生们也收集他们的生物样本，以便将分子技术应用于自己的研究项目。此外，学生定期会面，进行实验设计，基本统计，科学演示的力学，准备GRE，确定合适的研究生院导师，联系潜在的导师和申请研究生院的培训。进入大二或大三的四名学生将参加为期2年的UMEB学者计划。在过去的四年里，NSF将资助12名学生。在他们的第一年，学生花一个学期在两个教师导师的实验室。在第一年结束时，学生在UTEP研究博览会上展示他们的研究和初步发现，这是一个本科生研究的校园论坛。在第一个夏天，学生们全职从事研究工作。两位导师与学生协调，为正在进行的特定项目适当平衡现场和实验室工作。在第二年，UMEB学者继续在他们的两位导师的联合监督下，每周工作10-15小时。在这一年里，学生参加他们的第一次国家或地区的科学会议，并前往学生选择的未来研究生院。UTEP服务于埃尔帕索县，一个主要是双民族/双文化的社区。大学的种族构成反映了它所服务的社区，西班牙裔，主要是墨西哥裔美国人，占学生人数的71%以上。此外，54.7%的大学生是女性。该UMEB计划通过各种计划活动提供适当的指导，包括实践研究，实地考察，研讨会以及前往科学会议和研究生院。该计划肯定会对UMEB学者的科学事业产生长期影响。. 欲了解更多信息，请联系桑德拉佩雷斯博士（电话：915-747-8816;电子邮件：sperez@utep.edu）或威廉麦凯博士（电话：915-747-6991;电子邮件：wmackay@utep.edu）。

One of the great strengths in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is the integration of environmental biology and molecular techniques. The goal of this UMEB program is to train under-represented minority students in research that integrates these two fields. Many of the biology faculty already incorporate molecular biology techniques in the study of questions in environmental biology. For example, UMEB scholars can use DNA sequencing to answer questions about rotifer systematics and snake venom evolution. They can use DNA fingerprinting techniques, such as AFLP analysis, to assess genetic diversity of rotifers and fish in the Rio Grande.The program activities for the UMEB Scholars at UTEP explicitly require training in both environmental and molecular biology. UMEB Scholars each have two mentors. One mentor concentrates on training in environmental biology while the other mentor concentrates on training the student to incorporate molecular approaches into their study of environmental biology. We believe that the most successful program for the recruitment and retention of minority students in environmental biology will include training in molecular biology, as skills in these areas are often lacking in classically-trained students, but graduate schools and other employers favor hiring those who can perform newer analyses. All UMEB research projects involve a substantial amount of fieldwork for surveying and studying natural populations, but the students also collect samples of their organisms in order to apply molecular techniques to their own research projects. In addition, students meet regularly for training in experimental design, elementary statistics, mechanics of scientific presentations, preparing for the GRE, identifying appropriate graduate school mentors, contacting potential mentors and applying to graduate school. Three cohorts of four students entering their sophomore or junior year will participate in the 2-year UMEB Scholars program. Over 4 years, NSF will fund 12 students. During their first year the students spend one semester in each of the two faculty mentors' labs. At the end of the first year, students present their proposed research and preliminary findings at the UTEP Research Expo, an on-campus forum for undergraduate research. During the first summer, the students work on their research full time. The two mentors coordinate with the student the appropriate balance of field and lab work for the particular project being conducted. During the second year, the UMEB Scholars continue working on their research 10-15 hours each week under the joint supervision of their two mentors. During this year, the students participate in their first national or regional scientific meeting and travel to a prospective graduate school of the student's choosing.UTEP serves El Paso County, a mostly bi-national/bicultural community. The ethnic composition of the University mirrors the community it serves, with Hispanics, mostly Mexican-American, accounting for over 71% of the student body. Additionally, 54.7% of the university population is female. This UMEB program provides appropriate mentoring through the various program activities including hands-on research, field trips, workshops, and travel to scientific meetings and graduate schools. This program is sure to have long-lasting effects on the scientific careers of the UMEB scholars. . For more information, contact Dr. Sandra Perez (phone: 915-747-8816; e-mail: sperez@utep.edu) or Dr. William Mackay (phone 915-747-6991; email wmackay@utep.edu).