Discovery Corps Fellowship: Integrating the "bio" into the environmental biogeochemistry of the arsenic project

化学部支持马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校的朱利安·泰森担任2007-2008学年探索兵团高级研究员。泰森的团队将研究天然和人为的砷化合物，并将开发必要的测量技术，以确定复杂的环境和生物基质中相关的砷化合物。他们将与生命科学学院合作，将分子生物学技术应用于砷化合物与植物和微生物的相互作用。这些研究将增加我们对砷的环境循环的理解，并为开发新的生物修复策略提供信息。这项研究将与教学相结合，通过发展跨学科的本科生专注于环境科学，并进一步发展独立学习计划，在该计划中，一年级学生在高水平本科生的指导下，以小组形式进行真实的研究。代表不足的K-12学生和教师将在当地环境中参加与砷有关的有指导的询问活动。通过发展与国际研究人员的联系，学生对化学测量和补救的全球层面的理解将得到加强。泰森将访问孟加拉国、泰国和越南的几所大学和研究所，这三个国家目前正在处理严重的污染问题。探索军团奖学金计划寻求新的博士后和专业发展模式，将研究专业知识与专业服务相结合。探索兵团研究员通过解决国家需求领域的项目来利用他们的研究专长。他们的项目增强了研究能力和基础设施，并有助于劳动力发展和创造就业机会。探索团队计划同时支持博士后研究员和高级研究员。

The Division of Chemistry supports Julian Tyson of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as a Discovery Corps Senior Fellow for the 2007-2008 academic year. Tyson's group will study natural and anthropogenic arsenic compounds and will develop measurement technologies needed to determine the relevant arsenic compounds in complex environmental and biological matrices. In collaboration with life-sciences faculty, they will apply the techniques of molecular biology to the interaction of arsenic compounds with plants and microorganisms. These studies will increase our understanding of the environmental cycling of arsenic and inform the development of novel bio-remediation strategies. The research will be integrated with teaching via the development of an interdisciplinary, undergraduate concentration in environmental science and the further development of an independent study program, in which first-year students engage in authentic research in small groups mentored by upper-level undergraduates. Underrepresented K-12 students and teachers will participate in guided inquiry activities related to arsenic in their local environments. Students' understanding of the global dimensions of chemical measurements and remediation will be enhanced by the development of links with international researchers. Tyson will visit several universities and institutes in Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam, three countries currently dealing with severe contamination issues. The Discovery Corps Fellowship Program seeks new postdoctoral and professional development models that combine research expertise with professional service. Discovery Corps Fellows leverage their research expertise through projects that address areas of national need. Their projects enhance research capacity and infrastructure and contribute to workforce development and job creation. The Discovery Corps Program supports both Postdoctoral Fellows and Senior Fellows.