REU Site: Plant Biology & Conservation Research Experiences for Undergraduates - From Genes to Ecosystems

该奖项授予芝加哥植物园，将在2012-2014年夏季为10名学生提供为期10周的研究培训。这个REU网站的主题是植物生物学和保护，从遗传到生态系统的探究。教师导师包括来自主办机构以及西北大学和其他地区机构的科学家。学生在植物进化与系统学、传粉生物学、珍稀植物保护、入侵生物学、土壤与微生物生态学、恢复生态学、生物地球化学、气候科学等相关学科进行研究。项目通常包括现场和实验室工作。学生还参加专业发展活动，包括小组合作研究经验、科学伦理和研究生院研讨会、实地考察菲尔德博物馆和莫顿植物园、科学交流培训以及在公开研讨会上展示成果。REU项目整合在一个连续的培训中，包括大学预科学生、其他本科生研究人员、研究生和博士后研究人员，为REU学生提供机会，作为年轻学生的共同导师，并了解研究生院的第一手资料。REU使用实验室进行生态学、土壤科学、遗传学、生殖生物学、地理信息系统、显微镜、种群生物学、地球化学、同位素分析和其他调查领域的研究。学生通过各种渠道在全国范围内招募，并根据学习成绩，过去的成就和研究潜力进行选择。特别努力吸引在本国机构缺乏广泛研究机会的学生和/或来自传统上在生物科学领域代表性不足的群体的学生。学生们被跟踪评估这一研究经历对他们未来学术和职业道路的影响。有关该计划的信息通过后续调查进行评估，包括使用REU通用评估工具。欲了解更多信息，请访问http://www.cbgreu.org/，或联系PI （Daniel Larkin博士dlarkin@chicagobotanic.org）或联合PI （Jeremie Fant博士jfant@chicagobotanic.org）。

This award to the Chicago Botanic Garden will provide a ten-week research training for 10 students, during the summers of 2012-2014. The theme of this REU site is plant biology and conservation, spanning from genetic to ecosystem levels of inquiry. Faculty mentors include scientists drawn from the host institution plus Northwestern University and other area institutions. Students conduct research in plant evolution and systematics, pollination biology, rare-plant conservation, invasion biology, soil and microbial ecology, restoration ecology, biogeochemistry, climate science, and related disciplines. Projects typically involve both field and laboratory work. Students also participate in professional development activities, including a group collaborative research experience, workshops on scientific ethics and graduate school, field trips to the Field Museum and Morton Arboretum, training in scientific communication, and presentation of results at a public symposium. The REU program is integrated within a training continuum that includes pre-collegiate students, other undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, providing opportunities for REU students to serve as co-mentors to younger students and learn firsthand about graduate school. REU use laboratories equipped for research in ecology, soil science, genetics, reproductive biology, GIS, microscopy, population biology, geochemistry, isotopic analysis, and other areas of investigation. Students are recruited nationally through a variety of outlets and are selected based on academic record, past accomplishments, and research potential. Special efforts are made to attract students who lack extensive research opportunities at their home institutions and/or from groups traditionally underrepresented in the biological sciences. Students are tracked to evaluate the effects of this research experience on their future academic and career paths. Information about the program is assessed through follow-up surveys, including use of an REU common assessment tool. More information is available by visiting http://www.cbgreu.org/, or by contacting the PI (Dr. Daniel Larkin at dlarkin@chicagobotanic.org) or co-PI (Dr. Jeremie Fant at jfant@chicagobotanic.org).