REU Site: Interdisciplinary research in a diverse Appalachian ridge and valley ecosystem

这个REU网站奖给桑福德大学，位于伯明翰，AL，将提供12名学生的研究培训，在2015年至2017年的夏天9周。该计划的重点是多学科研究，研究生物和生物化学的相互作用，从分子到景观尺度，在不同的阿巴拉契亚山脉和山谷生态系统在橡树山州立公园（OMSP）伯明翰附近，AL。有广泛的潜在的学生项目，涉及实地和实验室研究，以解决生态学，种群生物学，植物学，地理学，植物化学，分子生物学、神经科学、生物化学、细胞生物学和发病机理。导师来自桑福德大学和伯明翰南方学院的生物和环境科学、化学、地理和药学系。学生是根据学习成绩，专业目标和优秀研究的潜力来选择的。特别鼓励那些在家乡机构参加研究的机会有限的优秀本科生和来自代表性不足的少数群体的学生申请。预计共有36名学生将在该方案中接受培训。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。除了研究，学生将参加在研究，数据分析，专业沟通技巧，专业发展活动和研究生院申请过程中的道德行为每周讲习班。与导师，专家和同学的讨论和研讨会将帮助参与者整合他们对复杂的生物和生化相互作用的知识在整个研究topics.A共同的基于网络的评估工具由生物基础设施司（董事会生物科学）资助的所有REU计划将被用来确定培训计划的有效性。学生需要在课程结束后进行跟踪，并必须通过NSF报告系统自动发送电子邮件，以确定他们对学术研究领域的持续兴趣，他们的职业道路以及他们的研究经验的持久影响。欲了解更多信息，请访问www.samford.edu/REU，或联系主要研究者（马利亚Fincher博士，rmfinche@samford.edu）或共同主要研究者（Betsy Dobbins博士，egdobbin@samford.edu）。

This REU Site award to Samford University, located in Birmingham, AL, will provide research training for 12 students, for 9 weeks during the summers of 2015-2017. The program focuses on multidisciplinary research to study biological and biochemical interactions ranging from the molecular to the landscape scale in a diverse Appalachian ridge and valley ecosystem at Oak Mountain State Park (OMSP) near Birmingham, AL. There are a wide range of potential student projects, involving both field and laboratory research, to address questions in ecology, population biology, botany, geography, plant chemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, cell biology and pathogenesis. Mentors are from the Departments of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Geography, and Pharmacy at Samford University and Birmingham Southern College. Students are selected based on academic record, professional goals, and potential for outstanding research. Outstanding undergraduate students who have limited opportunities to participate in research at their home institutions and students from underrepresented minority groups are particularly encouraged to apply. It is anticipated that a total of 36 students will be trained in the program. Students will learn how research is conducted, and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. In addition to research, students will participate in weekly workshops on ethical conduct in research, data analysis, professional communication skills, professional development activities, and the graduate school application process. Discussions and seminars with mentors, experts, and fellow students will help participants integrate their knowledge about complex biological and biochemical interactions across research topics.A common web-based assessment tool used by all REU programs funded by the Division of Biological Infrastructure (Directorate for Biological Sciences) will be used to determine the effectiveness of the training program. Students are required to be tracked after the program and must respond to an automatic email sent via the NSF reporting system to determine their continued interest in their academic field of study, their career paths, and the lasting influences of their research experience. More information is available by visiting www.samford.edu/REU, or by contacting the PI (Dr. Malia Fincher at rmfinche@samford.edu) or the co-PI (Dr. Betsy Dobbins at egdobbin@samford.edu).