Progress 09/15/03 to 09/14/08
Outputs
The use of biotechnology is commonplace in many research disciplines and the need for minority scientists trained in biotechnology is apparent. This grant facilitated the training of eight minority scientists with hands-on experience in agricultural biotechnology. This was accomplished through the establishment of an agricultural biotechnology option in the Doctor of Science in biology between the Ag- research section of the Dept of agricultural science and the biology department. This grant provided graduate research assistantships that provided financial support for students and financed the implementation of a lab rotation program for MS and PhD graduate science students. The rotation program provided these students to different areas of agricultural biotechnology. Thus far, this grant funded the training of four doctoral students in our laboratories and an additional five other students to complete their theses research. This project complemented and supplemented national efforts to enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of trained professional to work in agricultural related sectors. It also helped expand the graduate research capabilities in biotechnology at Tennessee State University. PRODUCTS: This project provided the funds to support 8 graduate students. In addition to providing funds for laboratory equipment, and research supplies it covered the cost of each student to attend an out-of state scientific meeting. OUTCOMES: Seven students completed the MS theses research work through this grant and one student began his doctoral disertation research. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dissemination activities were restricted to student theses and presentations at scientific meetings such as the Southern Nursery Association Proceedings (Annual meetings in Atlanta GA), the proceedings of the Tennessee State Annual University Research Symposium and to annual seminars for incoming students in the MS and Ph.D. programs. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Since the initiation of this project which resulted in attracting several MS a few Ph.D. students, the Department has created more than 20 research assistantships for suporting graduate students. The Department is projecting to have as many as 50 graduate assistantships to provide student support to at least a dozen Ph.D. students. Presently there are 5 Ph. D. students being supported by these assistantships, all using biotechnology in their dissertation research.
Impacts
Before this project was funded, we had no graduate students in this Department working toward a doctoral degree. The project suported 8 students to complete their work toward MS degrees in Biotechnology; of these, only one student was working toward a doctoral degree. The Department now has six students working toward doctoral degrees and at leas twice that number working toward master's degrees.
Publications
- Sauve, R., Zhou, S. and Aziz, N. 2008. Enhancement of TSU's Doctoral Research in Agricultural Biotechnology. Poster presentation at the Reserch Symposium in Washington, DC. Fall 2008.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
During the calender year, 3 students completed their MS theses under this grant, no student elected to continue their studies toward the Ph.D. degree. The financial assistance provided by this grant covered a portion of the salaries fro Dr. Sauve (10%), and for Drs. Zhou, Aziz and Catanzaro (5%). In addition, it provided money for the purchase of supplies and equipment used by the students.
PRODUCTS: Three students received their MS degree and 5 other were trained in several areas of molecular biology that included DNA extraction and purification. In addition, an additional 5 graduate students are being given extensive training in modern plant propagation.
OUTCOMES: Through this grant, students in the School of Arts and Sciences learned about the facilities available for them in the School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences. At the present, 4 students from the Biology Department are working in IAgER's plant biotechnology laboratories. These students are participating in ongoing research projects.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: During the spring semester of 2007, a presentation was made in the Biology Department of the College of Arts and Science to inform biology students of the type of ongoing research in IAgER's laboratories and to invite new graduate students to perform one of their laboratory rotations in our laboratories.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: We will continue to recruit students from other departments of the University. Qualified students that elect to study in our laboratories will be provided with stipends from state matching funds for federal formula funds if needed.
Impacts
Graduate and undergraduate students desiring to study plant molecular biology will have the opportunity to do so.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Three graduate students have been working on these projects during this period and two students have completed their second degree, one has taken a position as a tech-transfer officer in private industry and the other has chosen to continue her studies at an 1862 institution. These students were trained in each step of cDNA differential display and cDNA microarray hybridization, data analysis, AFLP analysis, tissue culture,and in plant regeneration and transformation. Since December, we have recruited one African-American student. We hope to recruit one more student before the completion of the the project by the fall of 2008.
PRODUCTS: Two students completed their theses using the techniques and knowledge obtained and eleven doctoral students have participated in the lab-rotation part of the program. One African-American student is currently participating in the project.
OUTCOMES: Doctoral students currently participating in the Biology program at TSU are aware that biotechnology is included in agricultural research.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The project has been widely publicised on the University campus and our laboratories have been incorporated in the 2-week lab-rotation of the Doctoral degree program in biology with a concentration in agricultural biotechnology. In addition, the PI has made annual presentations at a seminar course required for all entering graduate students in the doctoral program.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The most difficult part of this project was to convince the limited amount of qualified students to pursue advanced degrees in agricultural biotechnology. To recruit qualified students, we need to begin with high school and with the entering freshman class. Thus, we have submitted a new grant proposal that would provide special sholarships for agricultural students to be mentored by a faculty members that includes biotechnology in their research programs.
Impacts
Two students have completed theses while being supported by the project. Students that participated in this project have presented papers at the annual University wide research conference on the work that they performed. The Doctoral program in Biology has included our laboratories in their rotation course.
Publications
- Smith, S. A. 2006. Regeneration of Monarda didyma and Phlox paniculata and Procedures for Genetic Transformation using Snorhizobium melloti. A Tennessee State University, Master's Theses. November 2006.
- Chen, T. 2006. Genetic Transformation of Tomato with the Oxalate Oxidase Gene. A Tennessee State University Master's Theses. August 2006
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The primarily objective of this proposal is to recruit African Americans to pursue a course work and perform their dissertation research in an area of agricultural biotechnology through an inter-departmental agricultural biotechnology option for the Doctor of Science in biology. To recruit students to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the Institute of Agricultural Research, we publicized the availability of the stipends being offered to qualified applicant along with ongoing research in the Department. This was accomplished through annual departmental seminars and annual presentations to the entering class of graduate students in Biology. At these presentations, we presented our current research in agricultural biotechnology. We were able to recruit 11 students to participate in our lab rotations. Currently, five are performing research in our labs. Four of these students have presented papers at National and University Wide Research Symposia. This
include the Southern Nursery Association Research conference in Atlanta GA and three will present competitive papers and posters at the 14th Biennial ARD Research Symposium in Atlanta (April 2-6, 2006). Through this grant, minority scientists were provided with hands-on experience in agricultural biotechnology by 1) providing graduate research assistantships; 2); providing funds for research, and 3); implementing a research lab rotation. The most difficult part of this project was to find qualified African American that are willing to do graduate work in agriculture.
PRODUCTS: Trained minority students in biotechnology
OUTCOMES: Since the use of biotechnology is commonplace in many agricultural research disciplines, the need for minority scientists trained in biotechnology is becoming increasingly apparent. Hopefully, this need will be partially met through this grant.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Presentations at departmental seminars, presentations in BIO 510 Fall 03 Mentor Presentations, BIO 510 Fall 04 Mentor Presentations, BIO 510 Fall 05 Mentor Presentations. Presentations at the Southern Nurserymen Research Conferences (SNA), 2004, and 2005. Student Presentations at the Annual Research Conference (TSU). Presentations at the Association of Research Directors (ARD) symposium. Spring 2006
FUTURE INITIATIVES: In all our proposed research initiatives dealing with the use of biotechnology, we are including the support and training of students. The inclusion of students in our research is part of the deparment future goals.
Impacts
Through this project, we have given on hand exposures to 11 students in the area of agricultural biotechnology and are currently mentoring five students with their theses research. Thus, students in the biological sciences at TSU have been made aware that most agricultural research project involve biotechnology. Crop improvement strategies have moved from the field to the laboratory.
Publications
- Harrison, R. 2005. Practical Applications of AFLP. Proceedings of the SNA Research Conference. Vol. 50 (in press).
- Chen, T. 2005. In Vitro Regeneration of Transformed Calli of Lycopersicon Esculentum. Proceedings of the SNA Research Conference. Vol. 50 (in press).
- Shaw, K. 2005. Comparative Genotyping of Dark-Green Vegetables via Fluorescent-amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism. Proceedings of the SNA Research Conference. Vol. 50 (in press).
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
We have identified three African American students to enter the program in the fall of 2005. One student was initially hired but was not able to maintain his grades. Two of the three students identified are presently completing their requirements for a Master's degree in Agricultural Sciences and one is completing his Master's degree in Biology. At the present, we are planning to give these students the opportunity to work in the laboratories during the Summer of 2005.
PRODUCTS:
OUTCOMES:
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Recruitment efforts have been done by presenting seminars in the college of Arts and Sciences on opportunities for research in Agriculture. We sponsored three students to do their rotation in our laboratories (a requirement of enrolled students in the doctoral program). Thus far, these students have chosen to do their dissertation research in the biology program. We curently have only one student in the Agriculture program, this student is being sponsored by a NRI grant.
FUTURE INITIATIVES:
Impacts
The existence of our doctoral program in agricultural biotechnology has been made aware to the general student population at Tennessee State University. Thus far, the only students that are willing to participate do not qualify due to their race. The grant specifies African American.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
A student has been accepted to begin its doctoral research in agricultural biotechnology during the summer of 2004. Other students are presently being seeked to enter into the doctoral research program in agricultural biotechnology.
Impacts
The recruited student will be the first doctoral student in the department of Agriculture at Tennessee State University. This grant is providing the funds to initiate recruitment and training of minority scientists in an area where they are under-representd.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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