Progress 03/15/16 to 03/14/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this internship program is undergraduate students, particularly students from underrepresented ethnicities and economically disadvantaged groups, with an interest in agriculture or biotechnology from Utah State University's Regional Campuses and other two- or four-year undergraduate institutions. Other stakeholders include: the faculty advisors/mentors at the undergraduate institutions; the faculty hosts/mentors at USU; and the postdoctoral fellow, graduate student or research associate mentors at USU. Changes/Problems:Because we were waiting to hear about our initial renewal application, we were delayed in sending out recruiting information. Consequently, we received less applicants than in previous years. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Over the four years supported by this grant, 30 undergraduate students participated in the SURE program. During the final summer, the summer of 2019, the following students participated in the program: - Alexis Stewart from USU, Blanding was mentored by Dr. Fernanda Batistel from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Danielle Manybeads from the USU, Blanding was mentored by Dr. Youping Sun from the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. - Kennen Cook from USU, Blanding was mentored by Dr. Zhongde Wang from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Lindsey Burbank from USU, Blanding was mentored by Dr. Diana Cox-Foster from the USDA, ARS Pollinating Insect Laboratory. - Trinity Brown from USU, Blanding was mentored by Robert Ward from the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?At the end of the summer each student did a presentation on their project for all of the students and mentors that participated in the program. In addition, many of the students also presented a scientific poster on their project at the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Summer Research Symposium. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This was the final year of the SURE program funded by this grant. We have submitted a renewal application and hope to receive funding to continue this very successful and impactful program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the four years of the Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program supported by this grant, 30 undergraduate students from 10 colleges participated in the program on the Utah State University (USU) main campus in Logan, Utah. During the final year there were five undergraduate students from two USU regional campuses who participated. In addition to spending 10 weeks working in a research laboratory being mentored by a USU faculty member, the students participated in training sessions addressing research methodology and ethics, and a variety of team building experiences. At the end of the 10-week period students presented talks on their research to the other SURE students and their mentors. Many of the students also presented scientific posters at the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Summer Research Symposium.
Publications
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Progress 03/15/18 to 03/14/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this internship program is undergraduate students, particularly students from underrepresented ethnicities and economically disadvantaged groups, with an interest in agriculture or biotechnology from Utah State University's Regional Campuses and other two- or four-year undergraduate institutions. Other stakeholders include: the faculty advisors/mentors at the undergraduate institutions; the faculty hosts/mentors at USU; and the postdoctoral fellow, graduate student or research associate mentors at USU. Changes/Problems:A one-year no cost extension has been requested, which that will allow the SURE program to continue for one additional year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following students received training during the summer of 2018: - Andrew Marlow from Salt Lake Community College was mentored by Dr. Steve Larson from the USDA, ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory. - Charlotte Nyblade from Brown University was mentored by Dr. Young-Min Lee from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Chris Erickson from USU, Price was mentored by Dr. Kara Thornton-Kurth from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Erica Davis from the USU, Price was mentored by Dr. Abby Benninghoff from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Juman Al-Haddad from Salt Lake Community College was mentored by Dr. Zhongde Wang from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Kylynn Brown from the Dine College was mentored by Dr. John Carman from the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. - Matthew Reed from USU, Price was mentored by Dr. Mirella Meyer-Ficca from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Theda Parker from Dixie State University was mentored by Dr. Dirk Vanderwall from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?At the end of the summer each student did a presentation on their project for all of the students and mentors that participated in the program. In addition, many of the students also presented a scientific poster on their project at the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Summer Research Symposium. Drs. Davies and Thomas attended the REUU Project Directors meeting in April 2018 and gave a brief presentation on the SURE program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Application materials have been distributed for the summer of 2019 SURE program. We anticipate accepting up to eight students for next summer's program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the summer of 2018 eight undergraduate students from five different colleges participated in the Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program at the Utah State University (USU) main campus in Logan, Utah. In addition to spending 10 weeks working in a research laboratory being mentored by a USU faculty member, the students participated in training sessions addressing research methodology and ethics, and a variety of team building experiences. At the end of the 10-week period students presented talks on their research to the other SURE students and their mentors. Many of the students also presented scientific posters at the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Summer Research Symposium.
Publications
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Progress 03/15/17 to 03/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this internship program is undergraduate students, particularly students from underrepresented ethnicities and economically disadvantaged groups, with an interest in agriculture or biotechnology from Utah State University's Regional Campuses and other two- or four-year undergraduate institutions. Other stakeholders include: the faculty advisors/mentors at the undergraduate institutions; the faculty hosts/mentors at USU; and the postdoctoral fellow, graduate student or research associate mentors at USU. Changes/Problems:None What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following students received training during the summer of 2017: - Benson Ambrose from USU, Blanding was mentored by Dr. Dirk Vanderwall from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Abraham Bochinclonny from USU, Blanding was mentored by Dr. Ralph Meyer from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Chloe Babb from Salt Lake Community College was mentored by Dr. Chris Davies from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Danielle Phillips from the College of Southern Idaho was mentored by Dr. Jeanette Norton from the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. - Latisha Tornabeni from the College of Southern Idaho was mentored by Dr. Abby Benninghoff from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. - Lisa Gardener from Snow College was mentored by Dr. Kevin Welch from the USDA, ARS Poisonous Plants Laboratory. - Marty Brown from USU Blanding was mentored by Dr. Robert Ward from the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science. - Whittni Ananin from Southern Utah University was mentored by Dr. Kara Thornton-Kurth from the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?At the end of the summer each student did a presentation on their project for all of the students and mentors that participated in the program. In addition, many of the students also presented a scientific poster on their project at the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Summer Research Symposium. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Application materials have been distributed for the summer of 2018 SURE program. We anticipate accepting another eight students for next summers program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the summer of 2017 eight undergraduate students from six different colleges participated in the Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program at the Utah State University (USU) main campus in Logan, Utah. In addition to spending 10 weeks working in a research laboratory being mentored by a USU faculty member, the students participated in training sessions addressing research methodology and ethics, and a variety of team building experiences. At the end of the 10-week period students presented talks on their research to the other SURE students and their mentors. Many of the students also presented scientific posters at the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Summer Research Symposium.
Publications
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Progress 03/15/16 to 03/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Plant scientists interested in biochemical and molecular components of the apomixis/sex switch in plants. This naturally-occurring switch regulates whether seeds form asexually, by apomixis, or sexually. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Student learned biochemical pathways associated with apomixis/sex switching, design of experiment principles, and the importance of control groups and statistical analyses How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Student presented a poster highlighting his findings at a USU undergraduate and graduate student symposium. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research on this project will continue in the summer, 2017, by a new student. Training activities will be similar to those conducted in 2016.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The undergraduate student used pharmacologicals to test putative biochemical components of the apomixis/sex switch in facultatively-apomictic Boechera (Brasssicaceae).
Publications
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