Progress 01/01/23 to 12/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Undergraduate students at the project institutions were the target recruiting demographicin this period, specifically those interested in agricultural and related science studies. Advertising for the internships was shared with all institutions listed in the grant agreement, including but not limited to agriculture science dept. heads, colleagues, and undergraduate coordinators. During the internship period in summer 2023, student interns were the recipients of education, technical training, and mentoring from the mentors in the program. Student interns also experienced educational programming during weekly 1 hour professionalism and career development courses. The target demographic was undergraduate students in good academic standing, with sophomore credit hours or higher. The internship was heavily advertised at institutions with significant enrollments of minority and underserved demographics (Hispanic, first generation, etc.) college students. Below are demographics of 2023 applicants: Ethnicity, household income, etc. are available herein tabular form, or here in chart form. Changes/Problems:As a follow up to last year's report, administrative activity was much more smooth this year, and no significant problems were encountered with hiring/onboarding, as the processwas more streamlined compared to the first year of the project as the procedure was already established. See previous year report for details. As a non-critical constructive criticism from the interns, 2023 interns reported wanting more details before the internship, mostly through online resources. Steps were taken to improve the website further for the 2024 cohort,to have additional written materials emailed, and to have more online video conferencing with PIto have more details available to them. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All interns received in person 1-on-1 mentoring at least once a week, and professionalism courses for 1 hr+ each week. The professionalism educational sessions were delivered via Teams online and included guest speakers for each week covering a range of topics from how to compose a CV to salary negotiations, to what it's like to work in various agenciessuch as graduate school,extension, government,andindustry within ag science fields.Interns were required to compose at least 1 question for each speaker and participate in discussion after the presentation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The summary of the intern experiences have been shared with other faculty leading or involved in TAMU based REEU programs via discussion with lead PI. When opportunities arose, interns were included in field days, producer meetings, and community events to increase engagement with the public. Dr Cochran's 2 interns each participated in Extension programming at the Uvalde Honey Fest community event, where they helped teach youth and families about botany,plant pathology and shared about the SCARLET internship experience. It was a great way for them to truly see what Extension programs look like. The also participated for 1 day each at extension events with other extension specialists and county agents (Molly Keck & David Gonzalez)to observe TAMU AgriLife Extension programming from a different perspective than the in-house operations. They also attended a corn and cotton field day in Uvalde Co where they met with and engaged producers and county extension agents who learned about the SCARLET program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Recruit, match, and host undergraduate interns for the 2024 internship period. PI & co-PIs will continue efforts to facilitate intern experiences in the lab, field, and with producers and other stakeholders. Specific tasks will include: Arrange logistics for interns, and book weekly guest speakers. Train and mentor interns in summer 2024. Document summary of student intern experiences Continue to build publicity & advertising for the SCARLET program, continue website improvement with 2024 cohort feedback. Continue to include speakers for professional and career development who are part of underrepresented demographics in ag science extension and research. Share outcome progress at local, regional, and national meetings as opportunities arise.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In 2023, the SCARLET internship was successfully advertised to the target demographic of undergraduates and garnered 17 applicants. Ten interns were matched with mentors and accepted internship positions, and all 10 interns completed the 8 wk 2023 internship.Of the 2023 cohort, the majority of interns were minorities or female students (see charts).Interns all completed their project duties to the satisfaction of their respective mentors and delivered a final presentation and written summary of their experiences at SCARLET. Intern exit surveys indicated a net increase in subject knowledge and overall positive experiences. Interns reported an avg.knowledge score (scale from 0 (none)-10(expert)) of 2.3 at the start the internship, and 7.2 after the internship.See the below for participant responses.Please use the link for optimal viewing and charts. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gx3FCzgPcyYyxP9YFHRV8gQrFGk7SgV4wPAH70Nz6TY/edit?usp=sharing SCARLET Intern 2023 Cohort Exit Survey Excerpt What is one thing you thought was exceptional about this program? The ability to work and learn from the ground up. The focus on learning. The people that I work with. I loved the amount of instruction and involvement we had in projects. I appreciated being involved in the collaboration process of Dr. Obasa's work, allowing us to comprehend the projects and how to improve them, instead of being given tasks to perform without understanding why. I have learned so much about plant pathology and extension, but what I learned most was how much more there is to know, and how much there will always be to learn. The experience involved several different projects, which is something I enjoyed. Each project had its own unique objectives, challenges, and solutions. I learned a great deal from the experience, such as how to work with a team to achieve goals, how to manage resources, and how to think outside of the box. The experience working for the government. The workplace dynamics. I think that doing experiments and doing in lab work was exceptional in order to develop an understanding for real life future work. The program really allowed for a genuine hands-on experience. It felt as though, despite only being an intern, I was a part of the experiments conducted and knowledgable about every step taken. Additionally, it felt as though my work had genuine meaning and possible impact for future experiments. The experiences taught me invaluable skills. I am considering graduate school due to this internship experience. What do you feel was the most valuable skill you learned from this experience? Learning how to do the basic lab work was the most valuable thing. Molecular techniques and communication skills. The most valuable skills were laboratory skills, working in team, being more responsible and being more independent I feel that my lab skills improved greatly, as well as my knowledge of why I was doing what I was doing. We studied lab techniques in classes, but understanding the uses of different media, when to use in-house vs kit DNA extraction, the different types of PCR for fungi and bacteria, improved my general knowledge in a way that will allow me to make educated decisions in future labs. The scientific method, structure, and routine of experiments. The scientific method enables scientists to systematically analyze data and draw conclusions. Experiments are designed to be repeatable and verifiable in order to generate reliable results. It is an essential tool for scientific research and discovery. The labs skills The most valuable skill that I learn during this experience is self-confidence. I think this experience gave me the ability to get out of my comfort zone in order to perform and excel in sterilized lab techniques but also doing outreach work with the community. My ability to set up and think through all the necessary steps of an experiment. While I may have performed many experiments in labs at school, I never gave the controls and materials much thought. However, during the program my mentor guided me in figuring out how to set up an experiment that covered all the bases. Lab methods Do you feel this program positively impacted you and your future efforts/career? If so, how? I feel that I now have a good network of people working with me and I feel more solidified in what I want to do in the future. Yes, the internship significantly impacted my learning and helped me gain experience for my working career. Yes, it showed me all this great opportunity that I have that I did not know before Yes, this program introduced me to plant pathology and careers in extension, which has opened my eyes to more possibilities to pursue during graduate school and in job searches. It is my intention to pursue a career in plant pathology in the future. My interest in plant pathology has grown from my work experience in the field, and I am eager to continue my studies and research in this area. I am confident that my knowledge and skills will be beneficial in a career in plant pathology. Yes, because now im going to be more prepare for future jobs or other professional stuff. I believe this program has given me a better perspective on what it is like to work in the agricultural sciences industry and has made me a more competitive candidate. Well, I was able to get a few publications out of this in order to boost my resume and also learn about different bacterial and fungal species that i wasn't really aware of. This program allowed me to learn about a field I did not even know existed. Extension is such an integral part of the agricultural field and I hope to look more into extension as a career. Yes, I now want to attend graduate school to obtain better employment. Would you recommend this program to your friends? Why or why not? Yes, I believe the benefits of the program are great and that internships are extremely valuable in undergraduate studies. You learn a lot and it is an excellent opportunity for professional growth. Of course, i would recommend this program because you can learned so many from and it and you can do many networking. I would definitely recommend careers in extension to my friends, and SCARLET may be a good introduction for some of them. I would recommend this program to people interested in one of the specific areas of study, but not for someone with more general interests, as our work was very focused and may not be to the taste of someone not interested in the subject. I value this program for its unique opportunity to work closely with a mentor and take part in research, and for that reason I would recommend it to anyone hoping to gain experience in research, experimental design, or with an interest in graduate school or extension. The program assists you in navigating the agricultural world by providing you with a wide range of career opportunities that allow you to experience growth and networking opportunities. You can also benefit from the program by learning the latest practices and techniques in the agricultural industry, as well as gaining access to resources that can help you succeed. In addition, the program provides access to mentors and experts who can help guide you in your career. Yes, because is a new experience and a new adventure that can be a future opportunity. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is studying agricultural sciences. I considered that this program is a great opportunity for students to get hands on experience in their respective field of study's. Yes I would. Of course! I already miss being a part of the program. I learned so much and really felt welcome. Definitely. This is a great opportunity to gain experience and get a sample of what graduate school and professional ag jobs are like. For convenience, see applicant demographicsat this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_al1mUw57QeJ2fkdQJdu6QpTkYwXMGcm/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116319322367662724812&rtpof=true&sd=true
Publications
|
Progress 01/01/22 to 12/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Undergraduate students at the project institutions were targeted in this period, specifically those interested in agricultural and science studies. Advertising for the internships was shared with all institutions listed in the grant agreement, including but not limited to agriculture science dept. heads, colleagues, and undergraduate coordinators. During the internship period in summer 2022, student interns were the recipients of education, technical training, and mentoring from the mentors in the program. Student interns also experienced educational programming during weekly 1 hour professionalism and career development courses. The target demographic was undergraduate students in good academic standing, with sophomore credit hoursor higher. The internship was heavily advertised at institutions with significant enrollments of minority and underserved demographics (Hispanic, first generation, etc.)college students. Below are demographics of applicants: Ethnicity, household income, etc. are available at this link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zket2ONkx7ZHDPG_77aHfZ0J2JsexcZr/view?usp=sharing Which University/College do you go to? What is your Major? University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Agribusiness University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Crop Protection Texas A&M University at College Station, TX Plant and Environmental Soil Science with a Crops emphasis Texas A&M University at College Station, TX Bioenvironmental Sciences Texas A&M University at College Station, TX Plant and Soil Science - Crop Production Emphasis University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Horticulture University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Crop Protection University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Horticulture University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Crop Protection University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Agronomy University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Agronomy West Texas A&M at Canyon, TX Plant Soil and Environmental Science Texas Tech University at Lubbock, TX Plant and soil science with a concentration in environmental soil and water science University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Agricultural Economy (Agronegocios) What is your GPA? 3.87 2.87 3.0 2.656 - 3.01 3.65 2.35 3.76 2.31 3.18 3.7 3.0 3.74 Changes/Problems:Administrative challenges were encountered during the initial setup of the student intern hiring and stipend payment processes, particularly with partner institutions. Hiring procedures have been altered and a specific protocol created by TAMU admin staff to assist with 2023 hiring going smoothly. The 2023 application and information pages were amended to include language to ensure intern applicants understand the terms of the program (i.e. you will be subjected to a background check,must make a good faith effort complete the full internship to receive full stipend, etc.) before submitting applications. Two mentors have left their respective institutions in 2022, Cecilia Moncolva-Santana and Maeda Murillo. To ensure 10 interns can still participate in 2023, the remaining 8 mentors have agreed to be open to potentially taking on 2 interns. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Weekly online training in professionalism and career building via online(6) 1-on-1 training and meeting with mentors min. 1x/wk, for each intern. Students were mentored, trained, provided networking opportunities with fellow interns, other students, lab workers, and mentors. Training included but wasn't limited tolab and field technical and applied skills, communication, presentation, anddata analysis and interpretation. Outings, meals, and other activities were planned by each mentor, and interns invited to provide networking and enrichmentopportunities to more fully engage interns. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Information of the progress of the program was shared with the PIs colleagues to inform potential sources for future applicant contacts,and included in professional reporting which is shared with TAMU admin. Flyers were created with information & photos of interns from 2022 to share with the public at upcoming field day events, master gardener intern training, etc Student experiences/activities were shared in an oral presentation with PIs colleagues at Caribbean Division American Phytopathological Society meeting (2022 activities were shared Feb 2023, South Padre Island, TX. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Recruit in the 2023 season, arrange logistics for interns, and book weekly guest speakers. Train and mentor interns in summer 2023. Document summary of student intern experiences, including video interviews. Build publicity & advertising for the SCARLET program, improve website. Include speakers for professional and career development who are part of underrepresented demographics in ag science extension and research.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The internship program was initially setup, recruiting materials created and distributed, and applicants reviewed and matched with mentors. Intern logistics were scheduled, specifically, travel was requested, approved, &booked,and intern housing was arranged. 10 undergraduate students accepted and began internships with SCARLET, one at each of the collaborating labs. 9 students completed the internship. 2022 Participant Information Full Name and Last Name: (Ex. John Doe) Which University/College do you go to? PI Entity Stationed Waldy Arbelo Esteves University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Maeda TAMU Lubbock Gabriel Garcia Rivera University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Lewis TAMU Lubbock Alondra Vega Ayala University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Alabi TAMU Weslaco Elizabeth Brzozowske Texas Tech University at Lubbock, TX Acosta-Martinez USDA-ARS Lubbock Jean-Marie Denise Holmes Texas A&M University at College Station, TX Laza TTU Lubbock Steven G. Santiago Rivera University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Obasa TAMU Amarillo Katrina Jackson West Texas A&M at Canyon, TX Cochran TAMU Uvalde Karla Fagundo Valentin University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Feliciano-Rivera UPRM Isabela, PR Fransuá Otero Margary University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Serrato-Diaz USDA-ARS-TARS Mayaguez, PR Isabela M. Estrada Soto University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus Monclova-Santana TAMU Lubbock Students were mentored, trained, provided networking opportunities with fellow interns, other students, lab workers, and mentors. Training included but wasn't limited to lab and field technical and applied skills, communication, presentation, anddata analysis and interpretation. Outings, meals, and other activities were planned by each mentor, and interns invited to provide networking and enrichment opportunities to more fully engage interns. Interns created a final report presentation about the skills, activities, and projects they worked on during the program and shared it with the group via online meetings.
Publications
|