Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in areas highly relevant to the USDA, such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, plant biology, and earth and environmental sciences. The students will conduct laboratory-based work with agricultural samples collected during fieldwork, in controlled experimental conditions in the laboratory, or both. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Individual Development Plan (IDP) Students have met with their research faculty mentors and outlined their two-year academic plan (Academic Verification Form). This plan was adopted by the Advising and Resource Center (ARC) at Fresno State. Minority Speaker Series Students participated in the seminars in the fall and spring semesters. Weekly Colloquium (Chemistry or Biology) Honors Colloquium: Scientific Presentations--Written Forms Students attended an Abstract Writing Workshop in the summer as part of their bi-weekly meetings. In addition, the Division of Research and Graduate Studies at Fresno State also held weekly abstract writing workshops for undergraduate and graduate students. Students presented 3-minute "elevator pitches" of their research and obtain feedback from their peers and faculty mentors. This helped students prepare for the conference and symposiums. Students presented their summer research to faculty and students at the End of Summer Research Presentations Event. Honors Colloquium: Scientific Presentations--Written Forms Students submitted their abstracts on the dedicated Canvas after obtaining feedback from their research mentor. Active Seminar Participation In the College of Science and Mathematics, the Chemistry and Biology departments have held weekly department seminars that students are encouraged to attend. Science Writing Students engaged in a writing course Candice Cortney, M.S., taught during the summer. Students met with Graduate Writing Consultants twice in the Fresno State Graduate Writing Studio. Students wrote personal statements with the assistance of the consultants. Students wrote and submitted abstracts to present at various conferences. Students created posters for presentations at various conferences. Doctoral Preparation Workshop These workshops were held as part of the weekly seminar series. This workshop will feature a panel of our Alumni that have successfully transitioned to Ph.D. programs from Fresno State. Synergy efforts with other training programs, such as LSAMP, McNairs for this reporting period Our bi-weekly group meetings are held. Besides, we have a shared office location where students can access computers, a study area, a microwave, a refrigerator, and a common area where students can mingle. Engagement of Freshmen We actively engage first-year students through Student Meetings. These meetings are held once a semester, and it is time to get all students (first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors) together to kick off the semester. The program coordinator, Ms. Brandy White, is also part of the Building Opportunities through Networking and Discovery (BOND) program, a first-year experience program for our incoming STEM students. This program teaches research, scientific writing and reading, and other professional development activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?? Newsletter Weekly updates (events, presentations, internships, etc.) are sent to all students and faculty through email and using a Canvas shell designed explicitly for our program. • The primary site for contact disseminating the results of the research activities is hosted at the College of Science and Mathematics, Fresno State. • The recruitment flyers were shared with the College of Science and Mathematics and Lyles College of Engineering department chairs and were disseminated to potential research mentors. • Hard copy flyers were disseminated to eligible department offices and displayed in student-accessible areas. • Program Coordinator presented the recruitment flyer information during Dog Days Orientation on July 2024. Program Coordinator presented the recruitment flyer information during the Chemistry Department weekly seminar "Faculty Research Presentations" in October 2023 and February 2024. Program Coordinator presented the recruitment flyer information at Reedley College Outreach Mini-Conference on March 2024. Students presented at the regional meetings such as Central California Research Sympsium. Students are planning to present their work on the upcoming Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science Annual Meeting 2024 Phoenix, AZ, Central Valley. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting 2024, Anaheim, CA and Annual American Society of Horticulture Science (September 2024) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As described in the grant application, we will follow the proposed academic, research, and co-curricular components. We will recruit the following FreSH scholars on a rotating basis with a widely disseminated recruitment plan. In addition, the current scholars will be program ambassadors during the recruiting process. Students will consult their faculty mentors regarding research progress and balancing coursework and research in the academic plan. Targeted Advising and Mentoring o Students and their faculty mentors will revisit the Academic Verification Form they completed and signed during their first year. If there need to be adjustments made, another form must be filled out and signed and then given to the program coordinator to put in the student's file. In addition, students will meet with their faculty mentors weekly to discuss their research progress and how their coursework is going throughout the academic year. o New students will identify a research group and a respective faculty mentor, and they will complete a two-year academic plan with their faculty mentor. This will be the first educational advising meeting. The student and the faculty member will sign the Academic Advising Form, which will be put in the student's file. In addition, students will meet with their faculty mentors weekly to discuss their research progress and how their coursework is going throughout the academic year. Upper Division Coursework In addition to logging research hours, students will be enrolled full-time and taking all upper-division courses. All students will also be encouraged to register for a Biomedical Research and Ethics Course in Fall 2024, which one of the members of our team of faculty will teach. Intramural Research Laboratory Experience All students have been placed in a research lab and assigned a research project. Active Conference Participation During the Fall 2024 semester, students will prepare to submit abstracts to conferences held in the Spring 2025 semester. As part of the co-curricular activities, Individual Development Plan (IDP) Minority Speaker Series - Biomedical Science Department Seminars (Fall and Spring) Honors Colloquium - Scientific Presentations--Written Forms (Junior, Spring I) Students attended an abstract writing workshop provided by Dr. Qiao-Hong Chen at Fresno State in the summer of 2025. Students will submit an abstract to present a poster at the Central California Research Symposium at Fresno State. Students gave a 3-minute "elevator pitch" on their research topic in the summer of 2025 to a peer in preparation for the CSU Summer Symposium at UCLA. Students will engage in the Scientific Writing workshops held in the summer of 2024-25. Honors Colloquium III: Scientific Presentations--Oral Forms Students gave a 10-minute presentation on their research at the end of summer, which expanded on the 3-minute "elevator pitch." Active Seminar Participation Science Writing Math and Vocabulary Review Workshop Doctoral Preparation Workshop These workshops were held as part of the weekly seminar series. This workshop will feature a panel of our Alumni that have successfully transitioned to Ph.D. programs from Fresno State.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Curricular Components Targeted Advising and Mentoring Using an Advising Verification form, identified research advisors and outline their coursework planning. The student and the faculty member signed the form, which was put in the student's file. In addition, students meet with their faculty mentors weekly to discuss their research progress and how their coursework is going. Upper Division Coursework In addition to logging research hours, students are enrolled full-time and are taking all upper-division or graduate level courses. Research Components Intramural Research Laboratory Experience All students placed into a research lab and assigned a research project. Active Conference Participation Both the students have presented their results in local conferences and will be presenting in national/international symposia in fall 2024 Average GPA As of the end of Spring 2023, the average GPA is 4.0
Publications
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in areas highly relevant to the USDA, such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, plant biology, and earth and environmental sciences. The students will conduct laboratory-based work with agricultural samples collected during fieldwork, in controlled experimental conditions in the laboratory, or both. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Curricular Components Targeted Advising and Mentoring Using an Advising Verification form, all students must meet with their identified research advisors and outline their coursework for their last two years before graduation. The student and the faculty member signed the form, which was put in the student's file. In addition, students meet with their faculty mentors weekly to discuss their research progress and how their coursework is going. Upper Division Coursework In addition to logging research hours, students are enrolled full-time and are taking all upper-division courses. Research Components Intramural Research Laboratory Experience All students have been placed into a research lab and assigned a research project. Active Conference Participation Students are in the early stage of their research program to present at conferences. Co-Curricular Components Individual Development Plan (IDP) Students have met with their research faculty mentors and outlined their two-year academic plan (Academic Verification Form). This plan was adopted by the Advising and Resource Center (ARC) at Fresno State. Minority Speaker Series Students will participate in the upcoming seminars in the fall and spring semesters. Weekly Colloquium (Chemistry or Biology) Honors Colloquium: Scientific Presentations--Written Forms Students attended an Abstract Writing Workshop in the summer as part of their bi-weekly meetings. In addition, the Division of Research and Graduate Studies at Fresno State also held weekly abstract writing workshops for undergraduate and graduate students. Students will also present 3-minute "elevator pitches" of their research and obtain feedback from their peers and faculty mentors. This will help students prepare for the conference and symposiums coming up towards the end of this Spring 2024 semester and into the Fall 2023 semester. Students will present their summer research to faculty and students at the End of Summer Research Presentations Event. Honors Colloquium: Scientific Presentations--Written Forms Students submitted their abstracts on the dedicated Canvas after obtaining feedback from their research mentor. Active Seminar Participation In the College of Science and Mathematics, the Chemistry and Biology departments have held weekly department seminars that students are encouraged to attend. Undergraduate writing conference This conference has been suspended for this reporting period. However, the students can engage in writing through the Scientific Writing Course (CHEM 161W). Science Writing Students engaged in a writing course Candice Cortney, M.S., taught during the summer of 2023. Students met with Graduate Writing Consultants twice during the summer of 2023 in the Fresno State Graduate Writing Studio. Students wrote personal statements with the assistance of the consultants. Students wrote and submitted abstracts to present at various conferences. Students created posters for presentations at various conferences. GRE Workshop Planned for fall 2023. Doctoral Preparation Workshop These workshops were held as part of the weekly seminar series. This workshop will feature a panel of our Alumni that have successfully transitioned to Ph.D. programs from Fresno State. Synergy efforts with other training programs, such as LSAMP, McNairs for this reporting period Our bi-weekly group meetings are held. Besides, we have a shared office location where students can access computers, a study area, a microwave, a refrigerator, and a common area where students can mingle. The College of Science and Mathematics Advising and Resource Center (ARC) shares this space for their MASS Peer Mentoring Program. Engagement of Freshmen We actively engage first-year students through Student Meetings. These meetings are held once a semester, and it is time to get all students (first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors) together to kick off the semester. The program coordinator, Ms. Brandy White, is also part of the Building Opportunities through Networking and Discovery (BOND) program, a first-year experience program for our incoming STEM students. This program teaches research, scientific writing and reading, and other professional development activities. Average GPA As of the end of Spring 2023, the average GPA is 4.0 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Newsletter Weekly updates (events, presentations, internships, etc.) are sent to all students and faculty through email and using a Canvas shell designed explicitly for our program. • The primary site for contact disseminating the results of the research activities is hosted at the College of Science and Mathematics, Fresno State. Currently, we are working on having a FRESH website. • The recruitment flyers were shared with the College of Science and Mathematics and Lyles College of Engineering department chairs and were disseminated to potential research mentors. • Hard copy flyers were disseminated to eligible department offices and displayed in student-accessible areas. • Program Coordinator presented the recruitment flyer information during Dog Days Orientation on July 18, 2023. Program Coordinator presented the recruitment flyer information during the Chemistry Department weekly seminar "Faculty Research Presentations" in October 2022 and February 2023. Program Coordinator presented the recruitment flyer information at Reedley College Outreach Mini-Conference on March 7, 2023. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As described in the grant application, we will follow the proposed academic, research, and co-curricular components. We will recruit the following FRESH scholars on a rotating basis with a widely disseminated recruitment plan. In addition, the current scholars will be program ambassadors during the recruiting process. Students will consult their faculty mentors regarding research progress and balancing coursework and research in the academic plan. Targeted Advising and Mentoring o Students and their faculty mentors will revisit the Academic Verification Form they completed and signed during their first year. If there need to be adjustments made, another form must be filled out and signed and then given to the program coordinator to put in the student's file. In addition, students will meet with their faculty mentors weekly to discuss their research progress and how their coursework is going throughout the academic year. o new students will identify a research group and a respective faculty mentor, and they will complete a two-year academic plan with their faculty mentor. This will be the first educational advising meeting. The student and the faculty member will sign the Academic Advising Form, which will be put in the student's file. In addition, students will meet with their faculty mentors weekly to discuss their research progress and how their coursework is going throughout the academic year. Upper Division Coursework In addition to logging research hours, students will be enrolled full-time and taking all upper-division courses. All students will also be encouraged to register for a Biomedical Research and Ethics Course in Fall 2024, which one of the members of our team of faculty will teach. Intramural Research Laboratory Experience All students have been placed in a research lab and assigned a research project. Active Conference Participation During the Fall 2024 semester, students will prepare to submit abstracts to conferences held in the Spring 2025 semester. As part of the co-curricular activities, Individual Development Plan (IDP) Minority Speaker Series - Biomedical Science Department Seminars (Fall and Spring) Honors Colloquium - Scientific Presentations--Written Forms (Junior, Spring I) Students attended an abstract writing workshop provided by Dr. Qiao-Hong Chen at Fresno State in the summer of 2023. Students will submit an abstract to present a poster at the Central California Research Symposium at Fresno State. Students gave a 3-minute "elevator pitch" on their research topic in the summer of 2023 to a peer in preparation for the CSU Summer Symposium at UCLA. Students will engage in the Scientific Writing workshops held in the summer of 2023. Honors Colloquium III: Scientific Presentations--Oral Forms Students gave a 10-minute presentation on their research at the end of summer, which expanded on the 3-minute "elevator pitch." Active Seminar Participation Science Writing Math and Vocabulary Review Workshop GRE Workshop A "Getting Started" workshop will be held during the Spring semester for Cohort 4. Students will set up their Educational Testing Services (ETS) accounts during this workshop and will be guided through the website, showcasing their available resources. Students are also given a GRE Agreement outlining how many hours per week they need to prepare for the GRE and the date of the GRE Pre-Test. This pre-test will emulate the actual exam's testing process and will be used to establish a baseline for the students. We have partnered with Magoosh, so all students will have their own Magoosh account to help prepare them for the GRE. This pre-test will be one of Magoosh's practice exams and set up the students' study schedules. After completing the pre-test, students will receive an ETS textbook as supplemental material to study for the GRE. Doctoral Preparation Workshop These workshops were held as part of the weekly seminar series. This workshop will feature a panel of our Alumni that have successfully transitioned to Ph.D. programs from Fresno State.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Measurable Objectives Recruitment of students into the FRESH Program. We have recruited two students for the program's first cohort. The cohort consists of undergraduate and graduate students. The students are females and self-identified as Hispanic/Latino and Caucasian, respectively. These students will continue the t program following the academic, curricular, co-curricular, and research education plan described in the application. Engagement of FRESH Program Scholars in research activities. The students have already identified the respective research mentor and research activities. The undergraduate student majoring in earth and environmental sciences will work on understanding microbial communities' role in groundwater contamination using a chemometric approach. The graduate student majoring in plant sciences is working on understanding the impact of carbon dioxide and developing young citrus trees using a metabolomics approach. The students continue with their academic work with the research topics identified. In addition to continuing the research activities under their respective mentor's guidance, we participated in a systematic set of summer activities coordinated by our faculty and staff. The students log their research time and receive a salary described in the application.
Publications
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