(May 18, 2010) Nine New College of Florida students have received highly prized National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grants for the summer of 2010. All but one of the students will shortly complete his or her third year of study at Florida’s honors college for the arts and sciences.
New College students have a long tradition of being awarded these prestigious undergraduate research grants, which include modest stipends and living expenses at various universities and colleges throughout the U.S. The REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program.
New College’s NSF REU awardees for the summer of 2010 include the following students:
Matt Anderson, a second-year biology student from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, will assist New College Associate Professor of Biology Amy Clore with a federally-funded research project to study endosperm production in early-stage fertilization of maize kernels.
The National Science Foundation has granted $4.93 million to researchers at the University of Arizona, New College of Florida, Central Michigan University and the University of Utah. Using maize as a model, the five year project will allow scientists to explore the gene networks that control endosperm development and function during the critical first eight to ten days after pollination. As part of the grant, Clore received just under $375,000 to fund her research.
- Erinn Brigham, a third-year chemistry student from Gainesville, Florida, will conduct chemistry research at the University of Minnesota.
- Richard Decal, a third-year from Pompano Beach, Florida, will participate in genome studies at the University of Washington.
- Benjamin Kriegel, a third-year student from Bradenton, Florida, will be involved in chemistry research at Columbia University.
- Sarah McManus, a third-year student from Lewisville, North Carolina, will conduct GLOBES (Global Linkages of Biology, the Environment and Society) research at the University of Notre Dame.
Third-year student Sarah McManus - Christian Fernando Ortiz, a third-year student from Miami, Florida, will study molecular genetics and proteomics at the University of Minnesota.
- Chris Pedersen, a third-year physics student from Sarasota, Florida, will conduct physics research at The College of William & Mary.
- Katherine Raoux, a mathematics and art student from Orlando, Florida, will conduct mathematics research at Louisiana State University.
- Lindsey Young, a third-year biochemistry student from Miami, Florida, will study at the University of Arizona.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) are competitive summer research programs in the United States for undergraduates studying science, engineering or mathematics. The programs are sponsored by the National Science Foundation, and are hosted in various universities. They are among the most prestigious summer programs that an undergraduate can participate in. Individual REUs tend to be specialized in a particular field of science, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and computer science.
For more information, visit the National Science Foundation website at www.nsf.gov.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (941) 487-4153 or email [email protected].