In From The Cold: A Proposal  to the National Science Foundation Underrepresented Minority Research Program (URMA)

PI: Tom Clausen
co-PI: Marvin Schulte

Status

Funds are pending, awaiting final approval from NSF, for support of studies in biochemistry, molecular biology, or biology by underrepresented minorities, including Alaska natives and others. If funded, qualified junior and senior students will be provided with stipends, and research and travel support.

Details regarding these opportunities will be posted on this webpage as they become available. Contact Dr. Thomas Clausen (907-474-5512 or fftpc@uaf.edu) or Dr. Marvin Schulte (907-474-5237 or ffmks@uaf.edu) for more information.

Proposal Abstract

The URMA proposal entitled "In from the Cold" is a three year pilot project at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) that is designed to prepare underrepresented minority undergraduate students for postgraduate studies and careers in biological science related research. The strategy for meeting this goal is to target junior and senior Alaska native students and provide them with annual stipends ($12K), travel to professional meetings ($2K) and research supplies ($3K) for up to two years. We plan to recruit four students into the program in the first year and an additional four students in the second year. Hence, the first and last year of the pilot project will serve four students and the second year will serve up to eight students. About half of the students will be enrolled in the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology program and the other half will be in the Biological Sciences Program.
      The Principal Investigator of the project is Professor Thomas Clausen, who was raised in Alaska, has served as chair of UAF's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for nine years, and has recently been selected as the Director of UAF's Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP).