The National Science Foundation (NSF) approved $55,000 to fund rising sophomores at Davidson College who are interested in careers in science or medicine through the Research in Science Experience (RISE) program, headed by RISE program director and Assistant Professor of Biology, Mark Barsoum. The reallocation award was issued as a “Diversity for STEM Education” broader impact of “Collaborative Research: RUI: Broadening the Application of Programmed Evolution for Metabolic Engineering” award (1613203), held by Kimbrough Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Genomics, Laurie Heyer, and Herman Brown Professor of Biology, A. Malcolm Campbell.

The RISE program focuses on students from groups historically underrepresented in science, including minority, first-generation, and low-wealth students. To prepare the rising sophomores for more extensive academic-year and future summer research experiences, students engage in a four-week, closely mentored research internship program which will culminate in the students’ presenting the results of their research at the Davidson College Summer Research Symposium in October. Funding from NSF enabled RISE to meet the demand of 49 qualified first year student applicants this summer, a 100% increase from previous years.

Associate Professor of Biology Kevin Smith has been awarded a Research Experience for Undergraduates – REU Supplement from the National Science Foundation (NSF), as part of his grant, “NSF CAREER: An Undergraduate-Intensive Research Program in Experimental Conservation Ecology” (1650554).

The award funds two summer research fellowships and academic-year research experiences for those students most in need after having lost the opportunities to engage in research during summer 2020 and academic year 2020-21, due to the global pandemic.

CAREER grant projects focus equally on student educational outcomes and experience, as well as scientific outcomes. “In addition to the outcome of student exposure to authentic research experiences through a deliberately planned mentored experience, our work contributes to the conservation of biological diversity by contributing a more rigorous assessment of the importance of stochastic (random) and deterministic (selective) extinction processes.”

Professor Smith’s grant has engaged 21 undergraduates since 2017, and continues to attract “a large, diverse and talented applicant pool.” This REU Supplement is Professor Smith’s second, having been awarded another in March 2019. Program strength and growth is supported consistently in surveys indicating positive student outcomes in categories such as problem solving, understanding research methods and design, confidence in ability to do well in future science courses and persistence.

Read more about Professor Smith’s research here.