| Reception
honors summer undergraduate students
The College of Graduate Studies, on June 15 at the Wickliffe House, was host to a welcome reception for this year's 40 summer undergraduate research students. The reception allowed all participating students and faculty mentors to meet each other and talk on an informal basis. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program introduces students to the world of basic biomedical research, with hands-on experiences they may not have had at this point. Direct experience with research before their final year of college will allow them to make decisions about graduate school from a sound, factual basis. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program continues to reach record highs in applications and acceptances— up from 12 at its beginning in 1980. Students are recruited from colleges east of the Mississippi River for a period of eight to 10 weeks. The primary goal of the program is to encourage students to choose careers in scientific research. At the beginning of their summer study program, the students choose a faculty mentor of an investigative research project to guide them in learning the required techniques. At the end of the program, students participate in oral presentations of their research projects to other students and faculty. The students are encouraged to participate in the Annual University Student Research Day. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program is directed by Henry Martin III, Ph.D., and coordinated by Hester Young. The program is supported by a National Science Foundation grant, a National Institute of Health grant, a South Carolina Universities Research and Education Foundation grant, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, and by the College of Graduate Studies/College of Medicine. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program is one of three Summer Research Recruitment Programs coordinated through the College of Graduate Studies. Others include: The Summer Health Professions Program and the Governor's Summer High School Program. |