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The long-term goal of this educational program is to contribute to workforce capabilities in utilizing research-based knowledge to develop and extend innovative solutions to address the serious problems facing US agriculture and food production. Our primary objective is to develop an undergraduate training program in which students will become an integral part of translational research addressing problems facing growers or producers in New York. The program will provide undergraduate students with the opportunity for hands-on experiential learning with campus-based faculty and regional extension educators. The training will include development of both laboratory and field skills, as students work with their faculty mentor to address problems facing agriculture and food production in New York State. Additionally, students involved in the program will have the opportunity to interact with agricultural industry professionals (including crop consulting firms, seed companies and agrichemical companies), as well as growers and food processors. This project will support 6 undergraduate summer interns per year, and will last for three years.<P> Expected outputs include the training of 18 undergraduates, which will include development of both laboratory and field research skills, verbal and written communication skills. Students will also build team-work skills as they work with their faculty mentor from each of the four disciplines, to address problems facing agriculture and food production in New York State. Students will be assessed at the end of each summer program to identify areas where the program can be improved. Intended beneficiaries include growers and agribusinesses in New York that need a trained workforce. Additionally, the NYSAES and Cornell University will benefit by the presence of these outstanding undergraduates working on-campus each summer and through the potential recruitment of the students into graduate programs. <P>Finally, the undergraduate interns will benefit by having the opportunity to work on basic research projects that have a translational alignment with practical problem solving applications for the agricultural community. These experiences will be crucial to pique the interest of talented young people, and stimulate students to enter graduate programs that are in grave need of qualified students.
Non-Technical Summary: <BR>There is a critical need for more students to pursue higher degrees in food, insect and agricultural sciences. When graduate students and postdoctoral scientists were asked what influenced them to enter the field, the main answer was work experience in their respective disciplines. The goal of this grant is to provide exciting opportunities for summer undergraduate interns across each of the disciplines at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) including; entomology, food science, horticulture and plant pathology. Funds will be used to support a total of six students across the four departments at NYSAES. Students will select their project during the on-line application process, and will be recruited, selected and mentored by faculty from each of the four departments. Students will live together in housing near NYSAES, and will work with their faculty mentor (and the members of their laboratory) for 39 hrs/week. This is an appropriate use of FFF as the research benefits agriculture and food industry stakeholders and at the same time addresses the lack of students in food and agricultural sciences and will therefore positively impact the workforce in these areas. Research projects will be selected by the students from a list provided by the faculty. Stakeholders including growers, industry scouts and consultants, industry research and development specialists, and extension educators are all supportive of an increase in the number of students trained with experience in and knowledge of applied research, extension, and integrated pest management practices. <P> Approach: <BR> The summer scholars program will build upon the program that is currently run by the Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology at NYSAES http://www.scholars.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/ Recruiting: An aggressive recruiting strategy will be used to attract a diverse array of high quality, outstanding students to the program. While some students may come from Cornell University, we will recruit from across the country to include students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences. Recruiting tools will be prepared describing Cornell and the proposed applied research and outreach training program. These materials will be widely distributed through (i) personal contact by individual faculty members; (ii) mailings to respective U.S. university departments; (iii) graduate and undergraduate alumni and others who have a direct knowledge of our programs; advertising on multiple websites for undergraduate research experiences; and (iv) national advertising in appropriate publications and websites. These materials will also be shared with other programs at Cornell that are designed to recruit traditionally underrepresented minorities into graduate programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines. Selection: Students will be selected based on a written application, transcripts and letters of reference. Each department will have a selection committee with 2-4 members. Criteria for selection will also include enthusiasm and aptitude for the chosen field, evidence of a strong work ethic, communication skills, and organizational skills. As part of the application process, students will identify a department and three program areas of interest, and the departmental committee will work to ensure students are matched with appropriate mentors. Only one undergraduate student per PI would be allowed (with funds from this grant). Mentorship: Students will be aided by their faculty mentor and their students and staff, regularly discussing research, and jointly exploring extension/outreach avenues and future job opportunities. Travel/Housing/Stipend: The cost of student travel to the program will be covered, along with dormitory housing for the entire 8 week program, and a $4,000 stipend to pay for food and other needs. Poster Session: Each undergraduate participant will be required to present their work at a poster session during the last week of the program. This is an opportunity for everyone to come together and learn about what the students have done. Assessment: Students will be assessed both by personal exit interviews conducted by a committee of mentors, and an anonymous survey conducted by PI Smart.