The biology department has received a federal research grant which will allow thirty students to work with professors during the next three summers.
The grant from the National Science Foundation will provide stipends for ten students for each of the next three summers, with the possibility for renewal.
Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst made the announcement about the grant at the Arts, Sciences, and Engineering faculty meeting last week. Tufts was awarded the grant after submitting a proposal last September to the National Science Foundation to host a summer research programs, which are commonly referred to as REUs.
The selected students will work from May 26 to Aug. 1 on a collaborative, interdisciplinary project. This summer's program will be "Integrative Approaches to Studying the Ecology of New England Organisms." In addition to research, professors will lead weekly discussions, seminars, field trips, and a symposium.
Professor Colin Orians, director of this year's REU said that given the "department's commitment to mentoring undergraduates in research, it made sense for us to submit a proposal."
Orians proposal, which was co-written with Professor Sara Lewis was one of the 20 percent of applying projects that were awarded money this year.
"The hard part is making your program unique compared to all the other proposed programs," Orians said. "We decided to focus on mentoring students in collaborative research, and to focus all the projects on the ecology of New England organisms."
Professor Orians himself will lead three collaborative programs entitled: "Ecology of Invasive Plants: Effects of herbivores on success;" "Tree Ecophysiology : Plant Responses to Environmental Heterogeneity;" and "Social Insect Ecology: Chemistry of Queen Recognition." Five additional programs will be offered by other members of the biology department on topics from wasp behavior to avian ecology.
Tufts administrators have expressed their enthusiasm at the school's selection for the REU. Dean Ernst spotlighted the REU at a recent staff meeting, which was part of a new initiative to acknowledge faculty accomplishments.
In addition to the support, officials have arranged for free on-campus housing in addition to the $320 weekly stipend provided by the grant. "Clearly the current administration is committed to getting students more involved in research," Orians said.
The biology department is currently advertising the positions on its website and through flyers around campus. Applications are due Mar. 14, and the winning candidates will be informed on Mar. 28.
Orians has encouraged students to apply, noting the program's many benefits. "I would not be surprised if many students get so excited about research that they decide to pursue careers in research," he said.
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