Annual Progress Report
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Undergraduate Science Education Program
(Covering the period of September 1, 2009-August 31, 2010)
Washington and Jefferson College
Grant # 52006323 (2008)
DRAFT 11-15-10
Program Director: Alice G. Lee, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Biology
ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT SYNOPSIS: YR2
Student Research
W&J continued to build student/faculty research programs in long-term ecological monitoring (LEM) projects at W&J’s Abernathy Field Station (AFS), utilizing an ArcGIS server for LEM data. Funding provided students with research opportunities in LEM and computational biochemistry for: (1) on-campus LEM and molecular bioinformatics internships; and (2) off-campus internships. SURE and SURE-AY surveys informed our revisions of the program. Funding supported development of a website (WebLEM) where W&J and other institutions participating in a new LEM Consortium can post LEM data and curricula for public use.
New, Current, and Future Faculty Development
A postdoctoral fellow was hired for YRS 2 & 3 to teach a limited number of courses in a mentored setting and to assist faculty in applying information technology to LEM projects and related curricula. He has constructed a GIS database, set up our Web Mapping Site through an ArcGIS server, and has created a customized mobile GIS project (ArcPad) for the field data collection. In YR3, he is optimizing methods of input, access, and dissemination, and will train faculty and students on maintenance of the system.
Support during YR2 enabled current faculty to attend a quantitative biology workshop and to continue their bioinformatics development via the GCAT consortium.
A search conducted during YR2 for a new tenure-track position in molecular biology/bioinformatics failed despite the screening of 97 applications and six on-campus two-day interviews. Members of the Biology Department revised the position description and re-conducted the search over the summer and early fall of 2010. We screened an additional 104 applications during the summer, interviewed three candidates, and an offer was accepted. We also received approval for an extension from the State of PA for our $150,000 Keystone Initiative Startup Kit (KISK) equipment grant for this position.
Curriculum Development
Funding from HHMI facilitated integration of LEM and bioinformatics/computational biology research opportunities across the NSM/ITL and humanities curriculum, and supported the development of four new courses and the revision of six existing courses. During YR2, HHMI funding supported stipends for course revisions/creations and supplies to support new exercises. CURE and GCAT surveys and course evaluations informed revisions of these courses.
Outreach
Outreach programs were cut from our funded 2008 proposal. However, during YR1 a $95,000 grant from the US Department of Education allowed us to continue successful Outreach programs previously supported by our 1996 and 2000 HHMI grants: Young Investigators Awards; Saturday Math and Science; and the summer Active Science Initiative (ASI) for training in-service teachers. These were implemented in YR2 and will continue in YR3.
Program Administration, Assessment, Dissemination, and Sustainability
Dr. Alice Lee, Professor and Chair of Biology, and Program Director for past HHMI grants, continues to oversee the 2008 HHMI grant assisted by both Internal and External Advisory Boards and a college-wide assessment process for faculty and curriculum. The External Advisory Board performed a site visit and assessment of the programs during YR2. Dr. Lee updated a website for HHMI grant information and activities; during YR3, this site will be linked to the LEM ArcGIS system. In addition, during YR2, we were successful in acquiring almost $1.2 million in extramural grants and more than $14,000 in W&J grants to enhance HHMI-funded programs. Though our proposal to the NSF for funding to enhance HHMI-supported laboratory renovations for the planned comprehensive renovation of our Dieter-Porter Life Sciences was not successful, we recently were awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the State of PA budget RCAP to be used toward the renovations.
STUDENT RESEARCH NARRATIVE:
Objectives: To incorporate student research opportunities, especially in the areas of long-term ecological monitoring (LEM), molecular bioinformatics, and computational biology through on-campus student/faculty research and off-campus Intersession and summer internships. The objective of this activity is to provide undergraduate students with intensive independent research experiences with W&J faculty or off-campus scientists in these emerging areas of the life sciences. Through this exposure, students will learn detailed information and gain experience that will aid them in determining their future professional and personal goals concerning specific topics in these fields.
Program Maps for Student Research Activities:
On-Campus Student Research AY Template
www.washjeff.edu/uploadedFiles/Academic_Affairs/Academic_Departments/Biology/HHMI/ProgamMapforOn-CampusStudentResearchAYTemplate.pdf
On-Campus Student Research Summer Template
www.washjeff.edu/uploadedFiles/Academic_Affairs/Academic_Departments/Biology/HHMI/ProgramMapforOn-campusSummerStudentResearchTemplate.pdf
On-Campus Student Research Summer 2010: Long-Term Ecological Monitoring
www.washjeff.edu/uploadedFiles/Academic_Affairs/Academic_Departments/Biology/HHMI/ProgramMapforOn-campusSummerStudentResearch2009-LEM.pdf
On-Campus Student Research Summer 2010: Molecular Microbiology
www.washjeff.edu/uploadedFiles/Academic_Affairs/Academic_Departments/Biology/HHMI/ProgramMapforOn-CampusStudentResearchSummer2010Planned-Bioinformatics.pdf
www.washjeff.edu/uploadedFiles/Academic_Affairs/Academic_Departments/Biology/HHMI/ProgramMapforOff-campusInternships.pdf
Progress:
Total Number of Student Participants Supported
|
17
|
Total Number of Faculty Participants Supported
|
10
|
Total HHMI Expenditures
|
$70,089
|
Matching Funds—Internal (Entrepreneurial Grants, Presidential Discretionary Funds, Faculty Travel)
|
$12,975
|
Matching Funds—External (Merck, Phi Sigma, WCCF, Cargill)
|
$24,755
|
Awards or Honors
|
1
|
Collaborations with other HHMI-funded programs
|
0
|
Collaborations with other non-HHMI-funded programs
|
0
|
Student/Faculty Manuscripts
|
2
|
Student/Faculty Publications
|
1
|
# Meetings Attended with Students
|
5
|
# Faculty Attending Meetings with Students
|
12
|
# Student Conference Presentations
|
24
|
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