Research Experience for Undergraduates
Program partners students with faculty members for research guidance.
Often the work results in published papers, as well as the excitement
of making scientific discoveries.
May 19, 2005
By Laurie McLaughlin
Beginning in June, 10 students will begin
a summer of research in collaboration with campus chemistry and
biochemistry professors.
They are part of the National Science Foundation-funded
Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Cal State Fullerton’s
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has participated in the
program for more than 25 years, and since 1992, has received more
than $874,000 in funding – a testament to the department’s
focus on a hands-on undergraduate research experience.
“We’re one of the few non-doctoral granting
institutions that comes up on top in the competition to receive
this funding,” says Maria Linder, chair and professor of chemistry
and biochemistry, who co-directs the annual summer program. This
year’s award totals $63,937. “It’s a competitive
renewal, and we compete with major institutions for it.”
The program partners students – who come from
campus, as well as community colleges and other universities around
the nation – with faculty members for individualized research
guidance. Often the work results in published papers, as well as
the excitement of making scientific discoveries.
“The program is designed to recruit students
for careers in research and to allow them to see whether this is
of interest to them,” says Linder. “We don’t have
enough American students going into chemical sciences careers.
“Working in the laboratory and doing research
is something that most undergraduates at other institutions don’t
get to do much, except in the cookbook sense, and they don’t
get to explore unknown questions,” Linder adds. “Our
college is well known for our undergraduate research emphasis.”
Last summer a REU student helped Linder find a new
blood enzyme that oxidizes iron. “This is a significant finding,
and the research continues, but she was able to participate in a
groundbreaking discovery,” says the professor.
“Each of us is building on past research,”
says Peter de Lijser, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry,
who has participated in the REU summer program for six years. “The
work that’s accomplished by the REU students is like a shot
in the arm in terms of progress.”
This year, Cal State Fullerton students Jennie Kittipha
and Kira Lindwall, both seniors majoring in biochemistry, were among
the 10 students selected from more than 260 applicants, according
to Mark Filowitz, co-director of the REU program and lecturer in
chemistry and biochemistry.
Fellow Titan and senior biochemistry major Anh Nguyen
will participate in the program as the winner of the Nagel Scholarship.
Off-campus students taking part in the program come
from the University of Puget Sound, UC Davis, Syracuse University,
University of Florida, Dickinson College, Sierra College, St. John’s
University, College of Wooster and Fullerton College.
All of the participating faculty members have had
REU students co-author papers, and students additionally benefit
as they prepare for graduate school.
“Recognition for your work is very rewarding,
both for the faculty and the students,” says de Lijser. “Especially
when the scientific community respects what you do.”
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