Building a Successful Undergraduate Research Program

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Building a Successful UndergraduateResearch
Program

• Vijendra Agarwal (Admin.)
• Gubbi Sudhakaran (Physics)
• Anne Galbraith (Biology)
• Aric Opdahl (Chemistry)
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

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He who does not research has nothing to
teach. A Proverb
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Economic Development
Knowledge
Teaching and Learning
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Teaching and Learning
Critical thinking Analytical ability Confidence Se
lf-pride
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The Institution

• Comprehensive 4-year, public, Master 1
• Students Over 9,000 (including graduate
  students)
• Appropriations About 70 million (51 tuition
  and fees)
• Highly selective in admissions (Aver. ACT
  Composite 24.7 Aver. High School Rank 82.5 in
  2005 Fall)
• Retention from 1st-to-2nd year approaching 90
• Six year Graduation Rate approaching 65
• 2006 Ranking in US News World Report Second in
  the Midwest public universities highest among
  the 11 comprehensives in the UW system
• Kiplingers financial magazine ranked 19th among
  the nations best 100 colleges

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the University has fostered many programs to
promote student engagement, leading to high level
of student research, internship campus
culture and University leadership help improve
student success

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Commitment to Undergraduate Research (UR)

• 10-years of successful history of UR
  ---multidisciplinary
• 32 grants in 1996-97 --- 81 in 2004-05
• Only spring competition in 1997--- now both
  semesters
• 34,000 in 1997 --- Over 100,000 now (central
  pool)
• College of Science 42,000 in 1999 --- over
  83,000 in 2004
• Deans Summer Fellowship by the College of
  Science
• UW-L Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research
  and Creativity since 1998

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Commitment to Undergraduate Research

• The Journal of Undergraduate Research since 1998
• Support from faculty grants, UW-L Foundation and
  department funds
• 3 CUR Councilors at present CUR President from
  UW-L in 2002 CUR was held at UW-L in 2004
• UW-L students participating in NCUR since 2000
  (all expenses paid) 27 presented at 2006 NCUR
  UW-L will host NCUR in 2009
• UW Symposium on UR since 2000
• Posters on the Rotunda in State Capitol since
  2004

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Undergraduate Research
Expenditures
120,000.00
110,000.00
100,000.00
90,000.00
80,000.00
70,000.00
60,000.00
50,000.00
40,000.00
30,000.00
20,000.00
10,000.00
0.00
FY 97
FY 98
FY 99
FY 00
FY 01
FY 02
FY 03
FY 04
FY 05
FY 06
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Building a Successful UndergraduateResearch
Program

• Aric Opdahl New faculty perspective
• Identifying the needs of new faculty
• Department of Chemistry
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• La Crosse, Wisconsin

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Chemistry of bio-functionalized surfaces
Research MotivationBio-functionalized slides
are widely used for genetic diagnostics and drug
discoveryDetailed understanding of these
surfaces can be used to develop new diagnostic
tools.Interested in interactions between
molecules
Affymetrix gene chip
DNA strands attached to gold film
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Probing biomolecular interactions on surfaces
1. Photopattern gold slide
Gold
2. Fill in with single stranded DNA
Surface Plasmon Spectrometer
3. Hybridize with complementary DNA
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Structural information (Reflectance infrared
spectroscopy)
Hexanethiol monolayer on gold
Electrical properties (voltammetry)
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Building a successful research group
Question 1 What are the characteristics of a
successful research group?

• The research topics are interesting and
  meaningful
• Fundamental surface chemistry with application
  oriented results
• The research actively involves students, and
  enriches students educational experience (local
  contribution)
• Students learn to creatively solve scientific
  problems using techniques of modern surface
  science.
• Results of research are publishable in peer
  reviewed journals (global contribution)
• Submit manuscripts to American Chemical Society
  Journals.
• Projects are fundable (e.g. NSF or NIH)
• The research cycle is sustainable

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A sustainable research cycle
Graduate school / Postdoc Work in an established
research cycle.
New faculty Initiate the cycle in a new
environment
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The activation energy barrier
Established faculty w/ sustainable research group


Energy


New faculty

Reaction coordinate (time)

Question 2 What are the primary elements of the
energy barrier?
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Building a successful research group

• Money
• Equipment/facilities
• Time
• Students
• Good projects

The sum of the specific challenges and needs
associated with these elements creates a
significant energy barrier.
Energy barrier

Energy


Reaction coordinate (time)
Question 3 How can the energy barrier be
lowered?
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Catalyzing the process for new faculty
Activity Identify a specific challenge that new
faculty face. Determine a specific solution
addressing that need.

• Money
• Challenge How do new faculty know where to apply
  for funding?
• Challenge How do new faculty learn to write
  competitive grants?

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Money

• Challenge How do new faculty get money?
• Competitive startup pack comparable institutions.
  
• Salary for early start in Summer to write
  proposals and set up my lab.
• Attend grant writing workshops
• Meet with grants officer and peers. Talk to
  NIH/NSF program directors, to determine where to
  apply for funding
• Apply for internal sources Faculty research
  grants
• University system sources
• Seek collaborative grant opportunities with other
  institutions
• Seek collaborative opportunities with companies
• Student sources student research grants which
  provide student salary and a small amount of
  supplies money
• Good mentoring

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Equipment/facilities

• Challenge How do new faculty establish a
  research group with a limited budget and limited
  space?
• Assess all existing scientific equipment
• Meet with faculty in other departments to learn
  capabilities and needs.
• Meet with faculty at other colleges. Borrow or
  use equipment for preliminary experiments.
• Incorporate research equipment into classroom
  experiences.
• Buy equipment from your friends
• Buy used LabX
• Get free equipment. Search govt web sites and
  contact people in excess property management
  www.erle.ostsi.gov
• Talk to facility managers at major institutions
  (negotiate a lower fee)

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Students

• Challenge How do new faculty attract quality
  students?
• Experienced faculty pre screened possible
  candidates before I arrived. This resulted in a
  fantastic student this year.
• Give a departmental seminar or discuss research
  in class.
• Identifying students from lower level classes
  (mentoring helped).
• Good mentoring.

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Good Projects

• Challenge How do new faculty determine what
  projects are likely to succeed?
• Many projects are interesting but inappropriate
  for undergraduate level research.
• Stay connected with literature (subscribe to ACS
  ASAP articles)
• Seek collaborative opportunities with faculty
  within/outside the department,
• Email/call old colleagues frequently to discuss
  ideas
• Introduce yourself to the major universities in
  your neighborhood
• Submit a poster to regional/national conference
  (travel )
• Undertake a mix of projects
• Good mentoring.
• Be flexible and just try stuff

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Time

• Challenge How do new faculty make time for
  everything?
• Reasonable classroom duties
• Repetitive teaching schedule
• Schedules have large units of time for research
• Effectively use the time set aside for research
  activities
• Dont overextend self with service activities
• Good mentoring
• Have a 3 year plan and update it regularly

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Fall 2005 Schedule
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Spring 2006 Schedule
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Long-term Management 3-year Plan
Year 1

• Objective Establish infrastructure and apply for
  funding
• Apply for all the usual sources of startup money
• Purchase scientific equipment and get it up and
  running
• Determine realistic experiments to be performed
  using existing equipment and funds
• Begin students on these projects Expectation
  the data will lead to basic manuscripts
• Collect preliminary data for higher risk
  projects Expectation the data will be used as
  supporting evidence for larger proposals
• Attend regional conferences and seek
  collaborative opportunities

Year 2

• Objective Apply for funding and submit
  manuscripts
• Revise and resubmit proposals not funded from
  previous year
• Preliminary projects should be completed and
  written up
• New projects initiated
• High risk projects expected to become better
  defined through trial and error
• Prepare applications for comprehensive grants
  (NSF/NIH)
• Present at regional and national conferences

Year 3

• Objective Obtain funding and submit manuscripts
• Revise and resubmit proposals not funded from
  previous year
• Projects worked on during year two should be at
  manuscript submission stage
• Present at regional and national conferences
• Prepare promotion materials

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Building a successful research group
Energy barrier

Established faculty w/ sustainable research group


Energy


New faculty

Many of the needs of new faculty can be
facilitated through good faculty mentoring and
frequent discussions with Department Chair and
College Dean
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The Successful Involvement of Undergraduates in
the Study of Yeast Meiosis

• Anne Galbraith Seasoned Faculty Perspective
• Working Within the System
• Department of Biology
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• La Crosse, Wisconsin

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The activation energy barrier
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The activation energy barrier

• Money
• Equipment/facilities
• Students
• Good projects
• Time

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Cancer Statistics

• 556,500 Americans are expected to die of cancer
  per year (gt1500/day)

• Cancer is the 2 cause of death in the U.S. (1/4
  deaths are caused by cancer)

• 1/2 men will contract cancer in their lifetime

• 1/3 women will contract cancer in their lifetime

• 1,334,000 new cancer diagnoses are expected per
  year

Source American Cancer Society, 2006
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Growth and Division of Human Cells

• Multicellular organisms are formed by the growth
  and division of cells
• This growth and division is controlled by many
  different genes
• Most of the cells in an adult human body no
  longer grow and divide
• Mutations in some or many of the control genes
  allow abnormal growth and division in adult body
  cells

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Life Cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Mating
a
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a
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a
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a
Meiosis
a/?
a
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The Role of the Cdc7 (and Dbf4) Proteins in
Mitotic Cells

• DNA Replication
• DNA Repair
• DNA Silencing

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The Role of the Cdc7 and Dbf4 Proteins in Meiotic
Cells
?
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Why Study Meiosis?

• Universal process
• Defects in human meiosis can lead to birth
  defects, germline cancers, and infertility
• Little is known about this complex process

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Money

• Internal
• UW-L Faculty Research Grants
• UW-L Foundation Grants
• UW-L Undergraduate Research Grants
• College of SAH Supplies Grants
• SAH Deans Summer Fellowships
• Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) Funds
• External
• NSF Grants
• NIH AREA Grants

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Equipment/facilities

• Cooperate with colleagues
• Collaborate with other PUI (or RO1) faculty
• Write grants
• Keep ears open and read emails!
• ebay! ?
• Start an Institute Institute for Biomolecular
  Sciences

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Time

• Stagger new student researchers
• Put new students with established student
  researchers or graduate students
• Learn to say no to other distractions
• Summer student help
• Learn how to infuse caffeine into your
  bloodstream efficiently via IV

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Students

• Advertising
• personal web site
• SAH site
• advising board
• announcements in class
• Course Credit
• Employment
• Increased Awareness on Campus
• Dont be afraid of mediocre students

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Good Projects

• Self-contained
• Related to overall lab goals
• Age-appropriate
• Overlap with other student projects

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Challenges
Money Equipment/facilities Students Good
projects Time
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Rewards
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Building and Sustaining a Successful Departmental
UndergraduateResearch Program
Gubbi Sudhakaran Department Chair
Perspective Improving Faculty Success
Department of Physics University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin
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The Role of Undergraduate Researchin the
Revitalization of the UW-L Physics Department

• Academic Programs
• Dual Degree Program
• Undergraduate Research
• Recruitment/Advising/Retention

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Undergraduate Research
One of the major facts that leads to high student
satisfaction with our program is a strong set of
research experiences for the undergraduate
physics major. New Faculty New Research
Labs Recognition for Students and Faculty Funding
for Students Funding for Faculty Student
Presentations
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Student Scholarships/Grants/Awards

• Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate
  Scholarship
• Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate
  Research Fellowship
• American Physical Society, Division of Laser
  Science Summer Research Fellowship
• Council on Undergraduate Research Summer
  Fellowship
• Sigma Xi Grants-In-Aid Research Award
• NASA Academy Summer Research Fellowship
• Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
• Strzelczyk Award
• Homeland Security Scholarship

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Student Presentations

• Annual UW-L Undergraduate Research Symposium
• Annual UW-System Undergraduate Research Symposium
• Annual Wisconsin Space Grant
  Consortium Conference
• National Council on Undergraduate
  Research Conference
• Annual Undergraduate Research Poster Session on
  Capitol Hill

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External Funding
National Science Foundation 1,194,090 RUI 613
,672 MRI 404,906 ILI 88,162 International
17,400 Research Corporation and
ACS/PRF 156,071 NASA 18,000 Educational
Grants 180,000 TOTAL 1,548,161
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Why Many Undergraduate Physics Programs Are Good
but Few Are Great, R.C. Hilborn and R.H. Howes,
National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics
Education
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Ingredients for a Successful UR Program

• Strategic Planning
• Faculty
• Students
• Time
• Equipment/Facilities

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Strategic Planning

• Vision for the Department
• Strengths and Weaknesses
• Recruitment of Faculty and Students
• Introduction of new Research Programs
• Administrative Support

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Faculty Recruitment

• Expectations
• Involve Undergraduate Students in Research
• Set up Research Program
• Present Papers at Conferences
• Publish Papers
• Seek External Grants

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Faculty Hiring

• Interview Questions
• Time Line
• Space Requirements
• Start up Funds
• Supplies Budget
• Travel Budget

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Faculty Mentoring

• Expectations for Teaching, Research, and Service
• Timeline for Retention and Promotion
• Role of Research in Retention and Promotion
• Merit Evaluations
• Funding Agencies
• Goals for Academic Year
• Conference and Workshop Attendance

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Students

• Offer Research as a Course
• Incentive for Students to do Research
• Funding for Students
• Seminar
• Presentation at Conferences
• Awards

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Time

• Bring new Faculty in one month early
• Teaching Credit for involving Undergraduate
  Students in Research
• Reduce Teaching Load for new Faculty
• Humane Teaching Assignments for new Faculty
• Schedule free time for Research

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Equipment/Facilities

• Planning
• Administrative Support for Space and Equipment
• Building Use Committee

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Knowledge-Research Day
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Knowledge
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A sustainable research cycle
Preliminary experiments
Results not publishable
Funded proposals
New ideas generated
Results lead to intellectual property
Write / submit proposals
Results lead to manuscript
Perform experiments
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Economic Development
The UW-System research contributes to a strong
economic base in the state of Wisconsin David
Walsh, President UW Board of Regents
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(No Transcript)
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10,000 Invested Each Year for 3 Years
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10,000 Invested Each Year for 3 Years
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10,000 Invested Each Year for 3 Years
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Culture of Student Engagement in Research

• Commitment of Students, Faculty and the
  Institution
• Challenge and Empowerment to Students by their
  Faculty mentors
• Curriculum design includes research as an
  expectation
• Celebration of Student success and achievements
  by all
• Collaboration among all stakeholders

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He who does not research has nothing to
teach. A Proverb