Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2003

Santiago, Louis S, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY2003. The goal of the fellowship is to increase the participation of minority scientists at the postdoctoral level and to prepare them for positions of scientific leadership in academia and industry. To attain this goal, the fellowship provides opportunities for postdoctoral training and research of the highest quality to recent doctoral recipients. It is expected that Fellows supported through these fellowships will play important roles in training of the future workforce. The research and training plan is entitled "Where do plants get their nitrogen? Physiological and community consequences of variation in nitrogen sources." This research conducted in Mexico and California focuses on the effect of nitrogen sources on plant photosynthesis, growth, and community composition. One component addresses the role of nitrogen fixation in explaining the high abundance of legumes in lowland tropical forest. Another component focuses on use of fog nitrogen by redwood forest under-story plants.