REU Site: Chemical and Physical Characterization of Biological Systems

Washington State University, Pullman WA

Investigators

Abstract

The Division of Chemistry supports this REU site at Washington State University (WSU), in Pullman WA, for the summers of 2009-2011. The Program Director is Dr. James A. Brozik and will be assisted by Ms. Lori Bruce during the 9.5-week program. This REU site emphasizes the more quantitative aspects of biological chemistry and chemistry related to biological systems. This REU site provides students the opportunity to (1) obtain a hands-on research experience working on an individual project that utilizes state-of-the-art physical and chemical characterization tools to quantitatively address biologically relevant problems, (2) formally and informally learn about the strong connections between chemistry and biology, (3) be a part of a truly collaborative research effort (by being a member of a dynamic, active research group), and (4) experience a new school and / or research environment in a different part of the country. Through participation in WSU's Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), participants benefit from: (1) co-located housing for all REU and internally funded summer undergraduate research programs, (2) participation in coordinated group activities on campus and the surrounding area, (3) can take advantage of workshops on Library Skills, Intellectual Property, and Poster Presentation Skills, and (4) participation in an end of the summer poster symposium highlighting research from the Science and Engineering summer programs from across the campus (40+ student posters). In this way, the students are exposed to new colleagues from diverse fields of study in Science and Engineering and are totally immersed within a larger community of student-scholars with similar goals but diverse interests. Being a part of a larger community can lead to a richer more positive summer experience.