THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FACULTY-MENTORED SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR 8 UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWS PER YEAR FOR 4 YEARS IN IFAS LABS AT THE MAIN CAMPUS OF UF AND THE IFAS RECS. STUDENTS WILL BE MATCHED WITH FACULTY IN THE AREAS OF PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND BIOENERGY, AND SEVERAL IFAS FACULTY FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE AGREED TO SERVE AS MENTORS. IN ADDITION TO RESEARCH, THE PROJECT HAS A STRONG EMPHASIS ON EXTENSION WITH THE FELLOWS PARTICIPATING IN EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AND SHADOWING EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS. THE FELLOWS WILL ALSO RECEIVE CAREER MENTORING TO EXPLORE THE BREADTH OF CAREERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE PROJECT WILL INCREASE DIVERSITY IN THE STEM PIPELINE AS WE ARE RECRUITING FELLOWS FROM 2-YEAR MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING VALENCIA COLLEGE AND MIAMI DADE COLLEGE, AND FROM OUR DISTANCE EDUCATION IN MICROBIOLOGY AND CELL SCIENCE MAJOR, IN WHICH HALF OF THE STUDENTS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES.?