**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** A STRONG, WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE IN THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES IS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO FEED THE GROWING POPULATION. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS A STIMULATING AND EDUCATIONAL 10-WEEK SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (SURE) AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) IN LOGAN, UTAH. PARTICIPANTS COME FROM NON-RESEARCH INTENSIVE CAMPUSES IN THE REGION WHERE THEY HAVE LITTLE OR NO EXPOSURE TO AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. AT USU, THE STUDENTS WILL BE MATCHED WITH A FACULTY MENTOR BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS. IN THE LAB, THEY WILL COMPLETE A SMALL RESEARCH PROJECT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THEIR MENTOR AND OTHER LAB PERSONNEL. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN DATA MANAGEMENT, BEST PRACTICES FOR RECORD KEEPING, LAB PROCEDURES, RESEARCH LITERATURE, RESEARCH ETHICS, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, AND OTHER RESEARCH-RELATED TOPICS. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, THE STUDENTS WILL PREPARE AND GIVE A PRESENTATION OF THEIR WORK. THE EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE: (1) TO PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WITH A STIMULATING SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND POTENTIALLY LIFE CHANGING; AND (2) TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND MOTIVATE THEM TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION IN AN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINE AND TO PURSUE A CAREER IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH OR BIOTECHNOLOGY. THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES BY PROVIDING MOTIVATED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO CAN HELP WITH ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS OR CARRY OUT PILOT PROJECTS TO GENERATE PRELIMINARY DATA FOR RESEARCH GRANTS.