** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS REEU PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND MENTORING PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES. THE GEOGRAPHICAL, LOGISTICAL AND INTELLECTUAL STRUCTURE FOR OUR REEU PROGRAM WILL BE THE LARGEST RESEARCH INITIATIVE AT UI, THE CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT (CAFE); WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS CENTRAL TO ITS MISSION. THE TWO-YEAR RESEARCH/MENTORING EXPERIENCE WILL BE STRUCTURED SO FIRST YEAR STUDENTS CONCENTRATE ON RESEARCH AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS WILL USE THEIR EXPERIENCE TO MENTOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS. WE PROPOSE TWO MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT: SUMMER TRAINEESHIPS TO SUPPORT SIX STUDENTS PER YEAR FOR THEIR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH GRANTS FOR 15 STUDENTS PER YEAR FOR MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES. THUS, 21 STUDENTS WILL BE SUPPORTED PER YEAR, AND ALL SUPPORTED STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL ACTIVITIES. ALLOCATION DECISIONS WILL BE BASED ON RESEARCH PROPOSALS DEVELOPED BY STUDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIMARY MENTOR AND COLLABORATING MENTORS. RESEARCH TOPICS WILL FOCUS ON THE INTERSECTIONS OF PLANT, ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE. FOR SUMMER TRAINEES, THEIR RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED JUNE-AUGUST IN THE FIRST YEAR. GRANT AWARDEES WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH IN SUMMER AND FALL OF THEIR FIRST YEAR. RESULTS WILL BE COMMUNICATED ORALLY AT AN ANNUAL RESEARCH RETREAT AND IN A FINAL WRITTEN REPORT. ALL SUPPORTED STUDENTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO PUBLISH THEIR RESULTS. THE SECOND YEAR IS FOCUSED ON MENTORING TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. SECOND YEAR STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN MENTORSHIP TRAINING (ON-LINE AND IN-PERSON), AND SUPPORT FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS WRITING AND REFINING PROPOSALS AND STARTING THEIR RESEARCH.