** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN STAKEHOLDER-SERVING AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION IS THE PRINCIPAL EDUCATIONAL GOAL OF THE LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION. ACHIEVING THIS GOAL REQUIRES PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING AND STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH SKILLS IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PARTICULARLY IN PLANT PATHOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. OUR GOAL FOR THIS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REEU) PROPOSAL IS TO TRAIN 100 UPPER-LEVEL UNDERGRADUATES FROM TAMU AND PARTNERING UNIVERSITIES DURING A 5-YEAR PERIOD IN THE PRACTICE OF HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECTS AT THE INTERFACE OF PLANT, MICROBIAL, AND BIOENVIRONMENTALSCIENCES.BASED ON HISTORICAL BURS PARTICIPATION AND PURPOSEFUL SUPPORT WE HAVE FORGED WITH PARTNER INSTITUTIONS; OUR EXPECTATION IS TO HAVE GREATER THAN 66% OF REEU STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. WE WILL CREATE A YEARLY INTENSIVE 10-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH/EXTENSION EXPERIENCE THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS WILL JOIN AN INCLUSIVE HIGH-IMPACT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. OUR INTELLECTUAL FOCUS INCLUDES: (A) REINFORCING INTEREST IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXTENSION; (B) DEVELOPING CAPACITY IN SCIENTIFIC THINKING AND DESIRE TO PURSUE GRADUATE STUDIES IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE; AND (C) DEVELOPING INTEREST IN PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, AND INDUSTRY DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. WE WILL ESTABLISH A LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO FOLLOW STUDENTS UPON RETURN TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPUSES AND DURING THEIR POST-BACCALAUREATE PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS REEU PROJECT IS TO INCREASE HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND DIVERSE FUTURE WORKFORCE IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION DISCIPLINES.