** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN THIS PROJECT, WE AIM TO DEVELOP THE REEU PROGRAM TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN TALENTED AND MOTIVATED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PREPARE COMPETENT STUDENTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO JOIN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE IN FOOD AND NUTRITION FIELDS, BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND HANDS-ON RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. THE MAIN RECRUITING TARGET CONSISTS OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS FROM MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WHERE THEY TYPICALLY LACK OPPORTUNITIES TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF FOOD AND NUTRITION. OVER THE FOUR-YEAR GRANT PERIOD, THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE:OBJECTIVE 1: WE WILL RECRUIT AND ENROLL FOOD AND NUTRITION UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (N=40) WITH AT LEAST 60% OF STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.OBJECTIVE 2: MENTORED STUDENTS (N=40) WILL COMPLETE A 10-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE WITH AT LEAST 75% OF STUDENTS APPLYING TO ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND/OR GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION, MEDICINE, OR OTHER CLOSELY RELATED FIELDS.BUILT UPON THE SUCCESS FROM OUR PREVIOUS INTERNALLY FUNDED REU PROGRAM, WE WILL EXPAND OUR EFFORTS BY (1) RECRUITING A LARGER AND MORE DIVERSE POOL OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS; (2) COLLABORATING WITH ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTAL MENTORS TO OFFER A WIDER SPECTRUM OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES; (3) ENRICHING STUDENTS' CAMPUS AND OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES THROUGH MORE GROUP ACTIVITIES; AND (4) STRENGTHENING OUR PROGRAM EVALUATION PLAN TO TRACK STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS LONGITUDINALLY.