** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE U.S. ECONOMY, BUT IT IS FACING CHALLENGES FROM SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS LIKE OVERFISHING, CLIMATE-INDUCED IMPACTS, AND THE ISSUES OF IMPORTED SEAFOOD TRACEABILITY AND FRAUD. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PIVOTAL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONS, IS HINDERED BY PERCEPTIONS OF THE INDUSTRY AND A GAP IN COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AVENUES. THE PROPOSED REEU PROJECT ASPIRES TO HARNESS THESE ADVANCEMENTS, TARGETING PARTICULARLY UNDERGRADUATE MINORITY STUDENTS, AND INSTILLING ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES TO THE NEXT GENERATION AND UPLIFT THE INDUSTRY. A CONSORTIUM OF INSTITUTES INCLUDING THE VIRGINIA SEAFOOD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER (VSAREC) AT VIRGINIA TECH, CAL POLY POMONA, AND HAMPTON UNIVERSITY WILL COLLABORATE WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO OVERSEE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. A TOTAL OF 24 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE RECRUITED OVER A 5-YEARS PROJECT PERIOD, AMONG WHICH 16 STUDENTS WILL BE FROM THE UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. A LIST OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HANDS-ON RESEARCH PROJECTS, INDUSTRY FIELD TRIPS, PROFESSIONAL SHORT COURSES AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS WILL BE INCLUDED. THREE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE: OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF SEAFOOD RELATED RESEARCH AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM MINORITY GROUPS, THROUGH RECRUITMENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. OBJECTIVE 2: IMPROVE THE SCIENTIFIC PROFICIENCY AND RESEARCH COMPETENCY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM MINORITY GROUPS, THROUGH SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS THAT INVOLVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY SHORT-COURSES, LABORATORY TRAINING, FIELD TRIPS, AND OTHER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. OBJECTIVE 3: BUILD A LONG-TERM MENTORSHIP PROGRAM TO TRACK STUDENTS' SUCCESS AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT.