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CORVALLIS - Instead of working in a restaurant or retail store, a group of 28 students at Oregon State University are filling their summer with an in-depth research experience working alongside some of the nation's leading biologists, biochemists, zoologists, and other scientists.

As part of the university's long term commitment to gain more research experience for many of its undergraduate students, the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at OSU is coordinating one program that will provide extensive experience and a stipend of more than $1,000 a month, with funding provided largely by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through a four-year, $1.8 million grant.

"OSU has long recognized the unique educational value of an individual research experience, and the Howard Hughes grant has substantially increased the number of students who are able to do this," said Kevin Ahern, an OSU instructor and faculty coordinator of this project. "The students will work with each other, their faculty mentor and at the end of the project present their results both to their peers and mentors."

In the process, they will assist OSU experts who are doing cutting-edge research on such topics as global amphibian declines, new pharmaceuticals of marine origin, bacterial genetics or the biochemistry of aging.

The second year's funding of the Howard Hughes grant is a main supporter of this program for 18 of the students. Other funds were obtained this year to provide assistance to 10 more students.

The fellowships are competitive, with students chosen on the basis of their interests, future plans, academic record and potential for success, Ahern said. Additional funds to help support the research experience are also often provided by the individual scientists who work with each student, he said.

Participants in the program this year include:

• ALBANY: Katie Dunlap, a junior in animal sciences working with Fred Stormshak, a professor of animal sciences.

   

• ALOHA: Julie Law, a sophomore in biochemistry and biophysics working with Michael Schimerlik, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• BEAVERTON: Jay Well, a biology student working with Terri Lomax, a professor of botany and plant pathology.

   

• BEND: Robert Melton, a junior in biochemistry and biophysics working with George Rohrmann, a professor of microbiology.

   

• BURNS: Wendy Evans, a junior in biochemistry and biophysics working with Gary Merrill, an associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• CORVALLIS: Simeon Andrews, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Bill Gerwick, an OSU professor of pharmacy; Leah Marie Gross, a junior in agricultural sciences and working with William Proebsting, an OSU professor of horticulture; Sathya Ravichandran, a junior in microbiology and working with Tory Hagen, an assistant professor in the Linus Pauling Institute; Christine Nguyen, a senior in liberal arts, and Christoph Champ, both working with Pui Shing Ho, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics; George Ambrose, a graduate student in science working with Frank Moore, a professor of zoology; Keith Hazleton, a senior in science working with Christopher Mathews, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• HILLSBORO: Erin van Olden, a junior in biology, working with Ken van Holde, a distinguished professor emeritus of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• JUNCTION CITY: Isaiah Schauer, a junior in science working with Christopher Mathews, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• KEIZER: Jonathan Clark Reed, a sophomore in botany and plant pathology, working with Valerian Dolja, an assistant professor of botany and plant pathology.

   

• LAKE OSWEGO: Megan Oest, a senior in biological engineering working with Joe McGuire, a professor of bioresource engineering.

   

• MEDFORD: Derek Rains, a junior in microbiology working with John Fowler, an assistant professor of botany and plant pathology.

   

• MONMOUTH: Tyler Creelan, a sophomore in science working with Tony Vella, an assistant professor of microbiology.

   

• PORTLAND: Dona Dumdeang (97202), a junior in science working with Ken van Holde, a distinguished professor emeritus in biochemistry and biophysics; Quan Tu, a senior in science working with Jeffrey Greenwood in biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• SALEM: Annie Staten, a sophomore in biochemistry and biophysics working with Donald Reed, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics; Keith Nylin, a senior in science working with Christopher Mathews, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• SUTHERLIN: Jim James, a junior in biology working with Michael Blouin, an assistant professor of zoology.

   

• ARIZONA

   

  • PHOENIX: Susan Kamman (85053), a sophomore in biochemistry and biophysics, working with Michael Schimerlik, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics.

   

• CALIFORNIA

   

  • LAGUNA BEACH: Gena Beth Bentall, a sophomore in zoology working with Andrew Blaustein, a professor of zoology.

     

  • LOS ANGELES: Calvin Antonion Carlyle, a sophomore in liberal studies working with Janine Trempy, an associate professor of microbiology.

   

• IDAHO

   

  • BUHL: Cortny Huddleston, a junior in bioresource engineering working with Mark Leid, an associate professor of pharmacy.