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CORVALLIS, Ore. - A group of 35 undergraduate students have received fellowships in the biological sciences as part of the 2006 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Program at Oregon State University.

Funding for this program is one part of a four-year, $1.9 million grant, which works to enhance teaching of biological principles to college and pre-college students. This is the eighth year of the summer research program at OSU, addressing such topics as antibiotic development, bone repair and nutritional deficiencies.

Fellows receive $3,700 for 11 weeks of work, which includes original laboratory research under the direction of OSU faculty, and a symposium to discuss findings at the end of the summer. Participation in the program is competitive, based on a student's interests, future plans, academic record and potential for success.

"Oregon State University has long recognized the unique educational value of an individual research experience," said Kevin Ahern, a senior instructor at OSU and coordinator of the program. "The Howard Hughes grant substantially increases the number of students who are able to participate in an intense, full-time research experience over a several month period, engaging in frequent contact with other students and with a faculty mentor."

Among the Oregon participants in this year's program are:

• Albany: Jeffrey Hall, majoring in biology and working with Malcolm Lowry; Cynthia Trevisiol, majoring in bioengineering and working with Russell Turner; Shannon Williamson, majoring in chemistry and working with Andrew Ross
• Ashland: John Turner, majoring in general science and working with Mark Zabriskie
• Beaverton: Andrew Nguyen, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Andrew Buermeyer
• Coos Bay: Alma Laney, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Theo Dreher
• Corvallis: Katherine Bateman, majoring in microbiology and working with Dennis Hruby; Emily Clark, majoring in chemistry and working with Joe Beckman; Niel Henriksen, majoring in chemistry and working with Philip Proteau; Ngan Nguyen, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Tory Hagen; Mariana Sheldon, majoring in biochemistry and working with Elisar Barbar
• Elmira: Jeff Burnett, majoring in microbiology and working with Dan Rockey
• Eugene: Susan Puckett, majoring in microbiology and working with Bruce Geller
• Gladstone: Henry McNett, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Walt Ream
• Hillsboro: Travis Schaal, majoring in animal sciences and working with Gita Cherian
• McMinnville: Jesse Carmine, majoring in natural resources and working with Sujaya Rao
• Medford: Jennifer Coppersmith, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Barbara Taylor
• Newport: Gina Capri, majoring in microbiology and working with Dan Rockey
• Portland: Daniel Bai, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Chris Mathews; Tuyen Thi Dang, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Christopher Mathews; Alex Hadduck, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Paul Blakemore; Gautam Mankaney, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Andrew Buermeyer; Joshua Steeves, majoring in biology and working with Lynda Ciuffetti
• Roseburg: Nicole Dzialowy, majoring in microbiology and working with Theo Dreher
• Salem: Katherine Fordyce, majoring in chemistry and working with Alexey Shvarev; Ashley Swander, majoring in mechanical engineering and working with Mike Pavol; Tari Tan, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with Fred Stormshak
• West Linn: Eric Brooks, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics and working with John Hays; Marcus Chiodo, majoring in chemistry and working with Elisar Barbar; Susan Rajput, majoring in microbiology and working with Dan Rockey
• Wilsonville: Grant Farr, majoring in chemistry and working with Michael Freitag