ASPB announces Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship 2007 ...( (Rockville MD September 20 2007) Fi...)

(Rockville, MD September 20, 2007) Fifteen students mentored by members of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) were selected to receive the 2007ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF). The $3,000 fellowship permits each student to devote full-time effort to his or her research project for a 10-week period during the summer. The award also includes $500 to the mentor for lab supplies, a free student membership in ASPB until August 2008, and travel grant assistance to attend the 2008 ASPB Plant Biology meeting.

There were 24 Category A (Research and Doctoral Universities) applicants and 10 Category B (Masters Universities, Baccalaureate Colleges, and Associate of Art Colleges) applicants for a total of 34 highly competitive projects. The reviewers were impressed by the high quality of all the applicants projects and the commitment of the students and their mentors to their ongoing research.

The SURF program was once again co-chaired by SURF founders Mark Brodl, Trinity University, and Jon Monroe, James Madison University. Also co-chairing this year was Amy Clore, New College of Florida. This is the seventh year of the program. SURF is funded by the ASPB Executive Committee and ASPB Good Works funds. SURF chairs and other ASPB members support the fellowship program in many ways, including reviewing applications, selecting recipients and supporting their research.

Complete project descriptions and photos can be viewed at the ASPB website: http://www.aspb.org/education/undergrad/cfm. The 2007 SURF winners are:

Christopher Aakre, Stanford University
Project: Biological Function of the Tomato LRR-RLK in Xanthomonas-Host Interactions
Mentor: Dr. Mary Beth Mudgett

Robert Billmyre, University of Maryland College Park
Project: Auxin Transport in Charophytes: Examining the Roots of
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