The Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics recently learned that they will continue to receive funding to run the National Science Foundation's 10-week summer program, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).

NSF developed REU to give science majors from smaller institutions access to top-quality, structured laboratory experience, led by nationally-recognized experts. This opportunity to do intellectually demanding research helps make these students more competitive when applying for graduate or professional school.

This successful program, implemented at Ohio State five years ago, is a joint enterprise between these two departments, initiated by biochemist Venkat Gopalan and molecular geneticist Amanda Simcox, who served as co-directors until last year when Gopalan stepped down.

Molecular geneticist Susan Cole stepped in, “I served as an REU mentor for several years, and enjoyed the relationships with the students who worked in my lab. When Mandy contacted me about serving as co-director it was clear that it is something she finds very valuable.

“Serving as co-director last year, I realized why -- you get to know this group of dynamic young scientists on a different level, and it is wonderful to see them develop confidence in their research skills as they go through the program. It has been very rewarding to see them go on to research careers where they will be part of the next generation of great scientists!”

Gopalan said of his involvement, “My main pleasure from being associated with this program is, of course, the students. Every year is a different group replete with budding scientists with all sorts of personalities.”

Simcox added, “We form this interesting 'family' and it really feels like that, because we do lots of things together beyond the lab. After they leave we help them prepare for the next step--getting into graduate school and other programs.

“As our numbers show, REU students do very well. They are talented in their own right, but I think we have something to do with their development as scientists.”

Gopalan, Simcox, and Cole agree that this program is significant for several reasons: the students it serves, faculty involvement, and its alignment with Ohio State’s mission.

The REU program focuses heavily on students from under-represented groups (low-income families, minorities), which has helped faculty from both departments promote diversity in their own research programs, and contribute effectively to the university’s diversity plan.

As a model for Ohio State’s “One University” mandate, running the REU program forges strong collaborative and working relationship between Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Each year, their faculty work closely together on events that enrich the program for REU participants.

“Such collegiality engenders strong research and collaborative ties,” Gopalan said. “On a personal note, I continue to learn and grow from all these activities.”

Those involved in the program clearly invest a great deal of time, energy, and expertise into it, in large part because they passionately believe that the REU program is a concrete step to promote diversity in life sciences research.

“The recruitment visits to different minority institutions in the United States only reaffirms the importance of the REU program and Ohio State’s role in it,” Gopalan said, and concluded, “The REU students, who come from all across the United States, become great ambassadors for Ohio State.”

The winning grant proposal for continued funding was written by molecular geneticists Amanda Simcox and Susan Cole.

Watch the 2009 REU class in action at: http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/%7Emgmajors/REU/