Overview

A recent National Science Board report underscores the need to enhance recruitment and retention of students in the sciences to strengthen the economic and scientific foundation of the United States. SOMAS-URM (Support Of Mentors And their Students from UnderRepresented Minorities) addresses this need using a two-pronged strategy: 1) Junior faculty receive mentoring and instruction in launching research programs that engage student collaborators; and 2) College students are introduced to discovery in the neurosciences by conducting original research with their professors.

Junior faculty from predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs) are invited to submit applications (December 1 deadline) to obtain summer research support for undergraduate students who will spend 10 weeks collaborating with the faculty member on projects of common interest. Awards of up to $8,000 will cover a travel and supply budget, summer student housing, as well as faculty and student stipends. The faculty mentors and their students are to use the travel support to attend the joint Annual Meetings of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN). The faculty Awardees are required to participate in the Survival Skills and Ethics Workshop held at the SFN meeting to prepare them to write grants aimed at supporting their research programs. Students are to present their summer research findings at the FUN Poster Session held jointly with the SfN Meeting. Students are also required to attend Survival Skills Workshop sessions that provide tips on applying to graduate school and ethics in research. A Grant Review Committee reviews grant applications from December to January and awards are made in early February for the following summer's research effort. Selections will be made based on the justifications for and the quality of the proposed research experience for the undergraduate.  Preference will be given to URM faculty, to faculty from institutions serving women and minority groups, or to faculty who have identified URM students as research collaborators.  Special consideration will be given to faculty members with little experience in grant-writing and who are just beginning their research programs.  Up to four awards will be made for the 2010 program.