Counci l on Undergraduate Research

CUR DIALOGUES 2014February 20-22, 2014

Council on Undergraduate Research734 15th Street NW, Suite 550Washington, DC 20005-1013

Renaissance Capital View Hotel

Arlington, VA

Useful Acronyms: AAC&U – Association of American Colleges and Universities ACS PRF – American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund AERA – American Educational Research Association AFOSR – Air Force Office of Scientific Research AREA – Academic Research Enhancement Award ATE – Advanced Technological Education ATRD – Advanced Training and Research Division BCS – Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences BIO – Directorate for Biological Sciences CAREER – Faculty Early Career Development CBR – Community-based research CHE – Division of Chemistry DBI – Division of Biological Infrastructure DOD – Department of Defense DOE – Department of Energy EHR-DUE – Directorate for Education and Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education EPA – Environmental Protection Agency GEO – Directorate for Geosciences GOALI – Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry GRFP – Graduate Research Fellowship Program HHMI – Howard Hughes Medical Institute IFLE –International and Foreign Language Education IIP – Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships IRES – International Research Experiences for Students LEAP – Liberal Education and America’s Promise MPS/CHE – Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Division of Chemistry MRI –Major Research Instrumentation Program NCES –National Center for Education Statistics NEA – National Endowment for the Arts NEH –National Endowment for the Humanities NIH – National Institutes of Health NIST – National Institute of Standards and Technology NSF – National Science Foundation OPE – Office of Postsecondary Education PUI – Primarily Undergraduate Institution RCN – Research Coordination Networks RCSA – Research Corporation for Science Advancement RET – Research Experiences for Teachers REU – Research Experiences for Undergraduates ROA – Research Opportunity Awards RUI –Research in Undergraduate Institutions SBE – Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences SBIR- Small Business Innovation Research STTR- Small Business Technology Transfer SI – Smithsonian Institution S-STEM – Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics UBE – Undergraduate Biology Education WDTS – Workforce Development for Teachers and Students

Registration and information

Registration begins at 2:00pm on Thursday in the meeting space pre-function area on the 2nd floor of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.

After registering, we invite you to join other registrants for an informal gathering in the ballroom pre-function area

The registration and information table hours are as follows:

Thursday 2:00 – 5:00pm

Friday 7:00am – 5:00pm

Saturday 7:00am – 12:00pm

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Table of Contents: Registration and Information………………………………………Inside front cover Schedule of Activities: Thursday …………………………………………………………………… 2 Friday …………………………………………………………………… 2 Saturday ……...….………………………………………………………… 11 Plenary Speaker Biographies …………………………………………… 14 Notes …………………………………………………………………… 17 Renaissance Arlington Capital View Map …………………………………… 20 Residence Inn Map …………………….…………………… Inside back cover

CUR BOOK SALE

ORDER PUBLICATIONS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE

Broadening Participation in Undergraduate Research: Fostering Excellence and Enhancing the Impact $55.00 $32.00

Developing & Sustaining a Research-Supportive Curriculum: A Compendium of Successful Practices $45.00 $22.00

OTHER TEXTS 10% OFF

Including: A Practical Handbook for Supporting Community-Based Research with Undergraduate Students; Advancing Undergraduate Research:

Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising; Creative Inquiry in the Arts & Humanities: Models of Undergraduate Research, Reading; Writing, & Research: Undergraduate Students as Scholars in Literary Studies; Science in Solution: The Impact of

Undergraduate Research on Student Learning; Undergraduate Research Offices & Programs: Models & Practices; How to Get Started in STEM Research with Undergraduates; How to Develop and Administer Institutional Undergraduate Research Programs; How to Get a Tenure-Track Position at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution: Advice from Those in the Science Fields; How to

Mentor Undergraduate Researchers and How to Start an Undergraduate Research Journal

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

CUR Dialogues 2014 Striving and Thriving: Fostering Successful Research Environments

Connecting Faculty and Administrators at All Career Stages To Funding Resources and Processes -- and to Each Other

2:00-5:00PM Registration Location: 2nd Floor Registration Desk 4:00-5:00PM Welcome and Introduction to Opening Plenary

Location: Salons 1-4

Elizabeth Ambos Executive Officer Council on Undergraduate Research Julio Rivera President, Executive Board Council on Undergraduate Research

Opening Plenary Session: Carol Geary Schneider, President, AAC&U, “Liberal Education, LEAP, and Undergraduate Research: Making the Case, Mapping the Pathways”

5:30 - 7:30PM Reception Location: Ballroom Pre-Function area

Friday, February 21, 2014

7:00-8:30AM Registration & Continental Breakfast Location: 2nd floor Registration Desk & Ballroom Pre-Function Area

8:30-9:30AM Introduction & Plenary Session:

Location: Salons 1-4 Julio Rivera President, Executive Board Council on Undergraduate Research Plenary: “How Academia, Business and Industry Can Work Together: The Important Role of Research at the Undergraduate Level”, Steve Barkanic, Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer, Business-Higher Education Forum

9:30-9:45AM Break Location: Ballroom Pre-Function area

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9:45-10:45AM Dialogues Session I

(I-1) Undergraduate Research Support in the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). Fahmida N. Chowdhury, Program Director, NSF SBE. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is the major mechanism for undergraduate research support at NSF. The SBE Directorate fully participates in this activity, both through the "REU Sites" and the "Supplements" programs. This presentation will provide important details on the application and review process. Location: Studio A

(I-2) Overview of NSF’s S-STEM program. John Krupczak, Program Director, NSF EHR/DUE. The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program provides scholarships for academically talented STEM students who demonstrate need, enabling them to enter the STEM workforce or STEM graduate school following completion of an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate-level degree in a STEM discipline. These grants are made to institutions, which in turn make awards to students. A discussion of the grant solicitation and how to write a competitive proposal will be presented. Location: Studio C

(I-3) National Institutes of Health (NIH), Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program. Michelle Timmerman, Director, NIH AREA Program, Office of Extramural Programs, Office of Extramural Research, NIH. The NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program supports small-scale research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences at educational institutions that are not major recipients of NIH support. This workshop will discuss the goals of the program, unique aspects of AREA grant applications, funding statistics for the program, and the strategies you can use to successfully compete for AREA funding. Location: Studio D

(I-4) Research: Art Works, National Endowment for the Arts. Melissa Menzer, Program Analyst, Office of Research and Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts. The Office of Research & Analysis at the NEA aims to promote public knowledge and understanding about the contributions of the arts through funding research that investigates the value of the U.S. art ecosystem and the impact of the arts on other domains of American life. A brief overview of the office, funding opportunity, proposal preparation, and the review process will be addressed. Location: Studio E

(I-5) Division of Human Resource Development, NSF. Claudia Rankins, Program Director, Division of Human Resource Development, NSF. The Division of Human Resource Development at NSF funds education and research activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields to ensure access to and full participation in STEM education and research for individuals from historically underserved populations-minorities, women and persons with disabilities. A brief overview of the division, funding opportunities, proposal preparation, and the review process will be addressed. Location: Studio F

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(I-6) Overview of NSF Opportunities to Serve as a Program Officer on Temporary Assignment. Nancy Roddy, Advisor for Special Programs, Pam Hammett, Executive and Visiting Personnel Branch Chief, and Gisele Muller-Parker, Program Director, NSF.  

NSF provides the major funding for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research and education programs in the United States. NSF Program Directors have the primary responsibility for carrying out the Agency's overall mission. Many program officer positions are temporary (one to two year) appointments/assignments of college and university faculty and administrators, conducted through formal and informal searches. Information will be provided on rotational programs process, and a Q+A session will be held after the formal presentation. For additional information on NSF's rotational programs, please see "Programs for Scientists, Engineers and Educators" on the NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/rotators. Location: Potomac 1 (Residence Inn)

(I-7) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Academic Research Opportunities and Activities. Kevin Kimball, Chief of Staff, NIST.   The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the nation’s oldest physical science laboratory. Established in 1901 as the National Bureau of Standards, NIST promotes innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. In carrying out its mission, NIST collaborates with both industry and academia in multiple ways. Session will discuss how NIST collaborates, funding opportunities, strategies for engaging NIST. Location: Potomac 2 (Residence Inn)

(I-8) National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Opportunities in digital humanities. Jennifer Serventi, Senior Program Officer, Office of Digital Humanities, NEH. The programs of NEH Office of Digital Humanities offer start-up and implementation grants to encourage innovation in the digital humanities. In addition to these project-based activities, the Office funds professional development opportunities and international collaborations in the digital humanities. In this session, the NEH representatives will review how these grant opportunities might support programs that involve undergraduate students in scholarly research and public engagement projects. Building on the conversations from last year’s CUR Dialogues, they also would welcome an opportunity to learn from the audience members how the programs of the Office of Digital Humanities might better respond to the needs of the field. Location: Terrace Room (Residence Inn)

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11:00AM -12:00PM Dialogues Session II

(II-1) Grant Opportunities at the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). Silvia

Ronco, Program Officer, RCSA. RCSA’s Cottrell College Science Award Program supports fundamental research in the physical sciences at primarily undergraduate institutions. Support is provided to early career science faculty with research interests in, or that significantly overlap with, chemistry, physics and astronomy, who apply individually or as part of interdisciplinary teams. Location: Salon 5

(II-2) American Educational Research Association (AERA) Grants. George L. Wimberly, Director of Social Justice and Professional Development, AERA. The American Education Research Association (AERA) Grants Program provides small grants and training for researchers who conduct studies of education policy and practice using quantitative methods to analyze the large-scale data sets sponsored by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and NSF. This presentation will provide an overview of the program and discuss the grant application process and examples of funded projects. Location: Salon 6

(II-3) National Science Foundation Biological Sciences Directorate (BIO) Funding Opportunities. Sally O’Connor, Deputy Division Director (Acting) and Program Director, Division of Biological Infrastructure (BIO/DBI), NSF. This presentation will highlight funding opportunities in BIO at the NSF, with an emphasis on predominantly undergraduate institutions. Location: Salon 7

(II-4) National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Education Programs. Wilsonia E.D. Cherry, Deputy Director, NEH Division of Education Programs, NEH. The varied programs of NEH Division of Education support the professional development of teachers in national programs and through grants at the local institutional level, as well as supporting the development of curriculum and teaching material. In addition to explaining how these programs might support programs that engage undergraduate students in research the NEH representative(s) at this session will provide general information on public programs and the Digital Humanities Initiative. Location: Studio A

(II-5) Engaging Undergraduates in Public Policy Community–Based Research. Bobby Hackett, President, Bonner Foundation and Trisha Thorme, Director, Princeton University’s Community-Based Learning Initiative.   Community-based research (CBR) has become an increasingly valued feature of community engagement by colleges and universities across the country. In this session we will share some of the best practices, and lessons learned from our experience, and highlight some of the emerging strategies for expanding CBR as a form of undergraduate research and service-learning on your campus. Location: Studio C

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(II-6) Undergraduate Research Support from the ACS Petroleum Research Fund. Dean A. Dunn, Assistant Director, Office of Research Grants, American Chemical Society.   The ACS Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF) is an endowed fund administered by the Office of Research Grants of the American Chemical Society. ACS PRF was created to support “advanced scientific education and fundamental research in the petroleum field.” Since 1954, Principal Investigators at academic institutions doing petroleum-relevant research in chemistry, geosciences, chemical and petroleum engineering, and materials science, have been supported by ACS PRF funding. Research support for faculty in departments which do not offer the Ph.D. degree includes Undergraduate New Investigator (UNI) and Undergraduate Research (UR) grants. Faculty in the first three years of their first appointment as an Assistant Professor are eligible for UNI research grants. Established faculty in non-doctoral departments may apply for UR research grants. Information on research grant programs, including application materials and submission deadlines, is found on the ACS PRF Website, www.acsprf.org. Location: Studio D

(II-7) Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP), NSF. Donald Senich, Senior

Advisor, Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) and Small Business Procurement. The IIP Division serves the entire foundation by fostering partnerships to advance technological innovation and plays an important role in the public-private innovation partnership enterprise. A brief overview of the funding opportunities available through the GOALI, SBIR/STTR, and supplements to Veterans available in the REU and RET programs will be provided. Location: Studio E

(II-8) ATRD Programs at U.S. Department of Education. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam and Timothy Duvall, Department of Education, OPE/ATRD. The Advanced Training and Research Division (ATRD) of the International and Foreign Language Education Service encompasses a variety of programs. We will highlight the National Resource Centers, Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Programs, and the Centers for International Business and Education. These discretionary grant programs will be competed this fiscal year. As time permits, we will also engage the audience in a discussion of international education priorities for the Higher Education Act Reauthorization. Location: Studio F

12:00-1:30PM Lunch Location: Ballroom Pre-Function Area

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1:30-2:30 PM Dialogues Session III

(III-1) Environmental Chemistry Programs. Tyrone Mitchell, Program Director, MPS/CHE, NSF.

We will discuss the Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS), EPA/NSF Networks for Characterizing Chemical Life Cycle (NCCLCS) and the Chemistry REU programs. Location: Salon 5

(III-2) Continuing the Dialogue: Faculty Networks Supported by the Research Coordination Networks (RCN) in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE). Charles Sullivan, Program Director, BIO/DBI, NSF. NSF has developed the RCN-UBE program in recognition of the importance of networking activities to advance biology education. RCN-UBE proposals could focus on improving learning in "gateway" courses (e.g., exploring the use of methods that foster active learning or inquiry-based learning), improving learning through the use of emerging technologies in the biology curriculum, strategies and approaches for engaging biology faculty in professional development activities related to undergraduate education, incorporating emerging sub-disciplines into the biology curriculum, improving assessment of student learning, improving the transition of students from two-year to four-year institutions, or incorporating authentic research experiences in undergraduate laboratory courses, with an emphasis on introductory and lower division courses. RCN-UBE proposals are expected to be 5 years in duration and budgets should not exceed $500,000. To assist initial networking efforts of scientists and educators who are developing innovative proposals for the RCN-UBE track, the RCN-UBE track will accept Incubator proposals for up to $50,000 for one year. Location: Potomac 1 (Residence Inn)

(III-3) Academic Opportunities at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Mary Sangrey, Head, Office of Academic Services, Smithsonian Institution (SI) National Museum of Natural History. Home to over 127 million natural history specimens and a diverse community of scientists, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History offers opportunities for almost everyone to access the collections and facilities of the museum- from internships and fellowships to visiting scientist and research associate appointments. Learn what’s available and how to apply. Location: Potomac 2 (Residence Inn)

(III-4) National Science Foundation, Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program. Randy L. Phelps, Staff Associate, Office of Integrative Activities, NSF. The NSF MRI Program supports the acquisition or development of research instrumentation that is in general, too costly or inappropriate for support through other NSF programs. The presenter will provide an overview of the program, recent statistics on award sizes and funding rates, and a brief synopsis of successful strategies. Location: Salon 6

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(III-5) Developing a New Generation of Globally-Engaged Scientists and Engineers: A perspective from the NSF. Nancy Sung, Acting Section Head, Office of International and Integrative Activities, NSF. A critical priority for the National Science Foundation (NSF) is preparing a globally engaged workforce of future scientists and engineers in the United States. According to NSF’s strategic plan for 2011-2016, “As science and engineering expertise and infrastructure advance across the globe, it is expected that the United States will increasingly benefit from international collaborations and a globally engaged workforce leading to transformational S&E breakthroughs.” Recognizing the importance of providing international research opportunities for students at an early stage of their academic training, NSF offers a wide range of programs for undergraduates and their faculty mentors across all STEM fields. This session will highlight these opportunities. Location: Salon 7

(III-6) National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Jane Aikin, Director, Division of Research Programs, NEH. This presentation provides information about National Endowment for the Humanities grant programs open to individual applicants. The discussion will center on fellowships and summer stipends programs. Location: Studio A

(III-7) Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). David Asai, Program Director and Patricia Soochan, Program Officer, HHMI. HHMI is a nonprofit medical research organization that invests in science education today to ensure that there will be a robust science enterprise tomorrow. The objective of the undergraduate program is to prepare undergraduates to become leaders in science and medicine, science education, and as science-literate and -curious leaders of society. In 2013 undergraduate science education grants support almost 100 colleges and universities, and 13 HHMI Professors. Together, these grants represent a total annual investment of about $34 million and a total of over $870 since the program’s inception in 1988. Grants to colleges and universities are awarded via separate competitions every 4 years. In 2012 HHMI awarded over $50 million to 47 colleges and universities, including a joint program at the five Claremont Colleges. 2012 grant strategies fall under six primary themes, i.e. supporting the persistence of all students in science, including underrepresented minorities, apprentice- and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CREs), competency-based curricula, teacher preparation, and science literacy. Among the 2012 grantees, 11 longtime HHMI grantees have been recognized for their contributions to undergraduate science education and their potential for leadership among other undergraduate grantees. Location: Studio C

(III-8) The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Gisele Muller-Parker, Program Director, Division of Graduate Education, NSF. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. Fellowships are awarded through a national competition to senior undergraduates and graduate students, providing 3 years of funding over a 5-year period, useable at any accredited institution in the U.S. This information session for university administrators and faculty advisors will help them to advise students to apply for the GRFP. Program information is available at: www.nsfgrfp.org. Location: Studio D

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2:45-3:45 PM Dialogues Session IV

(IV-1) Air Force Office of Scientific Research ASSURE Program and Other Opportunities for Faculty and Student Research. Neville Thompson, STEM Program Officer, AFOSR. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) operates a program focused for undergraduate researchers called ASSURE (Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences). ASSURE is a Department of Defense (DoD) collaborative effort with the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program. The ASSURE program supports undergraduate research in DoD relevant disciplines and is designed to increase the number of high-quality undergraduate science and engineering majors who ultimately decide to pursue advanced degrees in these fields. We will discuss ASSURE, Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP), and other programs within AFOSR. Location: Studio 5

(IV-2) Programs in the Office of Science, Workforce Development, Department of Energy (DOE). Jim Glownia, Senior Scientific and Technical Advisor, Brian O’Donnell and Cindy White, Program Managers, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, DOE.

The Office of Science/Office of Workforce Development for Students and Teachers (WDTS) sponsors several programs enabling undergraduate students at community colleges and four-year institutions, and visiting faculty, to participate in DOE mission science and technology research projects to that address some of the most challenging problems facing our nation. In these programs, selected students or faculty are placed in paid appointments at one of 16 participating DOE National Laboratories. In this presentation, we provide an overview of these opportunities, including the application, review, selection, and placement processes as well as a summary of participant expectations and outcomes. We will also briefly discuss the DOE/Office of Science, its laboratories, and the WDTS mission to support development of the scientific and technical workforce pipeline. Location: Studio 6

(IV-3) Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. Katie Blanding, Director, Graduate & Special Focus Programs, U.S. Department of Education, OPE. Through the Ronald E. McNair program (known informally as McNair Scholars), funds are awarded competitively to academic institutions to prepare students for doctoral study through engagement in research and other scholarly activities. We will discuss the types of projects funded through McNair, and expected upcoming solicitations. Location: Studio 7

(IV-4) NSF Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI). Thomas Wenzel, Professor of Chemistry, Bates College. (Will be repeated: Saturday, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.) All NSF directors, participate in the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) activity, which supports research by faculty members of predominantly undergraduate institutions through the funding of individual and collaborative research projects and the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation. A recipient for several RUI awards will describe what makes an excellent proposal, how to get the most out of an award, and how to establish a track record for future successful applicants. This session will have particular applicability to PUIs. Location: Studio A

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(IV-5) Education Research Programs. Meredith Larson, Program Officer, Institute of Education

Sciences.    

The IES mission is to support research that contributes to school readiness and improved academic achievements of all students. Both research and research training grant program solicitations are held yearly. Information about IES programs will be provided. Location: Studio C

(IV-6) National Science Foundation ATE and Polar Programs. Celeste Carter, Program Director, Division of Undergraduate Education, NSF. This presentation is an overview of the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program solicitation. With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the ATE program focuses on the education of the technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation’s economy. The program involves partnership between academic institutions and employers to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. The presentation will also briefly discuss polar program funding opportunities. Location: Studio D

(IV-7) Funding Opportunities in International Education. Carly Borgmeier, Pamela Maimer,

Tanyelle Richardson, and Carla White, Program Officers, International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education.  The session will discuss the critical role that IFLE plays in providing language and area studies training to students, teachers, and US citizens. IFLE offers a variety of international education grant programs, including 10 Title VI and 4 Title VII programs of the Higher Education Act, as well as 4 Fulbright-Hays programs. A common goal of these grant programs is to prepare individuals with expertise to enhance our global economic competitiveness and meet our national security needs. This informational session will highlight both institutional and fellowship grant opportunities that will be of particular interest to CUR’s membership to be competed in Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014. Location: Studio E  

(IV-8) Funding Opportunities in the NSF Directorate for Geosciences. Jill Karsten, Program Director, GEO Office of the Assistant Director, NSF and Lina Patino, Program Director, GEO Division of Earth Sciences, NSF. The Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) supports research and education activities in the atmospheric, earth, and ocean sciences. As the principal source of federal funding for university-based fundamental research in the geosciences, GEO addresses the nation's need to understand, predict, and respond to environmental events and changes to use Earth's resources wisely. Basic research in the geosciences advances scientific knowledge of Earth's environment and advances our ability to predict natural phenomena of economic and human significance, such as climate change and natural hazards. GEO also supports education activities that prepare the next generation of geoscientists and improve public Earth system science literacy. A brief overview of the GEO Directorate and its funding opportunities, as well as the process for pursuing GEO funding, will be provided. Location: Studio F

3:45-4:00PM Break

Location: Ballroom Pre-Function Area

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4:00-5:00PM Panel Session on Striving and Thriving: Communicating Research to Policy Makers and Community Leaders

Introduction:  Elizabeth L. Ambos Executive Officer Council on Undergraduate Research Bess Evans, Senior Policy Advisor for Public Engagement, White House

Office of Science and Technology Robert Hackett, President, Bonner Foundation

Location: Salons 1-4

5:30-8:00PM Networking Reception Location: Ballroom Pre-Function Area

Saturday, February 22, 2014

7:00-8:15AM Continental Breakfast:

Location: Ballroom Pre-Function Area

8:30-9:30AM Dialogues Session V

(V-1) NSF Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI). Thomas Wenzel, Professor of Chemistry, Bates College. (Repeated Session: Friday 2:45-3:45 PM) All NSF directors participate in the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) activity, which supports research by faculty members of predominantly undergraduate institutions through the funding of individual and collaborative research projects and the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation. A recipient for several RUI awards will describe what makes an excellent proposal, how to get the most out of an award, and how to establish a track record for future successful applicants. Location: Studio B

(V-2) BIO/DBI Funding Programs. Joyce Fernandes, Program Officer, Biological Sciences/Division of Biological Infrastructure (BIO/DBI), National Science Foundation. This presentation will highlight funding opportunities that are managed by the Division of Biological Infrastructure at the NSF, with an emphasis on predominantly undergraduate institutions. Programs relevant for faculty, students and institutions will be discussed. These include REU, RUI, and MRI. Synergies across programs at the NSF will also be discussed. Location: Studio D

(V-3) Research Programs in Anthropology. Jeffrey Mantz, Program Director, SBE/BCS, National Science Foundation. This presentation will highlight funding opportunities managed through the Cultural Anthropology Program of the SBE/BCS at NSF. These include basic research, a faculty scholars program for cultural anthropologists who wish to learn new skills, as well as early career faculty research opportunities. Location: Studio F

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(V-4) The Role Sponsored Programs’ Offices Play in Funding Faculty/Student Research. Linda

Freed, Director of Sponsored Programs, Texas Christian University and Rhea Williamson, Dean of Research, Economic, and Community Development, Humboldt State University. This session will identify the key services and roles of a sponsored programs office (SPO) relative to faculty research with undergraduates. Basically, those services should 1) assist faculty and others in developing and submitting successful proposals to fund research and other programs; and, 2) help applicants navigate the complex world of policy and regulation that governs extramural funding. We will describe typical SPO services and discuss strategies to best use those services to advance research programs, increase external funding opportunities, and ensure responsible stewardship of extramural funds. We will also identify some of the challenges of providing SPO services in small to mid-size institutions, with a goal of generating discussion that could lead to “take home” solutions. Location: Potomac 1&2 (Residence Inn)

(VI-5) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION (FIPSE). FREDERICK WINTER, PROGRAM OFFICER, OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.  

An update about FIPSE status and anticipated solicitations in 2014 will be provided. Location: Studio C

9:45-10:45AM Dialogues Session VI

(VI-1) Robert Noyce Scholars Program. Nicole Bennett, Program Director, EHR/DUE.

The Robert Noyce Scholars program provides forgivable loans for highly qualified STEM students to prepare to be teachers in high needs school districts. The grants for these programs are awarded to institutions to administer. A general overview of the program and a discussion of the connections to undergraduate research development will be provided. Location: Studio B

(VI-2) Research and Education Programs at the National Geographic Society. Fabio Esteban Amador, Program Director, NGS/Waitt Grants Program. A general overview of National Geographic Society (NGS) funding programs, with specific attention to the Waitt Scholars opportunity, will be provided. Location: Studio D

(VI-3) The Role Government Relations Plays in Undergraduate Research Funding. Kristine Andrews, University of Wisconsin, and Della Cronin, Washington Partners. Sequestration; fiscal cliff; higher education; grant funding: what do all of these concepts have in common? Governmental relations! Come to this session to learn about some of the pressing issues in the federal funding landscape facing the undergraduate research community, what CUR is doing to advocate for continued and expanded support for undergraduate research, and how to work with your institutional governmental affairs office to advocate for support for undergraduate research at the federal and state level. Location: Studio F

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(VI-4) National Science Foundation. Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program.

Thomas Wenzel, Professor of Chemistry, Bates College. All NSF research directorates participate in the MRI program. The MRI program enables the acquisition or development of research instrumentation that is in general too costly or inappropriate for support through other NSF programs. A recipient of MRI awards and past reviewer for the program will describe what makes an excellent proposal. Location: Potomac 1&2 (Residence Inn)

10:45-11:00AM Break Location: Ballroom Pre-Function Area

11:00AM-12:00PM Closing Panel: “Surviving and Thriving as a Mid-Career Faculty Researcher and Scholar” Location: Salons 1-4

Introduction:

Elizabeth L. Ambos Executive Officer Council on Undergraduate Research Thomas Wenzel: Moderator Panelists: Joanne Smieja, Department of Chemistry, Gonzaga University John Hranitz, Department of Biology, Bloomsburg University Kathryn Leonard, Department of Mathematics, California State University, Channel Islands

12:00-12:15PM Closing Comments and Adjournment Location: Salons 1-4

Elizabeth Ambos Executive Officer Council on Undergraduate Research

 

POSTERS ON THE HILL 2015

Nothing more effectively demonstrates the value of undergraduate research than the words and

stories of the student participants themselves. In the spring of 2014 the Council on Undergraduate

Research (CUR) will host its 18th annual undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill.

This event will help members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students

whom these programs impact.

Encourage your students to apply for the 2015 event. Application period opens fall 2014.

http://www.cur.org/conferences_and_events/student_events/posters_on_the_hill/

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Plenary Speakers’ Biographical Information In Order of Presentation

Carol Geary Schneider: Dr. Schneider is president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. With nearly 1,300 member institutions, half public and half private, with members drawn from the entire higher education community, large, small, two-year, four-year, selective and open admissions, AAC&U is the leading national organization devoted to advancing and strengthening undergraduate liberal education. Under her leadership, AAC&U launched Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP), a public advocacy and campus action initiative designed to engage students and the public with what really matters in a college education for the twenty-first century. The LEAP campaign builds on AAC&U’s major effort, Greater Expectations: The Commitment to Quality as a Nation Goes to College, a multi-year initiative designed to articulate the aims of a twenty-first century liberal education and to identify comprehensive, innovative models that improve learning for all undergraduate students. Additionally, under her leadership, AAC&U has become widely recognized as both a voice and force for strengthening the quality of student learning in college for all students and especially those historically underserved in U.S. higher education. AAC&U is working with hundreds of colleges and universities and numerous state systems to expand the benefits of liberal education across the entire curriculum, through new integration between the core outlines of liberal education and student learning in their major fields. While a vice president at AAC&U in the 1990’s, Dr. Schneider headed a major initiative at AAC&U on higher education and U.S. pluralism, American Commitments: Diversity, Democracy and Liberal Learning. Dr. Schneider has published extensively on all the major areas of her educational work and has taught at the University of Chicago, DePaul University, Chicago State University and Boston University. Dr. Schneider is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a bachelor's degree in history (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa). She studied at the University of London's Institute for Historical Research and earned the Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. She also has received eleven honorary degrees, was the 2011 recipient of the ACPA's Contribution to Higher Education Award and the 2013 recipient of the NAC&U Ernest L. Boyer Award, and was honored in 2013 as one of Diverse Magazine’s “25 Leading Women in Higher Education.” Steven Barkanic: Stephen Barkanic, BHEF’s senior vice president and chief program officer, joined the organization in 2011. In this role, Barkanic provides overall leadership for BHEF’s National Higher Education and Workforce Initiative aimed at bridging industry and higher education to increase the persistence and diversity of students who go on to earn degrees or credentials in key emerging fields, and align undergraduate education with workforce needs. He also provides leadership in BHEF’s work in Deeper Learning, or 21st century workforce skills and competencies that focuses on the business need for such skills as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and teamwork in the workforce of the future, and advocating for the importance of those skills on a national level. Prior to joining BHEF, Barkanic was senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where his work encompassed an array of policy and programmatic areas focused on improving student readiness and success in college. At the Gates Foundation, his responsibilities included managing grants portfolios in STEM education, early college high schools, and initiatives linking public and private stakeholders in local and state-wide education reform. In STEM, he worked at both the national and state levels to catalyze networks of companies, K-12 and higher education, government agencies, and other organizations to improve education outcomes for all students. He is former director of undergraduate science education and grants management at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where he led the design and implementation of grants programs in STEM higher education, particularly in the biological sciences. A major focus of these programs, which included the HHMI Professors, the Exceptional Research Opportunities Program, and multi-faceted awards to research universities, colleges, and minority-serving

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institutions, was to help bring the creativity and rigor of research into undergraduate teaching and support hands-on laboratory research experiences for students. He was program officer and director of grants management at the Charles A. Dana Foundation, which included managing a national grants program in support of liberal arts education, and served as a consultant to the Ford Foundation and other organizations, and as a teacher at the Istanbul International Community School in Turkey. Barkanic has served as chair of Grantmakers for Education, a national philanthropic affinity group; was a member of the CBE-Life Sciences Education editorial board, and was a member of the Maryland Governor’s STEM Task Force. Bess Evans: Bess Evans serves as a Senior Policy Advisor for Public Engagement in the White House Office of Public Engagement and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She facilitates all White House policy engagement with the science, technology, and innovation communities. She also manages private sector relationships around formal White House public-private partnerships and other special portfolios including developing education and enrollment efforts on (community) college and university campuses on the Affordable Care Act, connecting 99% of America’s students to the internet through high-speed broadband within 5 years (ConnectED), creating job and career opportunities for underserved youth (Youth Jobs+), and amplifying resources for startups and entrepreneurs (Startup America). Over the course of President Obama’s Administration, Bess has served at the Department of Justice in the Office on Violence Against Women and in the White House Visitors Office, managing events, engagement and special projects at both. Through her 6 years of experience working for President Obama, especially through her work in seven states on then-Senator Obama’s campaign, she has learned the importance of inclusion and engagement of everyday Americans wanting to make an impact in the lives of their neighbors. Originally from Evanston, Illinois, she graduated from DePauw University, where she received the Walker Cup for her outstanding service to the University. Robert Hackett: Robert (Bobby) Hackett is President of the Bonner Foundation. He joined the Foundation in 1992 as Vice President and Director of the Bonner Scholars Programs and assumed the role of President in July of 2010. Prior to joining the Bonner Foundation, Mr. Hackett worked at the Telesis Corporation, an affordable housing developer in Washington, D.C. He also served as managing director of the Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) during its first three years of operation. In addition, for the past twenty years, Mr. Hackett has been associated in various capacities with the Youth Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based non-partisan organization that researches and reports on policies and programs relating to young people. Mr. Hackett received his bachelors degree from Harvard University in 1985 and a master’s in public and private management from Yale University's School of Organization and Management in 1990.

Thomas J. Wenzel is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Dr. Wenzel received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts in 1976. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in analytical chemistry in 1981 from the University of Colorado, Boulder. His appointment at Bates College began in 1981. Dr. Wenzel has been the recipient of research and/or educational grants from the National Science Foundation, Research Corporation, the Petroleum Research Fund, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, and the Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition. He has carried out research with the aid of undergraduate students in the areas of chiral NMR shift reagents, lanthanide luminescence detection in liquid chromatography, and selective sorbents for gas chromatography. He has a total of 153 publications; 85 on research activities, 29 on educational activities, and 39 others mostly having to do with his efforts to promote undergraduate research. External grants for research and education total over $2.85 M. He has served as a Councilor for CUR since 1990, President of the Board in 1996-1997, and has been regularly featured as a presenter and grant writing seminar leader for CUR Dialogues.

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Joanne Smieja: Dr. Smieja is professor of chemistry at Gonzaga University where she has been a faculty member for 26 years. She is the Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE PAID grant, “Advancing the Careers of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions through Professional Networks”. This five-year project involves the creation of a network comprised of 70 women from 27 undergraduate schools nationwide. The network provides peer-mentorship and cross-disciplinary support to encourage women faculty in STEM fields at undergraduate institutions to advance their careers. Dr. Smieja has received over $2 million in grant support since beginning her faculty career. In addition to the ADVANCE project, she was the Principal Investigator on eight other research projects and co-Principal Investigator on six. While on sabbatical leave and with support from the National Research Council and Associated Western Universities, she was a faculty associate at the EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory and at the DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Her current research interests focus on the discovery of new sustainable methods to remove fluoride from natural waters and the development of improved methods for content delivery in introductory chemistry courses. While at Gonzaga, Dr. Smieja has served as the Program Director for the Gonzaga Science Research Program for three years and as departmental Chair for seven years. She was awarded the Great Teachers Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1992 and an Exemplary Faculty Award in 2012. Dr. Smieja was the Dr. Scholl Foundation Distinguished Chair of Chemistry from June 2008 until May 2011. Dr. Smieja earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and a doctoral degree in inorganic chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Prior to beginning her appointment at Gonzaga, Dr. Smieja received post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Diego. John Hranitz: Dr. John M. Hranitz is Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and Professor of Biological and Allied Health Sciences at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hranitz is a teacher-scholar with new administrative duties. He continues an active research program that engages undergraduate students in the integrative biology (molecular biology, physiology, genetics, and ecology) of bees and anurans. He teaches service courses in anatomy and physiology and specialty courses in vertebrate biology and population biology. He uses various pedagogical methods including large lectures with flipped classroom applications, small classes with course-embedded research that incorporates original research into his courses, and one-to-one research or independent study courses. He is contributing to curricular reform efforts at his own institution and engaging in reform at the state and national level. Dr. Hranitz has received funding from a variety of sources, including the National Science Foundation. This funding supports core equipment areas at Bloomsburg University and STEM curricular reform to institutionalize undergraduate research in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. In the summer, he collaborates with U.S. and international colleagues from six universities to mentor students in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program that is now in its eighth year. He holds B.S and M.S. degrees from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. Kathryn Leonard: Dr. Kathryn Leonard is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at California State University, Channel Islands. She received her PhD from the Department of Mathematics at Brown University under the supervision of David Mumford. Dr. Leonard's interests arise from the mathematics of computer vision, including shape and texture modeling, which draws on tools ranging from geometry to information theory, and she conducts much of her research with her students. Her work has been recognized with a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation and a Henry L. Alder Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America. She has received over $1 million in grants from NSF, Department of Education, and the W.M. Keck Foundation, and has published in disciplinary journals and Popular Science magazine. She comes to CSUCI after holding positions at Pomona College, California Institute of Technology, and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.

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CUR DIALOGUES 2014February 20-22, 2014

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