Who is your PI? – Mas Subramanian

Do you have a Graduate Student/Post-Doc Mentor? – Sean Muir

How did you learn about the position? – My best friend, who had been working in the research group for two terms prior, introduced me to the P.I.

Why did you get into Undergraduate Research? – I wanted to obtain practical, hands-on experience to supplement my didactic learning in the classroom.

What advice might you have for other Undergraduate students thinking of pursuing research or just getting started? – Build good relationships with your research team.  Science is inherently collaborative and as an undergraduate you will be receiving plenty of guidance from the graduate students and P.I.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is pleased to announce the release of the FY 2014 RFA for the Crop Protection and Pest Management program.

The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program addresses high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will increase food security and respond effectively to other major societal challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, environmentally sound and will help protect human health. The CPPM program addresses IPM challenges for emerging issues and existing priority pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound IPM practices and strategies supporting more vital communities.

Applications must be received by Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 19, 2014.

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-CPPM-004531 

NIFA Funding Opportunity Page:  http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/cropprotectionandpestmanagemet.cfm.  This page includes links to the request for applications (RFA), the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide, and the application package.

Grants.gov Synopsis Page: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=255496.  This page includes a synopsis of the funding opportunity, a link to the full announcement (RFA) and the application package.

Grants.gov Application Package: 

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/download-application-package.html?p_p_id=grantsdownloadpackage_WAR_grantsdownloadpackageportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_grantsdownloadpackage_WAR_grantsdownloadpackageportlet_mvcPath=%2Fdownload.jsp?id=196904&search=-2.  This page links to the application instructions and the application package.

If you have questions after reading the RFA, please contact: Dr. Herb Bolton – (Regional Coordination Program Area (RCP), hbolton@nifa.usda.gov or (202) 401-4201; Dr. Marty Draper – Extension Implementation Program Area (EIP), mdraper@nifa.usda.gov or (202) 401-1990; or Robert Nowierski – Applied Research and Development Program Area (ARDP), rnowierski@nifa.usda.gov or (202) 401-4900.

If you have any questions related to Grants.gov content, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center:

Email:  support@grants.gov, Phone: Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726, 24 hour support, excluding Federal holidays.

Useful Links:

NIFA Grant Application Information:  www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/application_info.html;

Grants.gov Help:  www.grants.gov/help/help.jsp.

OMSI Science Communication Fellows are industry or academic researchers or science professionals, including faculty, graduate students, technicians, or other individuals in science, health, or technology related positions. After participating in specialized training, Fellows are certified by OMSI as current science ambassadors and skilled communicators. Fellows join OMSI in helping public audiences engage with science in meaningful and relevant ways. Specific commitments include:

  • Participation in OMSI’s Science Communication Short Course, a series of four professional development workshops focused on building the skills to effectively communicate with and engage public audiences (workshops are 3-4 hours each, spaced over 3-4 months).
  • Collaboration with OMSI educators to develop a unique, hands-on activity and display representing  each Fellow’s work.
  • Participation in a minimum of three Meet a Scientist programs per year. Meet a Scientist is a public program held on the second Saturday of each month, exclusively featuring OMSI Fellows with their hands-on, table-top activities.

OMSI Fellowship Application Summer and Fall 2014

OMSI Science Communication Fellowship Flyer

Academic Affairs is offering compensation and course development support to faculty during Fall 2014 for redesign of established undergraduate classroom courses as hybrid courses. These funds are in support of participation in hybrid faculty learning community and development of new hybrid courses. Academic Affairs will allocate $2,000 per course to each participating faculty member who develops a hybrid course. Proposals due May 30. See Request for Proposals; if questions, contact cub.kahn@oregonstate.edu.

The Student Sustainability Initiative (SSI) is accepting applications from OSU Corvallis campus departments to fund student positions for Summer 2014 and the 2014-2015 academic year. Preference will be given to proposals that clearly impact the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the campus’ built environment, operations, policy, academics, and/or student engagement. The priority deadline is May 23. Apply at: http://oregonstate.edu/ssi/funding/wages

The Office for Research Development is requesting letters of intent for the NSF MRI program. This program serves to increase access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training in our Nation’s institutions of higher education, and not-for-profit museums, science centers and scientific/engineering research organizations. Guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf-mri.  Information: Mary Phillips, mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu Deadline: November 24, 2014

The Office for Research Development is requesting letters of intent for the NSF S-STEM program. This program makes grants to institutions of higher education to support scholarships for academically talented students demonstrating financial need, enabling them to enter the STEM workforce or STEM graduate school following completion of a degree in STEM disciplines. Guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf-sstem. Information: Mary Phillips, mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu Deadline: June 23, 2014