How to subscribe to this blog

If you are new to blogs and RSS technology, Common Craft provides a brief video explanation. Faculty and staff that have Microsoft Outlook 2007 installed on their office computers may find it easier to read updates to this blog in Outlook.  A number of online feedreaders are available, including Googe Reader.

Research misconduct news

Medical journal The Lancet has retracted a 1998 study linking autism in children to the MMR vaccine after The General Medical of the UK concluded that one of the authors, Andrew Wakefield, engaged in research misconduct as well as mistreatment of patients.  Wakefield currently runs an autism center in Austin, TX.

Meanwhile, a panel of University of Pennsylvania administrators has cleared researcher Michael Mann of some charges of scientific misconduct related to the alleged destruction of climate change research results.  They have convened a panel of faculty to look into the specifics of the charges that are beyond the scientific expertise of the first panel.  Results of that investigation are expected in 4 months.

Student Opportunity: Research Experience in Switzerland

Monthly scholarships of ~$1000 are available for U.S. undergraduates to work with researchers at a Swiss university.  The scholarships are provided by ThinkSwiss:

an official program of the Swiss Confederation—promoting exchanges and sharing knowledge between the U.S. and Switzerland.

Participants in the program maintain a blog of their experiences.

Application materials, including a letter of invitation from a Swiss researcher, are due by March 31, 2010.

Student Opportunity: NIST Gaithersburg

Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents majoring in science, mathematics and engineering may apply to participate in a variety of research programs with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Gaithersburg, MD Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program for students.  NIST will provide a $4,500 stipend as well as housing to students who participate for the full 11 week program.

Funding Opportunity: Hiett Prize in the Humanities (Deadline 5/12/10)

Sponsored by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture,

The Hiett Prize…is an annual award presented to a person whose work in the humanities shows extraordinary promise and has a significant public component related to contemporary culture. Its purpose is to encourage future leaders in the humanities by 1) recognizing their achievement and their potential and 2) assisting their work through a cash award of $50,000.

The application consists of a 4-page cv, a profile of previous work and a plan for future scholarship. A letter of nomination from a senior scholar is also required.

Resource: CUR listservs

Members of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) are reminded that they may sign up for one or more of the organization’s list-servs in order to keep up with news and maintain contacts with colleagues across the country. Listervs are available to communicate with colleagues in the general CUR membership, the Arts & Humanities, Biology, Math & Computer Science, and Undergraduate Research Program Directors.

All Trinity faculty may sign up for CUR membership free of charge because of our enhanced institutional membership.

Trinity chemists to purchase NMR with NSF support

Trinity chemistry professor Nancy Mills, with colleagues Laura Hunsicker-Wang, Jessica Hollenbeck and Adam Urbach, have been awarded $498,500 by the National Science Foundation for the purchase of a 500 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer. This device will enhance the research programs of Trinity faculty as well as the experience of students in the summer research program. The device will also be used by Trinity biology professor Frank Healy, as well as Rafael Adrian and David Coleman, biochemistry professors at the University of the Incarnate Word.

Chemistry department chair Steven Bachrach points out that “this is a real coup for the university as we will now have an instrument comparable or better than any other PUI and on par with many R1 schools..”

This grant was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Student opportunity: Psi Chi/CUR Summer Research Grants (3/1/2010)

Psi Chi, the National Honors Society in Psychology will provide opportunities for Psi Chi student members to conduct research with faculty who are members of CUR.  Two $5,000 grants to be awarded annually in the program (student stipends of $3,500 and faculty stipends of $1,500).

Student opportunity: Keck Geology Consortium (2/5/2010)

The Keck Geology Consortium will sponsor undergraduate research students in each of nine fieldsites for four weeks in the summer of 2010. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are rising seniors and who have declared a geology or geology-related major. Participants are expected to extend their Keck project into an independent study or senior thesis.  Students will receive stipends of $1,200 and help with travel expenses.

Trinity students interested in this opportunity should contact Dr. Gardner or Dr. Kroeger in the Geosciences department.

Student opportunity: Behavioral Research Advancements in Neuroscience (2/1/2010)

A consortium of Atlanta-based institutions* is offering summer undergraduate research experiences related to neuroscience.  Opportunities for lab and field-based research are available.  Applicants must mail the application form, transcript, resume and two recommendation letters by February 2010.

* Georgia State University, Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Institute of Technology, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College

Event: CUR Dialogues – Washington DC – February 25-28, 2010

The Council on Undergraduate Research sponsors a meeting for faculty at undergraduate institutions and others involved in undergraduate research to meet with representatives of grant-making agencies.  The 2010 CUR Dialogues will be held February 25-28, 2010 at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington, DC.  The early registration deadline is December 15.