Challenges and Impact of NSF-supported Programs

at Maryland

Norma M. Allewell

Dean College of Life Sciences

Presentation to NSF Bio Advisory Committee

November 19, 2004

University of Maryland

• 25,140 undergraduate students. 32% are from underrepresented U.S. groups.

• 9,203 graduate students. 26% are international students. Of the U.S. students, 23% are from underrepresented groups.

• 1463 tenure/tenure track faculty• Total sponsored research - $288M

NSF Support at Maryland by College

College of Computer, Math & Physical Sciences $78MClark School of Engineering $30MCollege of Education $16MCollege of Life Sciences $16MCollege of Behavioral & Social Sciences $3MClark School of Business $2.4MOffice of Information Technology $1MGraduate School ($893K in Graduate Research Fellowships) $1MCollege of Agriculture & Natural Resources $450KCollege of Arts & Humanities $350KSchool of Public Affairs $40KPresident’s Office $10K

Vertically Integrated Partnerships K-16

• Partners– University of Maryland System– Montgomery College– Montgomery County Public Schools

• Goals– Improve student learning outcomes, as measured by high

school assessments– Enrich science teacher knowledge– Improve teaching skills of college science faculty– Enhance graduate student teaching skills– Increase the number of undergraduate science students

who choose teaching as a career

Vertically Integrated Partnerships K-16

• Scale– 350 teachers serving ~37,000 high school students– 36 University faculty

• College Park programs– Participation in 2004 summer institutes– REACTS high school Chemistry teachers conference– Bioscience Teachers Day– Faculty conversations on teaching

• Program– Scope: biology, earth/space science, physics/chemistry– Summer institutes and school year collaborative sessions create

small vertically integrated professional learning communities– Communities consist of teachers, disciplinary faculty, graduate

students, undergraduate interns, and pre-service science teachers.

CAREER Award: Rollinson Fellows in Chemistry/Biochemistry

• Partially funded by CAREER Award to Rob Walker• Enables first year students to engage in independent research • Fellows receive $500 tuition allowance and $300 for research

expenses• Participation since 2001: 31 students• Provides partial support for graduate student mentors• 80% of the Fellows continue to do research after the Rollinson

program• Fellows have co-authored papers in journals such as J. Chem Phys, J.

Phys. Chem B, J. Org. Chem., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, J. of Polymer Science

• From the first cohort: 2 in grad school, 1 in medical school, 1 post bac applying to med school, 1 forensic chemist at DEA, and 1 pathologist at Walter Reed

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

• Supports service-learning-based K-12 education outreach• Summer science programs for middle school girls• Hands-on math and science student programs• Student Teaching Fellows act as resource consultants to K-12

teachers in local schools• Home School K-12 Outreach programs• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

– During a 10-week program 6 - 8 students receive lab experience while working on a research project with a faculty member

– Guidance for oral and poster presentations– On campus housing and a stipend

• Students exposed to small businesses, corporations, and national labs

Research Experience for Undergraduates

IGERT: Biology of Small Populations

• Outcomes– Enabled development of interdepartmental/ interinstitutional

Ph.D. program– Improved quality of applicants – Led to development of BEES graduate program

• 42 students & 16 post docs supported• 13 completed Ph.D. dissertations and 3 M.S. theses• 88 presentations at national meetings• 16 book chapters published• 86 papers in peer-reviewed journals• Former students and post docs -16 hold tenure track

positions; 3 research scientists; 7 post docs; 1 curator at the Bronx Zoo; 1 in vet school; and 1 environmental consultant

Paul Turner• IGERT Postdoc (1995-98)• Currently – Asst. Professor, Ecology

and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University

Manuel Morales• IGERT Postdoc (2000-02)• Currently – Asst. Professor,

Biology, Williams College

IGERT: Biology of Small Populations

IGERT: Human Evolutionary Biology

Kweli PowellGraduate Student

Dr. Sarah Tishkoff - partnershipwith Howard and George WashingtonUniversities