While many students head for the beaches or amusement parks in the summer, for several undergraduates from across the country this is the time for doing research in new areas of scientific study. Fifty-six such students are spending 10 weeks this summer at UC Riverside to gain research experiences in a variety of fields to help advance their careers.

The students' summer opportunities have been made possible by four grants awarded to UCR researchers by the National Science Foundation. The grants, each of which has spawned a "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" (REU) program on campus, provide the students with a modest stipend and an allowance for travel and housing.

The programs together cover plant cell biology, bioanalytical sciences, nanoscience and bioengineering. Students selected into the programs work closely with UCR faculty researchers specializing in these and other related fields of study.

The REU programs provide their students with instruction in safe laboratory practices and give them an opportunity to discuss issues related to the ethical practice of science. Students participate in a graduate school workshop as well as a research symposium. They also give oral presentations on their research during the course of the REU program and a poster presentation at the end of it.

"The intensive research experience our programs provide the students is often a major contributor to their decision about what career to choose after graduation," said Cynthia Larive, a professor of chemistry who is leading the REU program in bioanalytical sciences, now in its second year. "Our students in the past have indicated that they are more likely to attend graduate school as a result of their experience in our programs."

To be eligible, students must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States with minimum overall grade point average of 3.0. Applicants are selected through an application process, with each application reviewed by a committee.

This year's REU participants are working on projects developed by their faculty mentors on topics including cell membrane electromechanics; microfluidic devices for bacterial sensing; video observations of biological systems; the fabrication of nanowires for biochemical sensors; probing protein structure with mass spectrometry; computational molecular biology; and the development of novel biomedical microdevices.

Other topics include biological research aimed at understanding basic developmental processes in plants that will ultimately permit more sustainable crop production; cutting-edge approaches including genetics and the use of novel drug-like chemicals that affect, among other things, plant responses to disease and environmental stresses.

"The students participate in all aspects of hypothesis-driven research, including experimental design, trouble-shooting, and data interpretation," said Patricia Springer, an associate professor of genetics who is leading the REU program in plant cell biology, now in its sixth year. "In this setting, the students experience the excitement of making new research discoveries and interact closely with not only faculty, but also graduate students and postdoctoral researchers."

Students participating in past REU programs at UCR have been successful in gaining admission to graduate institutions including UCR.

"Many have gone to graduate school at institutions such as UC Irvine, UCLA, Penn State, and the University of Massachusetts, and a number have entered PhD programs at UCR," Springer said. "Several have also contributed to research projects that resulted in publications, with the REU student as co-author."

Alexander Balandin, a professor of electrical engineering, is heading the REU program in nanoscience, now in its second year. Victor Rodgers, a professor of bioengineering, is heading the campus's first REU program in bioengineering.

The following students are in REU programs this summer at UCR:

Student	Hometown
Adam Cheng	San Francisco, Calif.
Albert Cruz	Sun City, Calif.
Alex Paya	Mableton, Ga.
Amy Ferria	Rowland Heights, Calif.
Anthony Bianchi	Ontario, Calif.
Archie Taylor	Yazoo City, Miss.
Arman Rezaee	Mesa, Ariz.
Bryan Ming Yeh	Upland, Calif.
Brian Lunt	Mesa, Ariz.
Chi Yin (Judy) Yao	Diamond Bar, Calif.
Christine Reder	Bay City, Mich.
Connie Hong	Pomona, Calif.
Daniel Lin	Tustin, Calif.
Daniel Swank	Corona, Calif.
Demetrius Cummings	Corona, Calif.
Dustin Veazey	Corona, Calif.
Eminet Gebremichael	Placentia, Calif.
Eric Nordland	Cottage Grove, Wis.
Heather Yang	Berkeley, Calif.
Jeffrey Suhalim	Colton, Calif.
Jessica Jauw	San Francisco, Calif.
John Pawlik	Lakeside, Mich.
Joon-Bok Lee	Torrance, Calif.
Joseph Clift	San Dimas, Calif.
Joseph Espinosa	LaVerne, Calif.
Joseph Valenzuela	Victorville, Calif.
Katarina Taylor	Reno, Nev.
Lauren Quezada	Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Layne Higgins	Corona, Calif.
Leallyn Murtagh	Wilmington, N.C.
Mae Huo	Berkeley, Calif.
Maressa Bell-Deane	Pittsfield, Mass.
Matthew Alpert	Corona, Calif.
Megan Chawner	New York City, N.Y.
Michael Collins	La Cañada, Calif.
Michelle Norako	Jamesville, N.Y.
Miroslav Penchev	La Quinta, Calif.
Naveen Menon	Riverside, Calif.
Nicholas Holtgrewe	St. Louis, Mo.
Nikolas Cordova-Dee	La Verne, Calif.
Owen Holder	Irvineton, N.Y.
Rachel Dyer	Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Rhonda Egidy	Greeley, Kan.
Shelby Bickford	Riverside, Calif.
Shonnette Grant	Hyattsville, Md.
Sirish Nandyala	Yucca Valley, Calif.
Sonia So	Rancho Cordova, Calif.
Sonja Kress	Neustadt, Germany
Steven Horikoshi	Alameda, Calif.
Sze Hon Tsang	Montenory Park, Calif.
Thi Nguyen-Huynh	Granada Hills, Calif.
Tiffany Carmona	Riverside, Calif.
Tom Hirschauer	Westlake, Ohio
Ugoeze Nwokedi	Hawthorne, Calif.
Vicente Nunez	Cathedral City, Calif.
Zhen Qin	San Jose, Calif.

The following is a breakdown of the REU grants to UCR: Larive has received $224,187 for three years (2006-2008); Springer has received $432,897 for five years (2005-2009); Balandin has received $300,000 for three years (2006-2008); and Rodgers has received $362,503 for three years (2007-2009). All four faculty researchers are principal investigators of their grants.

The University of California, Riverside is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment of about 17,000 is projected to grow to 21,000 students by 2010. The campus is planning a medical school and already has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. With an annual statewide economic impact of nearly $1 billion, UCR is actively shaping the region's future. To learn more, visit www.ucr.edu or call (951) UCR-NEWS.