Achievement

Continuing a tradition, UCR ChemGen IGERT fellows mentored NSF-REU and other undergraduates. To date, our fellows have mentored 19 undergraduates from 2 and 4-year institutions in the REU hosted by the Center for Plant Cell Biology or individual NSF grants. These chemistry, biology and computer science undergrads typically perform research combining two disciplines. Numerous REU students helped screen for bioactive compounds. In 2010/11, three of the five NSF REU students mentored by ChemGen IGERT trainees were minorities from (Chaffey (Community) College (http://cepceb.ucr.edu/about/REU2010_Post.html#2010). One of these students established a Cell Biology Club at Chaffey College after his internship. Notably, his mentor, IGERT trainee Michelle Brown participated in our REU program in 2004, when she was a community college student. Additionally, ChemGen trainees have trained 12 UCR undergraduates, several of whom have presented their research at undergraduate conferences.