Rapid advances in genome assembly, genotyping by high-throughput sequencing, and other new tech­nologies are revolutionizing both plant research and agricultural production methods. New genomics tools not only accelerate traditional plant breeding, but also allow the implementation of novel approaches in ecological plant research. To take full advantage of the available genomics resources and generate further scientific break­throughs in academia and industry, there is a need to train biologists with interdisciplinary skills who not only can analyze and apply the immense biological data sets that are being generated, but also can communicate their results in an effective manner to a variety of audiences.

          To address the need for undergraduate education in plant research, funding from the National Science Foundation was used to implement a plant-focused Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, and the USDA Holley Center for Agriculture and Health. All of the more than thirty faculty members who have participated in this project make use of genomics research methods to investigate fundamental and applied aspects of plant biology. Plants that are being studied include model species such as mouse ear cress and barrel medic, as well as maize, rice, soybeans, potatoes, tomatoes, and other important agricultural crops.

            In five years of this REU program (2019, 2021-2024) a total of 60 students conducted ten-week summer research experience in the laboratories of the participating faculty members. These undergraduate students were recruited from colleges and universities throughout the United States. Particular emphasis was placed on academic excellence and the involvement of students who otherwise had limited opportunities to conduct laboratory research. The REU award's impact was expanded, as over 50 undergraduates and high school students who were funded by other sources fully participated in the educational aspects of this summer research experience.

          REU-funded students learned to design and implement experiments that make use of available plant genome resources, as well as cutting-edge molecular and biochemical research methods. They were trained to investigate novel aspects of plant biology by combining hands-on laboratory and field experiments with bioinformatic analysis of large data sets. Abstracts of individual student projects can be seen at: https://btiscience.org/education-outreach/research-internships/interndirectory/. Weekly faculty research lectures provided students with a broad overview of plant molecular biology research, followed by in depth science discussion during a professional development lunch. Additionally, all students participated in a 5-day computational biology workshop to support the use and understanding of bioinformatics. Students attended a half-day science communication workshop and then formed groups to take part in science engagement and public outreach activities within the Ithaca community. At the conclusion of each summer program, students presented their results in the form of a talk or a poster in the George & Helen Kohut Scientific Symposium at the Boyce Thompson Institute. Since 2018, our annual scientific symposium livestream has been watched by 5,279 people and resulted in 435 engagements (reactions, comments, and shares).

          In Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA) surveys conducted at the end of the program, more than 92% of students say are likely to pursue science-related careers, 98% said their internship helped to prepare them for graduate school, 95% had a moderate to great gain in their confidence to do research, and 85% had a good to great gain in understanding what everyday laboratory research is like. After completion of the internship program, students continue to be contacted on a regular basis to ask about presentation of their results at meetings, research publications, entry into graduate school, and progress in scientific careers. Among past NSF-funded participants of the Boyce Thompson Institute plant research internship program (not limited to the current award), 91% were tracked for at least five years and more than 70% attended graduate school in some area of science.

          In 2020, Covid-related restrictions made it necessary to implement an entirely virtual summer program, which had 115 participants. These students experienced faculty research talks, graduate school information sessions, a career panel, networking events, and other professional development activities. Despite the limitations of this virtual format, the majority of the participants reported that they had a positive experience and, as a result, were more likely to attend graduate school.

          The implementation of a plant-focused REU program has increased the number of undergraduate students who have been exposed to plant molecular biology, bioinformatics, and plant genomics research. Through their summer plant research at the Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, and the USDA Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, these students have become better prepared for graduate school and future research careers in academia, industry, or government service.

Last Modified: 04/08/2025
Modified by: Georg Jander