STEPping Up Undergraduate Research at MTSU STEPMT

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STEPping Up Undergraduate Research at MTSU
(STEPMT)

• STEP Summer Research Teams
• Orientation June 5, 2006

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STEPMT

• 5 year 1.7 M grant from NSF
• BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ETIS, GEOL, MATH, PHYS
• Retain students via
• Curriculum innovation
• Creation of research community
• On campus and off campus research activities
• Recruit students through experiences for HS
  students and teachers

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STEPMT Overview

• Curriculum
• Early exposure to inquiry-based, internships,
• Research
• Community through research and seminar
• Partnerships
• Off-campus research opportunities in industry,
  government, academic settings
• Inclusion of high school teachers and students

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The STEPMT Team

• Tom Cheatham, CBAS, PI
• Bill Robertson, PHYS, Co-PI
• Andrienne Friedli, CHEM, Co-PI
• Ginger Rowell, MATH, Co-PI
• Brad Rudnik, CSCI, Coordinator

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Faster than light

• Dr. Bill Robertson (Faculy mentor)
• Jan Cathey (HS teacher)
• Jason Pappafotis (MTSU student)
• Patrick Flanigan (MTSU student)
• Brandon Cathey (HS student)
• Colin Klaus (HS student)

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Biodiesel

• Dr. Scott Handy (Chemistry)
• Sarah (Sally) Millsap (HS teacher)
• Cassandra Boller (MTSU student)
• Nickolas Walker (MTSU student)
• Jia Zhu (HS student)

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Algebra

• Dr. Jason Johnson (Mathematics)
• Hezekiah Ford, III (HS teacher)
• Richard Holtsclaw (MTSU student)
• Nathan Darnell (MTSU student)
• Jacqueline Villamizar (HS student)

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Water Quality

• Dr. Frank Bailey (Biology)
• Chris Garner (HS teacher)
• Leonela Carriedo (MTSU student)
• Deidra Lyons (MTSU student)
• Michael Bolton (HS student)
• Afrah Mohammed (HS student)

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Cost modeling of telescopes

• Dr. Lisa Green (Faculty mentor)
• Joe Moos (HS teacher)
• Charles Thompson (MTSU student)
• Charysse Archer (MTSU student)
• Kavon Togrye (HS student)

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Safety Considerations

• Think before doing
• Be prepared
• Understand the risks
• Health Center
• http//www.mtsu.edu/mthealth/
• Workmans compensation

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Time Flies

• Uniform expectations
• 200 hours for high school participants
• 300 hours for MTSU participants
• Flexibility within system

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Project Documentation

• Lab notebook
• Abstract
• Poster presentation(s)

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Mark Your Calendar
June 16th Lunch and tours day June 30th Indoor
picnic July 14th Undergrads meet July 28
Lunch and poster session (parents invited)
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Evaluations

• Expectations
• Making a good thing better
• Accountability to the taxpayer

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Stipends

• Paperwork
• When Do I See the Green?
• The last check