Title

Active research propels student growth at UMES

Relevance

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":"Students who participate in undergraduate research are twice as likely to graduate in four years and more than 10 times as likely to graduate in six years, according to the article, “Participation in Undergraduate Research Reduces Equity Gaps in STEM Graduation Rates,” published in 2024 in "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.22-03-0061","color":"windowtext","background":"transparent","italic":true},"insert":"Life Sciences Education"},{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":", a journal produced by the American Society for Cell Biology. Researchers also found that gaps in four-year graduation rates for students of color, lower income, and first-generation college students were cut in half for undergraduate researchers; at six years, the gaps no longer existed. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":"Learning by doing takes classroom and textbook knowledge and applies it to real-world situations. Experiential opportunities are the backbone of student success, helping them gain practical skills, research acumen, improved critical thinking and professional competence."},{"insert":"\n"}]}

Response

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"#ffffff","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Faculty-mentored research is an integral part of senior capstone course curriculum at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. Students work in labs and in the field as part of ongoing federal, state and private sector grant-funded projects, said Moses T. Kairo, professor and dean of UMES’ School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences."},{"insert":"\n"}]}

Results

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":"“Our students who have completed meaningful research experiences have landed premier internships or employment in industry and government, been published in prestigious scholarly journals and have been accepted into top graduate programs across the country, including Ivy League schools,” Kairo said. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":"UMES junior Norman Trinidad is a General Agriculture major, whose research examines the effects of drought stress and mycorrhizal fungi on the shoot and root growth of Marshmallow ("},{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent","italic":true},"insert":"Althaea officinalis"},{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":"). Under the mentorship of Assistant Research Professor Corrie Cotton, Trinidad helped design this research project and collect field data. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"windowtext","background":"transparent"},"insert":"“This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for how much work goes into scientific research and allowed me to apply classroom knowledge in real-world conditions,” Trinidad said. “It has strengthened my critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management skills while showing me the value of hands-on learning in agriculture.” "},{"insert":"\n"}]}

Public Value Statement

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"#ffffff","color":"#000000"},"insert":"When undergraduate college students have opportunities to conduct hands-on research, it enhances their education, improves graduation rates, and makes them more competitive when applying for internships, graduate schools, and jobs. "},{"insert":"\n"}]}

Primary Focus Area

Youth, Family, & Communities

Secondary Focus Area

Youth, Family, & Communities

Impact Statement