Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Undergraduate Science Education Grant

Lewis & Clark received a four-year, $1.3 million HHMI grant that was awarded  in 2008. L&C's Undergraduate Science Education Program Grant "Collaborative Approaches to Undergraduate Science Educations" (C.A.U.S.E.) has several major intiatives.

Student Research and Broadening Access to Science

The HHMI Collaborative Research Program  which is  designed to broaden access to science, is structured around the idea of laddered research teams: each three-person team consists of a faculty member, a Lewis & Clark science major, and a high school or community college student. The primary aim is to provide students with a rigorous, lab-based
experience emphasizing the collaborative nature of scientific research. In other words, participants explore what a future career as a scientist or mathematician might be like.  The summer research program combines research opportunities for L & C undergraduates with mentoring and outreach to their high school/community college research team member. To read more about the HHMI-CRT Summer Research Program, please visit:

L & C Undergratuate information at: http://www.lclark.edu/college/programs/hhmi_collaborative_research/information/  

and

High School/Community College Information at: http://www.lclark.edu/college/programs/hhmi_collaborative_research/high_school/

In addition, L & C hosts a 2 day Science without Limits Symposium In the fall.  This 2 day event, by showcasing new and exciting developments in interdisciplinary areas of scientific research,  successfully engages and informs a broad audience of students, faculty and community members through presentations, joint colloquiums and interactive activities.  The over-arching goal of the Symposium is to broaden access to science in our extended community.

To view the 2009 Science without Limits Symposium agenda of speakers and activities, please visit: http://www.lclark.edu/college/programs/hhmi_collaborative_research/symposium/index.php

Curriculum, Equipment, and Laboratory Development

The grant also provides funds for new interdisciplinary science curricula
in the fields of neuroscience, bioinformatics, and biophysics— as well as a course designed for nonmajors that  emphasizes the unity of scientific thought.

The course designed for nonmajors "Origins of Life in the Universe" offered Spring 2010 is an interdisciplinary science course that will provide an opportunity for non-science students to learn concepts that combine the scientific dsiciplines and provides highlights of the frontiers of science.

The development of the new interdisciplinary science curricula in the fields of neuroscience, bioinformatics and biophysics will be supported by the additional expertise of Distinguished Visiting Scholars and postdoctoral teaching fellows.

For more information regarding the work being done on the development of neuroscience courses, please visit Neuroscience Initiatives  HHMI web page at http://www.lclark.edu/college/programs/hhmi_collaborative_research/neuroscience_initiative/

Faculty Development

The HHMI grant also supports a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows Program.  This program will  provide valuable  teaching training  for the Postdoctoral Fellows as they support the teaching mission of neuroscience, biophysics and bioinformatics.  They will also play an important role in supporting existing faculty as they expand their expertise in immerging interdisciplinary areas, and in supporting the development of new curriculum and courses.

CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS:

HHMI Bio-Informatics Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship

Pre-College and Outreach

This component has 2 primary intitiatives 1) revolves around the inclusion of high school and community college students as  team members of the HHMI-CRT Summer Research Program 2) an undergraduate led Student Outreach Leadership Team (SOLT) that promote access to science and math through tutoring and mentoring students in our partner schools and also supports high school and community college students or "emerging scholars"  as they prepare for the HHMI-CRT Summer Research Program.

For more information about the SOLT program, please visit: http://www.lclark.edu/college/programs/hhmi_collaborative_research/cause/

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Program Director

Dr. Brian Detweiler-Bedell Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology
Lewis and Clark College
0615 SW Palatine Hill Road
Portland, OR 97219

Phone: 503/768-7651
Fax: 503/768-7658(fax)
E-mail: bedell@lclark.edu

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