Fund: Campbell-Wessler Endowed Undergraduate Research Award Fund Department: CNAS Scholarships:Gifts:Endow D01335 Purpose: Undergraduate Student Support Background: Rochelle Campbell, widow of Neil A. Campbell, has been a longtime supporter of science education both in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) and elsewhere. Her gifts have made possible the creation of the Neil A. Campbell Science Learning Laboratory in CNAS, and the Neil and Rochelle Campbell Presidential Chair for Innovation in Science Education. Neil A. Campbell ('75 Ph.D., Biology) authored "Biology," the most widely used English-language scientific textbook in the world. Dr. Campbell was a visiting scholar in UCR's Department of Biology and Plant Sciences and recipient of UCR's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. He was a widely respected and inspirational teacher of undergraduate sciences. Susan "Sue" Wessler is a Distinguished Professor of Genetics, in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at UCR; and the Neil and Rochelle Campbell Presidential Chair for Innovation in Science Education. As a plant geneticist, her research is groundbreaking, with research over the past three decades to understand the contribution of transposable elements (TEs) to gene and genome evolution, and she's currently the elected home secretary of the National Academic of Science. Sue has not only furthered the study of TEs, but she's also created an innovative teaching lab at UCR. In 2011, she began The Dynamic Genome, a course that teaches freshmen to participate in innovative research from her lab. It was the first course offered in the Neil A. Campbell Science Learning Laboratory, and it dramatically increased students' interest in scientific research. Purpose and Criteria: The fund shall be used to provide minimum stipend awards of $5,000 each to undergraduate researchers affiliated with the Campbell Lab and/or The Dynamic Genome. Eligible applicants must be: 1.) Undergraduate students engaged in a full-time summer research experience affiliated with the Neil A. Campbell Lab, affiliated with The Dynamic Genome, or selected by the Neil and Rochelle Campbell Presidential Chair for Innovation in Science Education 2.) Maintain good academic standing with the university In years when there is no candidate who meets the criteria, awards will be held until the following year. Request for Information: Request Scholarship Information