Non-profit and hbcu collaboration to establish a plant phenotyping data science course-based undergraduate research experience

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded a $298,206 Project Grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to establish a plant phenotyping data science course-based undergraduate research experience in collaboration with Harris-Stowe State University. The grant will support the design and implementation of a data science course-based undergraduate research experience focused on plant phenotyping to be jointly taught by faculty from the Danforth Center and Harris-Stowe State University, along with a post-doctoral researcher appointed to both institutions. Harris-Stowe State University will provide two faculty members to co-teach the course and oversee the recruitment and enrollment of students from biology and programming courses into the research experience. The faculty will also assist in administering assessments and training students who complete the course to become teaching assistants. The funding advances the goals of the NSF's STEM Education program to strengthen STEM education through course-based research experiences and ensure the vitality of the national STEM education enterprise.