REU site: research experiences for undergraduates in plant science at the donald danforth plant science center

The National Science Foundation Division of Biological Infrastructure awarded the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center $467,053 on June 1, 2026, to operate a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site in plant science at the Center's facility in Olivette, Missouri, through May 31, 2029.

The program will train ten undergraduate students each summer for ten weeks during 2026, 2027, and 2028, enrolling thirty students total. The REU Site targets undergraduates from across the United States, with priority for students from institutions with limited research opportunities, first-generation students, and those early in their undergraduate careers. Students will conduct original, hypothesis-driven research in plant science, with topics spanning fundamental discovery and technological innovation. The program provides comprehensive training in research methodology, documentation, interpretation, and scientific communication. All participants will present findings at an internal symposium; many will present at scientific conferences and publish in research journals. The Center will track student career paths after program completion and assess outcomes through a modified Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALG) survey. Student applications are submitted through the NSF Education and Training Application (ETAP) portal. The training aligns with NSF priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology and supports scientific workforce development in Missouri and nationally.

This award falls under NSF's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), which supports basic research advancing biological knowledge and addressing major problems confronting the Nation.

Abstract

This REU site award to the donald danforth plant science center, located in ST. Louis, MO, will support the training of 10 students each year for 10 weeks during the summers of 2026-2028. The program will provide a comprehensive, real-life research experience to undergraduate students from across the USA, especially those from institutions with limited research opportunities, first generation students and students at the beginning of their undergraduate education. Research and professional development activities will give exceptional training to undergraduate students interested in plant biology and biotechnology, disciplines which are becoming more important as the need for high-yielding resilient crops increases to meet the demands of a rapidly growing world population. Students will learn how research is conducted, how to correctly document and interpret their research and effectively communicate science. All students will present their research at an internal symposium, and many will present at scientific conferences and publish in research journals. The thirty students participating in the program will aid in scientific workforce development in missouri and the rest of the USA. Assessment of the program will be done through a modified student assessment of learning gains (salg) survey and students will be tracked after the program to follow their career paths. Students should apply to the REU site using the designated NSF website (education and training application (etap): https://etap.NSF.GOV). The training students will receive is aligned with NSF priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The focus of the program is original, hypothesis-driven research centered on answering important questions in plant science. Research topics range from fundamental science geared towards discovery to technological innovation and development in wet-bench and field research settings. There will also be training in cutting-edge BIO-imaging, data science, and AI/machine learning approaches for plant science and phenotyping, and state-of-the-art approaches to plant transformation and plant compositional analysis. To translate basic research to commercial products, students will participate in conversations on product development, regulatory guidelines and dissemination to communities in need. Students will also engage in a variety of professional development activities including training in the responsible conduct of research, science communication, choosing a career, and applying for graduate fellowships. The program will recruit participants from across the USA focusing on students from rural communities, those who are early in their college careers and students from colleges and universities with limited research opportunities. Assessment of the program will be done through a modified student assessment of learning gains (salg) instrument. More information about the program is available at https://WWW.danforthcenter.ORG/our-work/education-outreach/undergraduate-program/internship-program/, or by contacting the PI (DR. Tessa burch-smith at