Healthy plants are essential for our life. Participants in the STEM REU will focus on how interactions between plants, microbes and soil work to create a productive plant. Association of plants with organisms that act like probiotics are important for plant and soil health. Examples of the REU projects include:

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How engineered nanoparticles will aid the health of the plant and their associated microbes

How soil management influences plant and microbe health

Importance of nitrogen cycling, and symbiotic relations in plant health

Role of elements in plant health

Discovery of natural products from plant and their microbes that influence ecosystem (e.g. inhibition of weed species)

Understanding how microbes cause disease in plants and how other microbes lead to their control. Mentors for this array of research topics are from the Biological Engineering, Biology, Plants Soils & Climate, and Environmental Engineering departments housed in three different colleges (Engineering, Agriculture, Science).

Check out the Plant-STEM REU 2022 participant projects (PDF). As well as some photos from the event.

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Students will have hands on experience with “state of the art” instrumentation. For example, high resolution microscopy, using both scanning electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy allow examination of cellular structures and interactions. Chromatography and mass spectrometry will be tools to characterize metabolites. Discussions will inform students of the importance of ethics and the responsible conduct in research. Industry tours and meetings with Utah State University alumni working at local bio/agro-tech companies will show how university research experiences relate to job opportunities and the development of commercial products.

• Completion of two semesters
• Preferred classwork in agriculture, engineering, biology, plant biology, microbiology biochemistry/chemistry, and physics
• U.S. Citizen or permanent residency
• Preference will be given to students from primarily undergraduate institutions with limited research opportunities on campus