Student Opportunities-Don't Wait, Apply Now!  

ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship. The ASM Committee on Minority Education invites senior-level graduate students to apply for the 2010 ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship. The Watkins fellowship- which was designed to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups who complete doctoral degrees- provides students with support to complete and present their microbiological sciences- based research. Watkins fellows attend the esteemed ASM Kadner Institute (see below) or the ASM Scientific Writing and Publishing Institute (www.asmgap.org/page03a.shtml) and, dependent on abstract submission and acceptance, are supported to present their research at the ASM General Meeting. Interested students should apply by 1 May 2010. For more information, please visit the "Education Resources" tab at www.asm.org and select "Students," then "Graduate Students."  

2010 ASM Kadner Institute. There's still time for senior-level graduate students and early-career postdoctoral scientists to apply for the 2010 ASM Kadner Institute. The Institute, which is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, will be held on 24-28 July at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Institute participants receive careful guidance and mentoring in five key topics important for choosing and succeeding in diverse microbiology careers: (i) career opportunities and preparation; (ii) preparation, review, and critique of research proposals; (iii) scientific presentations and communication; (iv) effective teaching methods; and (v) professional standards development. The application deadline is 15 May 2010. Space is limited to 36 participants. For details, visit www.asmgap.org.  

2010 ASM/NIGMS Learning Interventions Institute: Encouraging the Study of Student Success  

Why do some students succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines while others do not? And how can scientific research skills provide evidence about the mechanics of student success? With the annual ASM/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Learning Interventions Institute, ASM and NIGMS are helping educators address these questions and more. The 2010 Institute, held 11-14 January at ASM headquarters in Washington, D.C., was an intensive program of lectures and discussions along with small group work and formal presentations, all focused on how research can be used to determine why and how students-particularly those from underrepresented minority groups-progress to advanced training in the STEM disciplines.  

At the three-and-a-half-day Institute, participants (typically directors, managers, and administrators of higher education or STEM diversity programs or natural and physical sciences researchers with an interest in the social and behavioral sciences) received hands-on opportunities to apply new research techniques, ideas, and tools to problem sets based on real experiences and common questions in STEM education. Additionally, the Institute's limited group size-18 individuals were selected to take part this year-allowed participants to discuss their research one on one with program leaders Martin Chemers (University of California-Santa Cruz), Larry Hedges (Northwestern University), and Eileen Zurbriggen (University of California- Santa Cruz).  

The Learning Interventions Institute is managed by ASM and sponsored by NIGMS. The 2011 Institute will be held at ASM headquarters in Washington, D.C., on 10-13 January (apply by 15 October 2010). For more information, visit www.facultyprograms.org and select "Learning Interventions Institute."