Research and Scholarship: NSF/MO-RUI Grant, Reports, Service, and Meetings

Overview Statement

I continue to be generously funded by the National Science Foundation's Microbial Observatory Program (NSF/MO) - specifically, a "Research in Undergraduate Institution" (RUI) category grant (following a renewal in 2002). Because my first such grant (2000-2003) was in my previous file, I am not providing these documents again (they are available on my professional research website). This long-term project, one I began as an undergraduate, uses molecular methods to describe new photosynthetic hot spring bacteria throughout Yellowstone National Park - both in terms of phylogenetic diversity and geographic distribution. Consistent with professional expectations and promotion requirements, I specifically designed the renewed project so that I could integrate research methods and data analysis into several undergraduate course labs (including General Microbiology and Molecular Biology, presented in the Teaching section), numerous teacher workshops (some examples presented in the Teaching section), field experiences for undergraduates (presented in the forthcoming Field Research, Curriculum, and Reports sub-sections), and pre-college outreach (presented in the Professional/Public Service section). Currently, my grant will end in February 2008, with the final 4 months of funding going off-campus to support my first sabbatical. An outline of specific outcomes and activities for this project is outlined below and serves as a key for supporting documents that have been provided in this section. In the spirit of judiciously selecting only key documents for this file, full text for related meetings abstracts and posters have not been included. It should also be noted that publications and other presentations derived from this support are documented and/or provided in several upcoming Research sub-sections.

NSF/MO-RUI Grant (ongoing): Project Description, References, and Budget provided for review.

2003-Present Grant Annual Reports (ongoing): all approved by my program director (Dr. Matt Kane) and provided for review: 2003 Report, 2004 Report, and 2005 Report.

Principal Investigators NSF/MO Workshop/Meeting: all peer-reviewed or invited events

INVITED SPEAKER - S.M. Boomer, K.L. Shipley, D.P. Lodge, T.F. Manning, B.E. Dutton, 2004. The Red Layer Microbial Observatory - A Research Experience for Undergraduates in Yellowstone, 3rd Annual Microbial Observatories Principal Investigator's Workshop - New Discoveries, Linkages, and Partnerships, Big Sky, MT. Co-Organized meeting with Dr. Mark Young/Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University.

POSTER - S.M. Boomer, B.E. Dutton, W.M. Drury, T.F. Manning, D.P. Lodge, 2003. A Yellowstone-Based Research Experience for Undergraduates, 2nd Annual Microbial Observatories Principal Investigator's Workshop, Arlington, VA

INVITED SPEAKER AND DISCUSSION LEADER - S.M. Boomer, 2003. Colorful Adventures in Science - From Hot Springs to the Teaching Lab, 2nd Annual Microbial Observatories Principal Investigator's Workshop, Arlington, VA

POSTER - S.M. Boomer, D.P. Lodge, P.F. Williams, M.S. Boschee, 2002. Analyses of Red Layer Bacteria and Thermal Sourcewater from Alkaline Hot Springs in Yellowstone Demonstrate Diversity and Selection in the Green Nonsulfur Lineage, 1st Annual Microbial Observatories Principal Investigator's Workshop, Arlington, VA

NSF/MO Service Since 2002: no materials provided because of confidentiality agreements

Annual ad hoc proposal reviewer (approximately 5 proposals per year); semi-annual panel reviewer (15-17 proposals per session)