IRES: U.S.-Poland Student Research Experience to Study Plant Species Interactions in the Unique Ecosystem of the Bialowieza Forest

IRES：美国-波兰学生研究比亚沃维扎森林独特生态系统中植物物种相互作用的研究经验

• 批准号: 1459504
• 负责人: Jordan Zjawiony
• 金额: $ 24.91万
• 依托单位: University of Mississippi
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-07-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1459504&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: IRES; U.S.; Poland; Student; Research

This U.S.-Polish International Research Experience for Students (IRES) project creates a unique three-year opportunity for U.S. students to acquire early career research experience abroad in the fields of biology and chemistry of natural products. Through a combined program of field and laboratory research this IRES provides a rare opportunity to prusue discovery of new species, new chemical diversity, and insights into environmental interaction and biological synergy in one of the best preserved medieval forests in Europe, the Bialowieza Forest of Poland. The engagement of U.S. and Polish mentors with expertise in ecology, forestry, biology, chemistry, plant sciences, and mycology will assure the scientific success of this interdisciplinary project. By focussing on biological and biochemical characterization of select plants and fungi, the US-Polish team expects go gain a better understanding of novel plant and fungi biodiversity. Special attention will be devoted to study of the metabolites and ecological roles of diverse natural chemical compounds found in such natural settings. From an educational perspective, this three-year IRES should provide exceptional access to a unique environmental setting for U.S. student participants along with the opportunity to work side by side with renowned European scientists as they gain valuable early career research experience. The IRES project supports the participation of four U.S. students annually (two undergraduate and two graduate) for the three-year duration. U.S. student participants spend six weeks abroad in the area of the Bialowieza Forest working together with their U.S. and Polish mentors and Polish students on complementary, thematically-linked research projects. Pre-trip training includes both technical and cultural preparation. Post-travel follow-up by the PI and University of Mississippi staff continues with scientific mentoring and career advise. For borader impact, new insights based on the study of the ecology, biodiversity, and chemical diversity of Bialowieza Forest are expected to contribute to refining future strategies for management and conservation of such rare biological resources. Results will be disseminated through websites, presentations, workshops, and scholarly publications. Overall, the cooperative activities of this IRES project are expected to enhance STEM education at all institutions involved, strengthen international partnering, and facilitate the development of a new interdisciplinary research collaboration that bridges biology and natural products chemistry.

美国-波兰学生国际研究经验 (IRES) 项目为美国学生创造了一个独特的三年机会，让他们在海外获得天然产物生物学和化学领域的早期职业研究经验。通过实地和实验室研究相结合的计划，该 IRES 提供了一个难得的机会，以在欧洲保存最完好的中世纪森林之一波兰比亚沃维扎森林中寻求新物种​​、新化学多样性的发现以及对环境相互作用和生物协同作用的深入了解。具有生态学、林业、生物学、化学、植物科学和真菌学专业知识的美国和波兰导师的参与将确保这一跨学科项目的科学成功。通过专注于特定植物和真菌的生物和生化特征，美国-波兰团队希望能够更好地了解新型植物和真菌的生物多样性。将特别关注在这种自然环境中发现的多种天然化合物的代谢物和生态作用的研究。 从教育角度来看，这个为期三年的 IRES 应该为美国学生参与者提供独特的环境环境，并有机会与著名的欧洲科学家并肩工作，让他们获得宝贵的早期职业研究经验。 IRES 项目每年支持四名美国学生（两名本科生和两名研究生）参与，为期三年。美国学生参与者在比亚洛维扎森林地区度过六周的时间，与他们的美国和波兰导师以及波兰学生一起开展互补的、主题相关的研究项目。行前培训包括技术准备和文化准备。 PI 和密西西比大学工作人员的旅行后跟进继续提供科学指导和职业建议。对于边境影响，基于比亚沃维扎森林生态、生物多样性和化学多样性研究的新见解预计将有助于完善未来管理和保护此类稀有生物资源的战略。结果将通过网站、演示文稿、研讨会和学术出版物传播。总体而言，该 IRES 项目的合作活动预计将加强所有相关机构的 STEM 教育，加强国际合作，并促进连接生物学和天然产物化学的新的跨学科研究合作的发展。