Bioresource Research

NEXT APPLICATION DATE ANTICIPATED WINTER 2010. CHECK WITH BRR ADVISOR WANDA CRANNELL (wanda.crannell@oregonstate.edu) FOR AN UPDATE!

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is offering competitive scholarships to undergraduate students of diverse cultural backgrounds who are interested in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Food Science, or Human Health and Nutrition. The Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) is for student members of groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences, or first-generation college students, who are looking for research experience, professional development, good mentoring and support, and a relevant college education that will lead to a productive career or graduate/ professional school.

Recipients of MSP Scholarships will be provided with a full tuition scholarship, up to a total of $6,000 per year, for up to a four-year period. The MSP program is funded by a grant from the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the USDA.

MSP Scholars will pursue a B.S. degree in Bioresource Research (BRR). As part of the BRR major, they will undertake their own research projects with a faculty mentor in OSU's College of Agricultural Science, Engineering, Forestry, Oceanographic and Atmospheric Sciences, Pharmacy, Science, and Veterinary Medicine. For more information about the BRR program and options in BRR, please visit the BRR website: http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/brr/

MSP Scholars will also join MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences), a national organization with an OSU chapter that focuses on career and professional development. They will take part in job fairs, workshops, community service, national competitions, and other MANRRS activities.  For more information about OSU-MANRRS, please visit the MANRRS website: http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/manrrs/

Each MSP award will consist of the scholarship as well as support, peer mentoring, and personalized advising by the Bioresource Research (BRR) program. In addition, MSP Scholars will have the opportunity of pre-professional training through a paid Summer Internship, professional development activities through OSU-MANRRS, and the opportunity to travel to a National Career Fair with travel expenses paid.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

• Demonstrate financial need
• Be a prospective BRR student, or be a prospective full-time student at Oregon State University applying to enter at no greater than junior status, or be a student who will have completed no more than 4 terms at OSU at the time of application
• Be a US citizen
• Be interested in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Food Science, or Human Health and Nutrition, and in one of the 12 BRR options:

Animal Reproduction and Development, Applied Genetics, Biosystems Modeling, Biotechnology, Environmental Chemistry, Food Quality, Genomics/ Bioinformatics, Pest Biology and Management, Plant Growth and Development, Sustainable Ecosystems, Toxicology, and Water Resources.

• Have GPA and test scores that meet OSU’s requirements
  Have an excellent record of school and community participation
  Be a student from a group traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences, or a first-generation college student.

BRR ASSOCIATES AND BRR MENTORS:

Students who are already in the BRR major, or are not eligible for the MSP program for some other reason such as not being a US citizen, may be eligible to become MSP Associates (2nd-year students) and MSP Mentors (3rd and 4th-year students). This is a competitive program for BRR students who are already active in MANRRS. Students who are selected as MSP Associates or Mentors will receive small scholarships and funding to pay for a trip to the National MANNRS conference. They will be expected to participate in MSP program activities and serve as peer mentors for MSP scholars. For more information, contact BRR adviser Wanda Crannell (wanda.crannell@oregonstate.edu).

NEXT APPLICATION DATE WINTER 2010. CHECK WITH BRR ADVISOR WANDA CRANNELL (wanda.crannell@oregonstate.edu) FOR AN UPDATE!