Bard College Associate Professor of Biology Brooke Jude and Assistant Professor of Biology Robert Todd have been awarded a $34,000 grant from the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation to support their collaborative research program, Project-based Learning for Undergraduates in Microbial Mapping (PLUMM). The grant will fund an intensive three-week research experience in January for students from both SUNY Dutchess and Bard College.

During the program, students will gain hands-on training in STEM laboratory techniques working on active research projects in the Todd and Jude Labs. These projects are housed in the state-of-the-art laboratories at Bard's Gabrielle H. Reem and Herbert J. Kayden Center for Science and Computation. The program aims to provide students with essential laboratory, experimental design, data collection, and analysis skills to prepare them for successful STEM careers and enhance their applications for graduate school and other STEM-related fields.

An important aspect of PLUMM is the collaboration between Bard and SUNY Dutchess, fostering interaction and potential long-term research projects between students and faculty from both institutions. Students will have the opportunity to co-author conference proceedings and journal articles and present their research at an annual symposium and poster session open to the public.

"This opportunity to conduct research with students in this mid-semester experience will allow us to get students fully engaged in all aspects of the research questions and launch them into continuation of this work in subsequent semesters,” said Jude. “The collaboration between students at Bard and SUNY Dutchess will also provide rich opportunities to set up long-term interactions and research projects.”

The Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, dedicated to supporting STEM education in the United States, aims to cultivate a pipeline of future STEM professionals. The foundation achieves this goal by funding projects that encourage and enhance STEM education and provide career opportunities for individuals with STEM backgrounds.