Eighteen Idaho State University students awarded MILES scholarships to present at Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research
August 1, 2017
Thirty undergraduate students from Idaho State University were awarded Managing Idaho’s Landscapes for Ecosystem Services (MILES) internships to participate in wide range of social science, ecological and geological studies this summer.
Furthermore, 18 of these students presented at the Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research (ICUR) in Boise from July 26-27.
Megan Brauner, a junior studying biology whose research involved the rehabilitation of cutthroat trout habitats, said she was happy for the chance to showcase her research.
“I think the conference was a great opportunity, and I’m thankful for the chance to present my research,” she said. “I loved hearing talks on tips for getting into graduate school and even just answering questions people had about my poster.”
The mission of ICUR is to promote mentored undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity in Idaho in all disciplines.
MILES is a National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)-funded project to advance the understanding of feedback between social and ecological systems and ecosystem services in mid-sized cities in the face of climate change and urban growth.
The MILES grant provides up to $4,000 per student participant in the MILES Undergraduate Research and Internships (MURI) program.
MURI is designed to engage undergraduates in research to develop a future workforce of scientists, educators and stakeholders that can better manage Idaho’s landscapes, including valuable ecosystem services.
The other students who presented at ICUR were Rachel Brinkley, Paige Miller, Christa White, Eric Martinez, Loni Nelson, Jeff Carpenter, Davian Martinez, Katie Wright, Cody Durfee, James Guthrie, Caleb Renner, Alex Torres, Camdon Kay, Brittan Hardy, Katlyn Gonzalez, Galen Cochrane and Jeremy Starkey.
More than 60 MURI scholars positions are offered each year across Idaho, with a goal of recruiting a large number of students traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields such as women, ethnic minorities and students with disabilities.
MURI students primarily work within MILES study areas located in the Boise/Treasure Valley, Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls/Moscow, and Pocatello/Idaho Falls areas. The duration of program can range from eight to 16 weeks but varies depending on scope of work.