Highlights

Friday, July 27, 2018 concluded the 12th consecutive summer of the IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute. This year's cohort was among one of the largest in the program's history, with 34 student participants. Of the 34 participants in the 2018 Summer Scholars Institute, 10 were returning for a second or third year. Beginning Friday, June 1, 2018, the cohort convened at Bradford Woods for a weekend of orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. The following Sunday, 14 students departed for the Riverwalk Campus Apartments on the Indianapolis campus and 20 scholars departed for Wilkie Residence Hall on the Bloomington campus. Upon arrival, students began to settle in campus apartments, continue building deeper connections with their cohort members with whom they shared placement campuses, and prepared for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments.

The 2018 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (1), California State University- Dominguez Hills (1), Delaware State University (2), Indiana University Bloomington (4), Jackson State University (17), Morgan State University (1), North Carolina A&T State University (4), University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley (2), and the University of Texas at San Antonio (2). As in the past years, Jackson State University was highly represented.

Throughout the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. They also had several opportunities for deeper engagement with each other and their university and local communities as a group during the following activities:

• GRE Seminars and Study Sessions
• Friday Evening Reflection Dinners
• Louisville Day Tour
• Indianapolis Excursion Trip
• Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
• Poster Presentations and Closing

The commemorating closing luncheon was held Friday, July 27 at the University Place Conference Center on the Indianapolis campus. Prior to the luncheon, students presented posters of their summer research to an audience of students, family members, faculty mentors, and university administrators and staff. Additionally, STEM faculty members from various partner institutions also attended the poster presentation. These faculty members were also hosted in Bloomington throughout the week for the Faculty Development and Research Institute (FRDI) conference with other MSI and IU faculty to review potential faculty research collaborations. The keynote speaker of the STEM SSI closing session was Dr. Teresa Demeritte, who was a participant in the STEM SSI 10 years ago and was a faculty participant in the 2018 FRDI.

The 2018 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort

Highlights

The 2017 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began the 11th consecutive summer program at the Indiana University Bradford Woods outdoor recreation facilities. Twenty-three students from nine universities attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, June 2, and spent the weekend with the Bradford Woods staff engaging in various activities, including team building, canoeing, hiking and high-wire challenges. The following Sunday, June 4, eight students went to the IUPUI campus and 15 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for the upcoming introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments.

The 2017 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (3), Bennett College for Women (1), Clark Atlanta University (2), Hampton University (1), Indiana University-Bloomington (1), Jackson State University (13), North Carolina A&T State University (1), and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (1).

Students established their lab schedule in their initial meetings with their faculty mentor, which included up to 40 hours of research and practice under their supervision as well as independent study. In order to maintain a healthy balance and receive the program's full benefit, Institute staff facilitate several social, academic, and cultural excursions. This year students attended the following:

• GRE seminars
• Mentor-Mentee luncheon
• Reflections Dinners
• Hidden Figures Movie Night and Discussion
• Indianapolis Excursion
• Cincinnati Day Tour
• Scholarly Research Presentation methods
• Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
• Poster Presentations and Closing

Scholars showed an unwavering commitment to their intellectual and social growth while on campus and even coordinated social activities among themselves in order to support each other and create community during necessary times.

The 2017 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute concluded with culminating research presentations and a celebration among faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators of the completion of the summer at the closing luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union. Each scholar was recognized by Dr. Jack Schmit for their commitment and encouraged to continue their pursuit of excellence on their individual campuses.

The 2017 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort

Highlights

In the tenth consecutive year, the IU-MSI STEM Initiative (previously called the IU-HBCU STEM Initiative) hosted the STEM Summer Scholars Institute (SSI). Twenty-six students from partner institutions participated in the 2016 Institute. These students began the summer with orientation activities designed to bond participants together for their summer of research.

Students arrived on Friday, June 3 for the weekend at Bradford Woods and the staff reported that the larger group "was still very easy to work with" and the participants "were very engaging." On Sunday, June 5th, twelve students went to the IUPUI campus and 14 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments; this was the most balanced distribution across the two core campuses since the very first year of the program. On Monday, June 5th, students met their mentors at a welcoming luncheon on each campus and were then escorted to the research labs. Of the 26 participants in the 2016 Summer Scholars Institute, five were returning for a second year.

The 2016 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (2), Hampton University (1), Indiana University Bloomington (4), Jackson State University (16), Morgan State University (1), North Carolina A&T State University (1), North Carolina Central University (1), and Xavier University of Louisiana (1).

Three former Summer Scholars Institute participants --Byron Gipson, Crystal Boston-Clay, and Delawrence Sykes, who are also enrolled in the Ph.D. programs at Indiana University, served as Ambassadors and mentors for the 2016 Institute participants.

During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:

• GRE Seminars
• Wednesday Lunch Research Seminars
• Poster Presentation skills training
• Research symposium at IU Bloomington
• Historical Preservations Trip
• Holiday World Trip

Participants of the IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 29th with a closing luncheon at Hine Hall on the IUPUI campus. Faculty mentors, university administrators and staff were present to support these future researchers, who presented posters of their summer projects. Additionally, faculty members from the partner institutions, who were part of the inaugural Faculty Research Development Institute (FRDI), attended the poster presentation and closing luncheon. FRDI was funded by the Office of Naval Research grant to support faculty collaborations.

The 2016 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort

Highlights

Now in its 9th consecutive year, the 2015 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute hosted a total of twenty-four students. Students arrived on Friday, June 4th to begin their orientation activities designed to bond students together and facilitate community building for their engaging summer of research. The orientation weekend was spent with the Bradford Woods staff engaging in various challenging activities, including team building, canoeing, hiking and high-wire challenges. The following Sunday, June 7, at the conclusion of the orientation, 15 students took residence for the summer on the IUB campus and three students on the IUPUI campus where they settled into their campus apartments and prepared for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments the following day.

The 2015 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Jackson State University (13), Langston University (2), Bennett College for Women (1), Indiana University-Bloomington (7), and Morehouse College (1). Eight of the students were rising graduate students, nine students were rising seniors, five were rising juniors, and two were rising sophomores.

Over the course of the summer, student's lab schedules were determined by their faculty mentor, and included 40+ hours of research and practice under their supervision as well as independent study. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the scholars were encouraged to participate in several academic, cultural and social excursions facilitated by Institute staff. This year students attended the following:

• GRE seminars
• Weekly STEM Research luncheons
• Holiday World Retreat
• French Lick Historical Preservations Tour

Scholars showed an unwavering commitment to their intellectual growth while on campus. They were intentional about coordinating social activities among themselves in order to support each other and create community during necessary times.

The 2015 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute concluded with a poster presentation of the research questions pursued by the students and their faculty researchers. Following the presentations, faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators celebrated completion of the summer at the closing luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union. Each scholar was recognized by Dr. Jack Schmit for their commitment and encouraged them to continue their pursuit of excellence on their individual campuses.

Highlights

The IU-MSI STEM Initiative celebrates its eighth year as the only program of its kind at a public institution. 24 students from our partner institutions and 17 faculty members engaged in vigorous academic research over the course of 8 weeks on both the Bloomington campus and the IUPUI campus. This summer, we kicked off the program with our annual weekend orientation session at Bradford Woods alongside our campus comrades at the School of Informatics, culminating into a wondering bonding experience for over 50 students. Orientation at Bradford Woods has continually allowed students to forge relationships with individuals they otherwise would never have interacted with. Lessons in communication, respect, and diligence were taught and put into practice over the duration of the Institute.

After the weekend ended, the STEM scholars departed to their respective campuses to begin their research experience in their research labs. The students are put up in apartment-style housing on campus, complete with necessary amenities expected from off campus housing. During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities.

Formal introductions to professors and laboratory assistants were made at the annual IU-MSI STEM SSI Welcome Luncheon on each campus. This year, we had 6 returning scholars. Over the course of the summer, students are expected to devote 80% of their time to research and practice inside and outside of the lab. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the scholars were encouraged to participate in multiple social, academic, and cultural excursions facilitated through by Institute staff. This year students attended:

• GRE seminars
• Academic Breakfast Seminars
• Scholarly Research Presentation methods
• Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
• French Lick Historical Preservations Trip
• Holiday World Trip

The students committed to growing while on campus and even coordinated social activities among themselves in order to support each other and provide relief during necessary times. The students also had access to mentors and graduates of the program—Byron Gipson and Crystal Boston-Clay—who are both enrolled in Ph.D. programs at Indiana University.

The summer concluded with a poster presentation of the research questions pursued by the students and their faculty researchers. Following the hour long presentations, faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators celebrated completion of the 2014 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute at the closing luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union. Guest speaker Dr. Maxine Watson, past director of the Ronald E. McNair Program, lauded the hefty accomplishments of the students. Dr. Jack Schmit recognized each scholar for their commitment and encouraged them to continue their pursuit of excellence on their individual campuses.

The 2014 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort

Highlights

The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began its seventh year with 24 students from our partner schools and 18 faculty mentors. These students were able to complete intricate and time-consuming research in 8 weeks' time, culminating into an advanced poster presentation to the campus.

Students from SSI and the School of Informatics met at Bradford Woods for orientation; engaging in trust building, communication skills, and stress management activities in order to prepare for the fast-paced research experience approaching. At the conclusion of orientation, students departed for their assigned research sites at the Bloomington or IUPUI campus. The campus residences resemble practical apartments, complete with the amenities needed as a home away from home. Scholars had access to the library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Faculty mentors and laboratory assistants were formally introduced to their students at the Welcome Luncheon that first Monday.

Over the course of the summer, student's lab schedule are determined by the primary researcher, and can include 40 hours of research and practice under their supervision as well as independent study. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the scholars were encouraged to participate in multiple social, academic, and cultural excursions facilitated through by Institute staff. This year students attended the following:

• GRE seminars
• Academic Breakfast Seminars
• Scholarly Research Presentation methods
• Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
• French Lick Historical Preservations Trip
• Kings Island Trip

Alumni of the program Byron Gipson and Crystal Boston-Clay were present at the IUB and IUPUI campus, respectively, to provide mentorship and guidance for the current scholars. Byron and Chrystal are both enrolled in Ph.D. programs on their campuses.

The Institute concluded with poster presentations by the scholars, as well as a luncheon in their honor. Following the hour long presentations, faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators celebrated the endeavors of the 2013 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute participants at the closing luncheon at IUPUI. Guest speaker Dr. James Hill, associate/assistant professor at the IUPUI School of Informatics and local tech business owner, praised the commitment of the students. Dr. Jack Schmit, the director of the SSI, recognized each student for their accomplishment that summer, and encouraged their academic success at their home institutions.

The 2013 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort

Highlights

For the sixth consecutive summer, the IU-MSI STEM Initiative hosted the STEM Summer Scholars Institute. A total of 26 students participated in the 2012 Institute–21 students came from our partner institutions and five students from the Bloomington campus. These students began the summer with orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research; we had an additional 16 students from other STEM-related programs join for the orientation activities. Students arrived on Friday, June 1, for the weekend at Bradford Woods and the staff reported that the larger group "was still very easy to work with" and the participants "were very engaging." On Sunday, June 3, six students went to the IUPUI campus and remaining students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments. On Monday, June 4, the students met their mentors at a welcoming luncheon on each campus and then were escorted to the summer labs. Of the 26 participants in the 2012 Summer Scholars Institute, five were returning for a second year.

The 2012 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (1), Bennett College for Women (2), Hampton University (1), Indiana University Bloomington (5), Jackson State University (9), Langston University (1), Morehouse College (3), North Carolina A&T State University (1), North Carolina Central University (2), and Xavier University of Louisiana (1). We also had a student this year from Howard University.

There were nine additional students who were part of the IU School of Informatics and Computing affiliated program, representing Elizabeth City State University and Mississippi Valley State University. They participated in many of the same events as the IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars. Four former Summer Scholars Institute participants–Byron Gipson, Crystal Boston-Clay, Ginger White and Delawrence Sykes, who are also enrolled in Ph.D. programs at Indiana University–served as ambassadors and mentors for the 2012 Institute participants.

During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:

• GRE seminars
• Wednesday lunch research seminars
• Poster presentation skills training
• Research symposium at IUPUI
• Historical preservations trip
• Kings Island trip

Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 27 with a closing luncheon at the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall on the Bloomington campus. Students, family members, faculty mentors, and university administrators and staff were present to support these future researchers. Prior to the luncheon, students presented posters of their summer research. Additionally, faculty members from the partner institutions attended the poster presentation and closing luncheon.

Participants

Highlights

The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute finished the fifth summer program with the largest number of participants to date–40 students. Nineteen students from seven of our partner institutions and 23 students from our affiliate programs attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, June 3, for the weekend at Bradford Woods and the staff reported that the larger group was still very easy to work with and the participants were very engaging. On Sunday, June 5, seven students went to the IUPUI campus and remaining students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments. Of the 40 participants in the 2011 Summer Scholars Institute, 12 were returning for a second year while 3 were returning for a third year.

The 2011 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (1), Bennett College for Women (2), Indiana University Bloomington (1), Jackson State University (10), Morehouse College (2), North Carolina Central University (2), and North Carolina A&T State University (1). Two additional students from Prairie View A&M University were affiliated with the summer institute. In addition, 21 students were part of the IU School of Informatics and Computing affiliated programs and represented the following institutions: Elizabeth City State University (7), Hampton University (1), Mississippi Valley State University (4), North Carolina A&T State University (4), Rice University (1), Santa Clara University (1), and Shaw University (1). Three former Summer Scholars Institute participants–Byron Gipson, Crystal Boston-Clay, and Ginger White–who are also enrolled in the Ph.D. programs at Indiana University–served as ambassadors and mentors for the 2011 Institute.

During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:

• GRE seminars
• Wednesday lunch research seminars
• Poster presentation skills training
• French Lick historical restoration trip
• Kings Island trip

Scholars also presented their research posters at the CIC SROP (Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunity Program) Conference at The Ohio State University from July 15-17 with other summer research students from across the country. Students had quality interactions with faculty members from the CIC universities who reviewed their posters and moderated their research roundtable discussions.

Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 29 with a closing luncheon at the University Place Conference Center on the Indianapolis campus. Students, family members, faculty mentors, and university administrators and staff came to celebrate with the 40 students who took part in the 2011 Institute. Prior to the luncheon, students presented posters of their summer research. Additionally, faculty members from the partner institutions attended the poster presentation and closing luncheon. These faculty members had gathered for the previous two days with faculty on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses to review potential faculty research collaborations.

Participants

Highlights

The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began the fourth summer program at the Indiana University Bradford Woods outdoor recreation facilities. Twenty-seven students from eight HBCU institutions attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, June 4, and spent the weekend with the Bradford Woods staff on increasing levels of activities from team building to canoeing to hiking to high-wire challenges. On Sunday, June 7, six students went to the IUPUI campus and 21 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments. Three members of the 2010 Institute returned for a second year.

The Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (the number from each in parenthesis): Alabama A&M University (1), IU Bloomington (2), Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (1), Jackson State University (7), Morehouse College (1), and Xavier University of Louisiana (1). There were also students from Elizabeth City State University (6), North Carolina A & T (4), Prairieview A & M (3), and Shaw University who participated in many of the support activities for the STEM Summer Scholars. Former Summer Scholar Institute participants, Byron Gipson, who also enrolled in the PhD program at Indiana University Bloomington, and Crystal Boston, who is enrolled in the PhD program at IUPUI, served as ambassadors for the institute.

During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:

• GRE seminars
• Wednesday lunch research seminars
• Poster presentation skills training
• French Lick historical restoration trip
• CIC SROP Summer Research Conference

Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 30 at a poster presentation and closing luncheon at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington.

Participants

Highlights

The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began the third summer program at the Indiana University Bradford Woods outdoor recreation facilities. Twenty-two students from six of the partner institutions attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, May 29, and spent the weekend with the Braford Woods staff on increasing levels of activities from team building to canoeing to zip lines to high-wire challenges. On Sunday, May 31, nine students went to the IUPUI campus and 13 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments. The twenty-two participants matched last year's enrollment and three members of the 2009 institute returned for a second year.

The Summer Scholars represented the following institutions: Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Jackson State University, Langston University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. There were also students from Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina A & T, Prairieview A & M, and Claflin University who participated in many of the support activities for the STEM Summer Scholars. A former Summer Scholar Institute participant, Byron Gipson, who also enrolled in the PhD program at Indiana University Bloomington, participated in the Bradford Woods experience and served as an ambassador for the institute.

During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:

• GRE seminars
• Wednesday lunch research seminars
• Poster presentation skills training
• French Lick historical restoration trip
• Indianapolis 500 Track and Museum tour
• The Indianapolis Black Expo
• UniverSoul Circus

Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 31 with a closing luncheon at the University Place Conference Center on the IUPUI campus. Students, family members, faculty mentors, university administrators and staff came to celebrate the 22 students who took part in the institute. Prior to the luncheon students presented posters of their summer research. A week earlier, students presented these same posters at the CIC SROP (Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunity Program) Conference at the University of Michigan with 418 other students from across the country. In late September, students received a DVD with video highlights on their summer experience.

A sample of the STEM Summer Scholars Institute poster presentation topics include:

• Distributed Drug Discovery (D3): Solid Phase Synthesis of Acylated Unnatural Amino Acids and Amino Acid Amides
• Algorithm Optimization and High Performance Parallel Computing with Multi-Core Machines
• The Feasibility of Designing a Secure System to Prevent Surgical Errors Using Radio Frequency Identification Technology
• The Impact of Breast Cancer on Patient's Motor Mobility: A Comparison of Motor Mobility of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Women Without Breast Cancer as Reported by Their Husbands or Partners
• Synthesizing of Porous Carbon Using a Substrate by the Method of CVD
• Synthesis of a Fluorescent Folic Acid Derivative to Guide Targeted Cancer Drug Development
• Developing Models for In Vivo Imaging of Breast Cancer Metastasization to the Bone Marrow

Participants

Highlights

The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began its second summer program with 22 students from ten of the 13 partner institutions. Fifty-five applications were received during early spring semester resulting in 11 students paired with Indiana University faculty members on the Bloomington campus and 11 on the Indianapolis campus. Participation doubled from last summer's inaugural program.

The Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (number from each in parenthesis): Alabama A&M University (4), Jackson State University (6), Langston University (4), Morehouse College (2), North Carolina Central University, Bennett College for Women, Tennessee State University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Indiana University Bloomington.

The Summer Scholars Institute participants began their summer experience at the Indiana University Bradford Woods Outdoor Center. The weekend was filled with activities that bonded students together into a cohesive unit prepared to engage in full-time summer research. Five members of the 2008 Institute returned for a second year; the weekend retreat was a new experience for them. A former Summer Scholar Institute participant, Byron Gipson, who also enrolled in the PhD program at Indiana University Bloomington this past January, participated in the Bradford Woods experience and served as an ambassador for the institute.

During the course of the summer, Scholars had a chance to attend the following:

• GRE seminars
• Wednesday lunch research seminars
• Poster presentation skills training
• Social events–pizza, bowling, hiking, etc.
• The Juneteenth Celebration
• The Indianapolis Black Expo
• UniverSoul Circus

The summer experience culminated in poster presentations as CIC-SROP conference at Michigan State University. Students also presented their posters at the closing recognition luncheon.

A sample of their poster presentation topics includes:

• Regulating CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Phosphorylation
• Presentation of Chlamydia Antigens by Reproductive Tract Epithelial Cells
• Mans' Best Friend Works to Find New Epigenetic Therapy for Bladder Cancer
• Glucocorticoid-Inducted Osteopososis
• Investigation of Sensor Technology
• Electrophysiological Recording in Basolateral Amygdala During Cocaine Self-Administration and Reinstatement in Rats
• Development of an in vitro Model of Hyperglycemia of Diabetes
• Antioxidant Effect of Vernonia amygdalina on Acrylonitrile-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage in Rat Astrocytes
• Hyperinsulinemia-Induced Plasma Membrane Derangement and Cellular Insulin Resistance
• Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation on the Severity of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction

Two students from the 2007 institute were enrolled at IU pursuing doctoral work. Plans for 2009 included expanding the institute to 30 participants.

Participants

Highlights

The Summer Scholars Institute 2007 was launched on June 4, 2007. Eleven Scholars from five HBCUs (Alabama A& M University, Clark Atlanta University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, and Langston University) attended the institute. Six of the Scholars were from Jackson State University and two were from Morehouse College. The majority of the Scholars were chemistry and biology majors and rising juniors and seniors. There were also two graduate students, one rising sophomore, and one recent university graduate. Although every Scholar had taken lab-based science classes, most had not conducted intensive laboratory research before attending the Summer Scholars Institute.

Summer Scholars Institute 2007 was a nine-week program conducted both on the IUPUI and Bloomington campuses. The institute had two objectives: (1) to provide the Scholars with an intensive STEM laboratory research experience and (2) to enhance the Scholars' interest in attending graduate school. Six Scholars worked with mentors at IUPUI and five with mentors at Bloomington.

The program was designed so that each Scholar spent at least 75% of his or her time conducting research in the laboratory. In addition, there were planned social activities and presentations to the Scholars by Mentors regarding their research on the respective campuses. There were two joint social events for all Scholars. Every Scholar attended the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) conference at Purdue University. In addition, every Scholar prepared a poster explaining his or her research which was presented at the closing ceremony of the Summer Scholars Institute.

In addition to the faculty coordinators, Vicki Roberts, Associate Vice President Budget and Administration; Dr. Jack Schmit, Assistant to the Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs; Dr. Sherree Wilson, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor and IU Vice President for Long-Range Planning, IUPUI; Dr. Samuel White, Jr., Clinical Professor of ECE and Senior Advisor to the Dean, Purdue University School of Engineering and Technology and David Koerner, Assistant Director, IUPUI Graduate Office, Administration, IU (together with the faculty directors, the "IU Team") were responsible for the administration of the Summer Scholars Institute.

Participants