Opportunity Description:

Phenotypic Plasticity Research Experience for Community College Students is an opportunity for 10 community college students to conduct research for 10 weeks during the summer. PRECS is a collaboration between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, located in Urbana, IL, and Parkland College, located Champaign, IL. The program will begin with a boot camp at Parkland College on topics ranging from specific laboratory methods to discussions of research ethics. Students will then join a research immersion program within a research lab at the University of Illinois in the area of phenotypic plasticity, the phenomenon of a single genotype producing multiple phenotypes depending on environment. Possible research projects include but are not limited to the interaction between genotype and ozone pollution on maize growth, the effect of environmental stress on neuroanatomy, and the interactions of genes and environment on fish behavior. Students will present their research at their home community college as well as at an undergraduate research symposium on the University of Illinois campus. Students from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged. Eligibility: -Full time commitment to 10 week program -Current community college student -US citizen or permanent resident -Successful completion of General Biology I and General Chemistry I are preferred.