Speaker
Description
Primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) play a critical role in advancing scientific education and research by fostering hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities for students. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grants provide PUIs with access to state-of-the-art equipment, enabling cutting-edge research that would otherwise be financially unattainable. These grants enhance undergraduate training by preparing students for graduate studies and STEM careers. Faculty at PUIs benefit from MRI grants through increased research productivity and opportunities to collaborate with larger institutions. By funding specialized instrumentation, NSF MRI grants elevate the quality of research at PUIs, and in the case of a Beam Dump Facility, increase the involvement of a PUI at Jefferson Lab. In my talk, I will discuss my experience as a professor and researcher at a PUI and will share my vision of a collaborative NSF MRI with other PUI and R1 institutions.
