What Has Been Achieved:

A high-achieving undergraduate student in VT’s Department of Biochemistry, Zachary Hartman, has completed GlycoMIP’s first Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow, SURF, program. As part of a larger SURF program offered by VT’s Fralin Life Sciences Institute (FLSI), the focused research and professional development initiative gives undergraduates a chance to work directly with a faculty member or research scientist in the laboratory. They spend their time interacting with and learning from other students and scientists on a day-to-day basis. A group of 20-30 SURF participants are introduced to a broad set of activities throughout the summer. The pinnacle of their summer is a presentation on their research during an undergraduate research symposium sponsored by the VT Office of Undergraduate Research. For 2021, the symposium was held virtually, but normally is held in-person and allows SURF students to interact with faculty and other students. Professor Richard Helm, Director of the GlycoMIP user facility at VT, mentored Zachary, spending time with him each day to guide his progress. Zachary, having been a GlycoMIP participant, will consider the MIP for his planned graduate studies.

Importance of the Achievement:

The GlycoMIP SURF program offers a unique path to reach and engage prospective graduate students. If the MIP is to meet its goal of educating the next generation of glycan scientists, a multi-faceted approach is required. The existing FLSI SURF program offers GlycoMIP the opportunity to participate in an existing program that, for many years, has successfully introduced undergraduate students to graduate-level research. Through this partnership, GlycoMIP offers students a comprehensive experience, including professional development workshops, significant laboratory work, and one-on-one mentorship by a faculty member or research scientist. The success of the inaugural GlycoMIP SURF program paves the way for future offerings, helping the MIP broaden participation among U.S.-based undergraduates.

Unique Feature(s) of the MIP that Enabled this Achievement:

The GlycoMIP user facility at VT is housed within Steger Hall, the flagship building of the FLSI. Steger Hall is home to state- of-the-art, highly productive research labs, offering SURF participants an exciting environment in which to spend a summer. A GlycoMIP SURF student will get to work with other scientists, as well as GlycoMIP Scholars, in a unique laboratory with resources like no other. In future years, as the laboratory becomes fully functional, the experience will only improve.