This fellowship is aimed at highly motivated and competitive students who are interested in a career as an elementary or secondary school science teacher. Students will have the opportunity to develop a project to provide instruction in a scientific discipline in a local school or community setting in partnership with a mentor at their home institution and a teacher or site coordinator from the host site.

Each fellow receives a $2,500 stipend, a two-year ASM student membership, up to $500 for supplies and instructional materials. Awardees are also encouraged to submit abstracts and applications for to attend the 2009 ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE).

This year, five applications were received and each applicant was awarded. Of the five awardees, two students were from research and doctoral institutions, three students were from masters' and liberal arts institutions.

Donna Hazelwood from Dakota State University is Jordan Frisch’s faculty mentor, while Tracey Chase from McCook Central High School is the K-12 site mentor. The title of the project is: Effects of Plant and Soil Samples on Microorganisms on Corn and Soybeans.

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest single biological membership organization, with over 40,000 members worldwide. Please visit http://www.asm.org/education/index.asp?bid=4322 for more information on this fellowship.