Twenty ERPGs fund oppurtunities for unique student research

By Mitchell Peters

Twenty students have recently been given a $500 educational opportunity from the Associated Students Academic Committee .

The Educational Research and Project Grant (ERPG) will help aid various student research projects.

The grant is designed to aid in laboratory experiments, senior projects, field studies, printing of theses, subscription to related journals and material to create artwork.

“ You don’t have to be doing research in a specific field or in a specific school, anyone who is trying to do something can do it,” said Academic Affairs Senator Christina LeClerc.

The ERPG Program sets aside $10,000 each year from budgeted student fees to provide funding for students whose projects are unique and would be most beneficial to the university and the community.

Twenty out of 75 applicants were chosen to receive funding for various forms of academic research, including engineering, biology, drama, sports and kinesiology, LeClerc said.

Most of these students had been planning projects, but hadn’t able to follow through with them due to the lack of funding, LeClerc said.

Students were informed of the grant through flyers posted around school and by professors who encouraged them to apply.

One such student was Samantha Hageman, a biology graduate student. Hageman’s research involves trying to mutate soil bacterium to create a potential drug target for tuberculosis. With the many elements that are needed for her research, Hageman said the grant will be very useful.

“ This kind of work is really money intensive,” Hageman said. “It allows for more flexibility in what I can do, otherwise I’d be restricted because I didn’t have the money.”

Dr. Mamta Rawat, a professor of biology at Fresno State, said the program provides excellent experience for her students in applying for grants, summarizing projects, constructing budgets and providing hands-on experience inside the laboratory.

Not only does the program provide for students, Rawat said, but it also helps the budget within the department.

“ Any little bit we can put into the lab budget helps,” Rawat said.

Recipients of the ERPG must be enrolled as students for the duration of the program, and are required to submit at least two short progress reports along with receipts on how the money is being spent. The first report is due Feb. 27, with a full report of the research project due by April 23.

Upon completion of the project, the students will be asked to give a brief presentation to the AS Academic Committee in order to make sure the money for the program is going to good use, LeClerc said.

All equipment purchased with the money provided by the ERPG Program will be donated back to the department in which it was used.

“ It’s a win situation anyway you look at it,” said K.P Wong, dean of science and mathematics. “The nice thing for us is that we get students involved and that’s why this program is so important.”