NSF REU: INSPIRE
Texas A&M University-San Antonio·San Antonio, TX·2026 cycle
Closed for cycleIntegrative BiologyHumanities✓ verified
INSPIRE (INcreasing Student Participation in Research Experiences) aims to develop a Summer REU site in the newly formed Department of Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA), led by Dr. Davida Smyth, who coordinates the Biology Program. A&M-SA is a rapidly growing, majority-minority, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) whose student population is predominantly composed of socioeconomically disadvantaged and underrepresented minorities, who have historically lacked the support required to be successful in STEM programs, located on the south side of San Antonio. Our student composition, diverse and integrated research projects, goals for training and skill development, and our location make us a truly unique REU site. This site, known as the Espada property, whose ownership was recently transferred to the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) and A&M-SA, encompasses a 30-acre lake and a diverse landscape and ecosystem mildly disturbed by human activities. This site also has historical and cultural significance as it is adjacent to the UNESCO-designated Mission Espada was established by early Spanish Missionaries. Each student accepted into INSPIRE will choose a collaborative project and a primary faculty research mentor from the project website. Projects will connect to issues of local, regional, and national importance related to ecosystem resilience. Faculty mentors will support, guide, and oversee the student’s research progress in conjunction with graduate and undergraduate peer mentors working in the lab of the faculty mentor. Our programming will support the development of students' STEM identity, help them grow their network, expose them to the research and cultural ecosystem of San Antonio, and guide them in exploring the multitude of STEM and STEM-related careers.
Behavior, Ecology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Physiology, Evolution, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Water Science and Technology
INSPIRE will primarily serve three cohorts of students: 1) from A&M-SA, 2) from local community colleges, and 3) from other 4-year institutions across the United States that support students typically underrepresented in STEM fields. The members of the steering committee will identify students who describe financial need, have compelling personal statements, provide strong letters of support from faculty and employers, and have a strong and well-articulated desire to conduct research. We will endeavor to support students who would otherwise be unable to conduct research. Students who have completed their first year will be eligible to apply and need a minimum GPA of 2.0. Completion of additional courses may be recommended for placement in the lab of a particular faculty (for example, if they wish to conduct research with pathogenic microbes).
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