The VFIC's Summer Undergraduate Program allows undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct supervised research with faculty mentors. Hands-on research is conducted in science-related areas with students receiving training in researching methods, analyzing data and creating written and oral presentations of their findings. Since the beginning of the VFIC undergraduate research collaborative project, the VFIC has provided $300,750 to support Summer Undergraduate Research programs at its member colleges.

This unique educational program provides students with an in-depth learning experience and the opportunity to co-author published articles relating to their research. In some cases, students will join their faculty mentor to make presentations at regional and national scientific seminars. As a result of this program, students gain advantages for the graduate school admissions process and set the stage for meaningful careers in the sciences.

A Sample of Current and Past Research Projects:

• Ecology of Small Mammals Using Burn Areas
• Surface Modication of Silica with Functional Silanes
• Melanoma-associated Suppression of Dendritic Cell Activation
• Effects of Bisphenol A on Development in Zebrafish
• Evaluating the Possible Parentage of Platanthera shriveri (pale purple frilly orchid) through Pollination Biology
• Investigation of the Binding of the LL-37 Peptide to Its Natural Substrate DNA and to the Cucurbituril Class of Novel Therapeutics
• Conservation of the Belizean Hicatee (Dermatemys mawii), a Critically Endangered Freshwater River Turtle
• Developing and Sustaining Edible Urban Landscapes
• Synthesis and Characterization of Platinum-Carbonyl and Platinum-Hydrido Complexes Stabilized by Diphosphines
• DCB and its Effect on the Cellulose Content in the Roots of Maize and other Members of the Poaceae Family
• Composition and Structure of White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) Forests in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, USA
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Best Management Practices on Cattle Farms in Amherst County
• Climatic Influences on the Downhill Migration of Understory Plant Species
• Hague Oyster Restoration Assessment
• The Examination of Anatomical and Physiological Changes Associated with Diet Induced Cognitive Impairment in Male and Female Rats
• An Androgen Receptor:  Green Fluorescent Protein Construct for Producing Transgenic Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
• The Use of Small Molecules to Control the Conformational State of the West Nile Virus Envelope Glycoprotein
• Examination of the Antimicrobial Properties of Garlic (Allium sativum) in Relationship to Strain Type and Storage Time
• The Synthesis and Medicinal Study of 3(2H)-Furanone Derivatives
• Classification of Arabidopsis Thaliana Growth Phenotypes after Random Insertions to Alter Genotype
• The Affect that HIV-TAT, THC and Cytokines have on Chemokine Expression from Macrophages
• Corrosion of Carbon Doped Glasses The Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Palo Santo Oil
• Examination of Microorganisms Obtained from Soda Fountain Machines
• How do Acacia-inhabiting Spiders Avoid Predation by Plant-defending Acacia Ants?
• Cucurbit[n]uril Based Receptors for Tryptophan Metabolites
• Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
• Two Investigations in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
• Investigation into the Formation of Novel Iridium and Rhodium Binuclear Complexes
• Developing RNA Silencing Experiments in Coprinus Cinereus
• Can a Mathematical Model of Bacterial Growth Predict the Response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus Grown Under Nutritionally Stressful Conditions?
• Synthesis and Photochemical Study of 3 (2H) Furanones
• Study of Differentially Expressed Genes During the Acquisition of Symbionts
• Potential Effects of Diet on Gizzard Shad Morphology
• Modeling User Data to Generate Automatically Realistic Test Cases for Web Applications
• Methane Spectroscopy for Modeling Atmospheres of Outer Planets
• Transcriptional Regulation of Gibberellin Biosynthesis
• Ecological Research and Adaptive Management for Wildlife Populations in Managed Systems
• Study and Investigation of Xel Emission for Photochemical and Photobiological Applications
• The Evolution of Swarm Intelligence
• Investigating the Clorox Oxidation of Alcohols
• Assessment of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag use in Hatchling Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta)
• Mercury Allocation into Eggs Laid by and Insectivorous Songbird.
• The Neurobiological Costs of Passive Lifestyles.
• The Effects of Rotation and Uneven Expansion on the Microwave Background
• Sensory Perception and Post-Emergence Behavior of Leatherback Sea Turtle Hatchlings at Petite Tacarib, Trinidad
• Synthesis of Novel Ligands for Applications in Asymmetric Catalysis
• Isotopic Analysis of Holocene Acropora cervicornis, Lago Enriquillo, Dominican Republic
• Excitation Intensity Dependence of Anti-Stokes Emission in Undoped YVO4 
• The Systematics and Life History of Pulmonate Gastropods in the Virginia Piedmont Area (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata)
• Measuring the Water Potential of Turtle Eggs Throughout Incubation
• The Investigation of Anomalous Behavior In Sunspot Relative Intensity Profiles 
• Selective Hypochlorite Oxidation of Diols 
• Suitablility of Using Type 1 Fimbrial Gene Differences in Escherichia coli as a Bacterial Source Tracking Method 
• Spatial learning differences among ages in male Asian Musk Shrews (suncus murina) using the Morris water maze 
• An investigation of Shigella flexneri iron and manganese acquisition mutants in response to different environmental conditions 
• A Case Study of Overwintering Requirements of Monarch Butterflies in Mexico  

If you or your company would like to contribute to this worthwhile student summer scientific research program, please contact Mary-Beth Johnson, VFIC Vice President.