The School of Informatics held a January celebration and kick-off workshop for its new Research Scholars Program, which targets underrepresented students who want to develop research experience as an undergraduate. All undergraduate women and minority students in Informatics and Computer Science were invited to apply, and more than one third of these students submitted applications. To browse the Research Scholars Program photo album, click here.

Eighteen undergraduates were selected for the spring 2009 semester. Each team of two students is paired with a PhD mentor who introduces them to significant issues in research. The mentor engages the student team in a research project that will be featured in a poster presentation at the end of the spring semester. In addition to five hours a week of research and regular mentor meetings, the Informatics Research Scholars will participate in three professional development seminars on research and career options after graduation.

Maureen Biggers

"We are very excited about this new undergrad research program that targets underrepresented women and minority students in our field," said Dean Biggers, who began her tenure as the new assistant dean in 2008. Before coming to IU, she was assistant dean for Diversity and Community and director of the Diversity Research Lab at the Georgia Tech College of Computing. Dean Biggers is also project manager for the National Science Foundation Broadening Participation in Computing Alliance for the Advancement of African-American Researchers in Computing, and a member of the leadership team for the National Center for Women & Information Technology. For more information on the Research Scholars Program, e-mail at biggersm@indiana.edu.

Visit the DEMA Web site for more Diversity Contacts at IU Bloomington.

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Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs
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