SGS Undergraduate Research Project Ideas
RESEARCH & EDUCATION
AWARD
The SGS Seed Research and Education Award was begun by Tim Gutormson (Agronomy `82) and Sharon Gutormson both South Dakota natives who attended SDSU and were members of the Plant Science Department staff during their careers. They started SGS a seed testing laboratory, in 1993 in the basement of their house near Bruce, SD. SGS is now located in Brookings, employing undergraduates and graduates of SDSU.
Expectations of Recipients:
An abstract (1/2 page) describing the results of the research must be prepared at completion of the work in order for the student to receive the second half of the stipend. The abstract must be sent to the College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences Academic Programs Office, 156 Ag Hall. A copy will be sent to the donors. It is also hoped that students will present their research in the SDSU Journal of Undergraduate Research or other appropriate publications or meetings.
Compliance:
The faculty mentor will ensure that research activities and expenditures are in compliance with federal, state, Board of Regents, and university regulations. The faculty mentor will also ensure that university safety policies are enforced and that the proposal will be sent for compliance review as appropriate (e.g., Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Human Subjects Committee, Radiation Safety, Recombinant DNA).
Deadline:
Proposals may be submitted twice annually. Proposals for Fall semster are due April 1st. Proposal for the Spring semester are due November 1st.
Recipient Selection:
Proposals will be evaluated by a committee overseen by the Director of Academic Programs, College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences, SDSU. Fall and Spring recipient selection will be complete by appoximately May 15 or Novemeber 15, respectively. Reasearch funds will be made available starting approximately June 1 or January 1, depending on when student is available to begin working on the project.
Eligibility:
Undergraduate students and graduate students are eligible for the award. The student or students must have sufficient time remaining prior to graduation to complete the proposed research project. The student must have a faculty mentor who has agreed to oversee the project and provide access to needed laboratory space, equipment, etc.
Award:
The SGS Research Award shall consist of a one-time cash stipend to the student or students and funds to conduct the research. Half of the stipend will be given at project initiation and half at completion. The research funds may be used for research supplies, student travel, or other items associated with the research project. The faculty mentor will oversee all expenditures of research funds.
Instructions:
The student or faculty mentor must submit a research proposal (maximum 2 pages) using the attached form. The proposal should be submitted to the Academic Programs Office, 156 Ag Hall, or electronically to donald.marshall@sdstate.edu no later than November 1st for the following spring semester or May 1st for the following fall semester. Awards will be made and the research will be conducted in the following semester. Projects should generally be completed in one year or less.
Multi-Species Germination Area
- Thermogradient germination studies on native species
- Fungal development and identification in seed germination tests on natives
- Seedlings/gram and Viable Seeds/gram and the relationship with Pure Live Seed (PLS) percentages
- Saturated salt Accelerated Aging test for sweet corn, small-seeded vegetables and flower seeds.
- Tetrazolium testing native species with growth regulators as imbibition solutions.
- GA3 comparison for prechill on cereals
- GA3/KNO3 solutions synergistic affects on warm season native grass germination.
DNA – Protein Area
- Develop ability to test for quality traits: particular fatty acids in different crops
- Seed health testing for Tilletia species
- Develop SB Cyst nematode PCR test
- Kentucky bluegrass genotyping project
- Native species IEF (Isoelectric focusing electrophoresis) –ecotype work/ genetic shift with cultivation
- Hybrid Verify – bulking seeds and IEF analysis
Expansion of Seed Health testing – Survey of needs of crop consultants
Corn and Soybean Area
- Influence of glyphosate on Phomopsis spp seed/seedling infection and germination in lab tests
- Seed treatments and influence on seed quality and field emergence
- Relationship of laboratory quality tests to field emergence and yield