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• Margaret M. Plummer Memorial Research Fund
  
  
• Arabidopsis Research
  
  
• McNair Scholars Program
  

STUDENTS: If you are interested in conducting a research project with financial support through this fund, download the application form and contact an H.U. Biology faculty member.

CONTRIBUTORS: To support this worthwhile fund with a tax-deductable donation you may contact one of the following individuals:

“All [biology] students should be encouraged to pursue independent research as early as is practical in their education...”
“...undergraduate research is not only the essential component of good teaching and effective learning, but also research with undergraduate students is in itself the purest form of teaching.”

The Harding biology faculty strongly believes that acquiring research experience as an undergraduate is essential. Dr. Nathan Mills, a Harding alumnus claims he would not have been admitted to the Ph.D. program at the University of Missouri were it not for his undergraduate research experiences at Harding. Our recent graduates, now attending various graduate programs around the country, refrain the same tune:

"If you want to be seriously considered for admission into a top graduate program, you must have previous research experience.”

Harding students can gain this precious research experience by participating with Dr. Rebekah Rampey in the Arabidopsis project or, for those who qualify, by participating in the McNair Scholars Program or by participating in one of the many excellent summer research opportunities available in various institutions throughout the country (SURF or REU). The HU Biology faculty work diligently to prepare students for such opportunities. Our students have earned for the department a great reputation at many prestigious programs throughout the nation.

To facilitate undergraduate research on HU's campus, the family and friends of Margaret M. Plummer established a fund in her honor shortly after her death in 1998. The Margaret M. Plummer Memorial Research Fund (a.k.a. The Plummer Fund) is controlled directly by the Harding University Department of Biology and is currently managed by Dr. Nathan Mills. We are pleased to say that 100% of the Fund’s earnings go toward supporting research.

A Fund that is Unique:

The Plummer Fund is unique among the endowed funds at Harding. Primarily because it supports student research rather than provide tuition. The Plummer Fund has grown steadily since its inception and now generates usable income. This steady growth resulted from the financial support of many former HU Biology students and biology patrons. While current income is very limited, we anticipate the Fund will grow to meet the needs of more student research. Such future growth is dependent upon the generosity of interested individuals. Your tax-deductable donations to the Plummer Fund will impact the training of qualified Christian scientist leaders of tomorrow!

Plummer Fund Guidelines:

• Projects must provide one-on-one research experience between one or more biology majors and an HU Biology faculty member.
  
• Projects that directly and actively involve students as co-investigators or research assistants are encouraged.
  
• The Fund may provide support for assistant wages, supplies, equipment, research travel, and publication costs.