Research scholars greet prospective students

At a reception in the Biotechnology Building April 6, Presidential Research Scholar Somjen Frazer '03, women's studies, talks with prospective student Rian Balfour from Coconut Creek, Fla. Robert Barker/University Photography

By Mark Siegal '00

The Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Program (CPRS) held an open house and reception April 6 in the Biotechnology Building as part of the annual Cornell Days program for visiting prospective students.

Current research scholars and visiting students had an opportunity during the gathering to mingle and talk, following speeches by President Hunter Rawlings and CPRS director Peter Bruns, professor of genetics.

Since 1996, CPRS has supported research projects for undergraduate students who demonstrate superior academic potential and intellectual curiosity. The university-supported program provides $10,000 in research funding and up to $3,500 in annual loan reductions for financially eligible students. Students in the program are chosen as incoming freshmen.

At the open house, an even mix of freshman, sophomore and junior research scholars displayed their posters on a variety of topics, from the use of radar for imaging archaeological ruins to the role of poverty in causing psychological distress.

During his remarks, Rawlings praised the program.

"This is a wonderful program that I think engages students from the freshman year on. It is one we feel very strongly about at Cornell and which I'm happy to say has become more and more popular as it has become better known," Rawlings said. "We have a large number of faculty members at Cornell who are indeed at the forefront of their research fields, who are also very accessible to students, who enjoy working with students and who like the opportunity to have a freshman come into their lab or work with them on projects that they feel require a team approach."

He continued: "This is one of my favorite programs at Cornell, because it does what I think is so critical for students: It links them directly to faculty members, and to me the hallmark of a great undergraduate education is an opportunity for students to work with faculty members starting in their freshman year -- not in large classes only, but in one-on-one experiences where students can work directly with someone who is doing research at the forefront of a field or discipline and where you can to learn from someone who is engaged in the process of discovery and is excited about that."

Passing along the excitement of research is one of the driving goals of CPRS, Rawlings pointed out. "Professors enjoy the opportunity because they are excited about their own work and because they feel that passing on that excitement to the next generation is one of the most important things they do. We could not run this program without volunteer support from our faculty. They do this because they want to do it, we don't make anyone do it, and that's what makes it so much fun for students."