CUR Announces CUR Fellows Awards Recipients for 2006

The Council on Undergraduate Research announces its CUR Fellows Awards for 2006. The recipients are John Mateja, Director, Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activities Office/McNair Scholars Program, Murray State University and Nancy Mills, Professor of Chemistry, Trinity University.   With these Fellows Awards, CUR celebrates individuals who exemplify the ideals of CUR. The awards will be presented at the 11th National CUR Conference at DePauw University in June, 2006. Each CUR Fellow will receive an award of $1000 and will present an inspiring talk about her/his research with undergraduates. The 2006 awards are sponsored by LI-COR Biosciences. 
 
The CUR Fellows awards are presented biennially to CUR members who have developed nationally respected research programs involving undergraduates. Awardees have established outstanding records of obtaining funding for their work and for their students, and have published research findings with undergraduate coauthors. They reach out to students of all backgrounds, incorporate research activities into the courses they teach, and lead efforts to institutionalize research on their campuses and across the nation. In sum, they are leaders and role models for countless faculty and students.
 
The nominees for our award have many common personality traits. They are compassionate, nurturing mentors gifted in helping undergraduates develop their research talents and skills. Their students look to them not just as advisors, but also as trusted friends. They have an enormous impact on the careers of their students as they contribute to the body of human knowledge. CUR honors Drs. Mateja and Mills this year, but in recognizing them, we also recognize and encourage the many other faculty who are striving for the same goals.
 
The mission of the Council on Undergraduate Research is to support and promote high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. CUR believes that faculty members enhance their teaching and contribution to society by remaining active in research and by involving undergraduates in research. CUR provides information on the importance of undergraduate research to state legislatures, private foundations, government agencies, and the U.S. Congress.
 
 
Links to bios of the award winners:

• John Mateja, Director, Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activities Office/McNair Scholars Program, Murray State University
   
• Nancy Mills, Professor of Chemistry, Trinity University