LURE Program

There are many unique learning opportunities in the sciences at Lakeland College. The $3.2 million renovation of the Chase Science Center in 2003 created a first rate science facility. The structural improvements to the building and the investment in some state of the art scientific instrumentation paid immediate dividends in the quality of science education for Lakeland students. This spurred the development of the Lakeland Undergraduate Research Experiences (LURE) Program. Started in the summer of 2004 by Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Greg Smith and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Dr. Jeffery Schwehm, this program allows Lakeland students to design, conduct, troubleshoot, and analyze their own scientific research projects under the direct supervision of a faculty member during a 10-week, paid, summer internship. As of the summer of 2008, 21 students had participated in this program and 6 to 12 students are expected to be involved each summer. Of the eight students who have participated and graduated, three are in graduate/professional schools in the sciences, three are employed in various scientific industry positions in the state, one is in the police academy with the goal of becoming a forensic scientist, and one is a local high school biology teacher. The updated science facilities have also allowed the development of some unique, laboratory-intense courses, including a DNA techniques course, a protein techniques course, and, most recently, an instrumentation course. In May of 2008, 12 students participated in an intensive laboratory based course under the direction of Schwehm and Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Brian Frink. Students spent 6-8 hours a day working on a series of experiments using cutting edge scientific instrumentation. In addition, Smith and Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Paul Pickhardt took 10 Lakeland Biology students on a 15 day study abroad course to Belize in May of 2008. While in Belize, students spend time exploring both terrestrial (rain forest) and aquatic (barrier reef) tropical ecosystems.

You can get more information about the LURE program (PDF, 879KB)