By Gail Stephens
Students discuss their research posters at the inaugural UMES Student-led Undergraduate Research Symposium. (Photo by Todd Dudek/UMES Ag Communications)
Learning by doing takes classroom and textbook knowledge and applies it to real-world situations. Experiential opportunities are the backbone of student success, helping them gain practical skills, research acumen, improved critical thinking and professional competence.
The UMES School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, or SANS, incorporates a streamlined approach to strengthen undergraduate students’ resumes, build professional networks, graduate expeditiously, be workforce-ready and enter post-graduation internships, graduate schools or gainful employment.
“Our students who have completed meaningful research experiences have landed premier internships or employment in industry and government, been published in prestigious scholarly journals and have been accepted into top graduate programs across the country, including Ivy League schools,” said Moses T. Kairo, professor and SANS dean.
Faculty-mentored research is an integral part of senior capstone course curriculum, along with work in labs and in the field as part of ongoing federal, state and private sector grant-funded projects, Kairo said.
Students are expected to take an active role in their projects, including formally presenting their findings as a reflection of what they learned from the experience.
Their investigations span a range of applied sciences and interdisciplinary research areas including:
- Soil microbes interaction
- Integrated pest management
- Environmental impacts on food and livestock
- Genetic engineering
- Applications of artificial intelligence in agriculture
- Material science
- Drug discovery
They also explore cutting-edge topics such as space food production, precision agriculture and other emerging fields at the intersection of science, technology and innovation.
Center for Student Excellence creates synergies
Sophomore Sanee Crawford attends a math clinic led by Professor Mohamed Salih.
In its second year, the SANS Center for Student Excellence is becoming “the hub where experiential learning and student development converge,” said Kausik Das, professor of physics and director of the center.
Its mission supports recruitment, retention and matriculation goals leading to a pipeline of graduates “confident and ready to compete at the highest level,” Das said.
This is accomplished through consistent information sharing, mentorship and academic support, career readiness training and leadership opportunities.
Some of the tools used are:
- Internship announcements
- Tutoring sessions in critical academic areas such as chemistry and math
- Incorporation of cutting-edge technologies in the classroom
- Professional development workshops
- Physical and financial support for participation in national conferences and networking opportunities
SANS undergraduate research was highlighted at an end-of-semester symposium organized under the center, which is slated to become a school hallmark. Unlike traditional academic events, Das said, the symposium is student-led, allowing undergraduates the opportunity to organize, present and facilitate research discussions with their peers and faculty mentors.
“This hands-on responsibility not only reinforces research skills but also nurtures leadership, public speaking and organizational abilities — all highly sought by employers and graduate programs,” he said.
Scholarship is investment in future ag leaders
The UMES Land-grant Scholarship Program has been restructured under the Center for Student Excellence. The need-based scholarship is for students with the potential for high achievement who are interested in pursuing careers in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences.
“It can become a flagship program to attract and retain an elite group of students each academic year,” Das said. As of spring 2025, “111 students have benefited, and the first cohort experienc d a 91% graduation rate within 4.5 years. Their development showcases how intentional investment in mentorship and experiential opportunities can prepare students to be leaders in these targeted fields.”
The UMES scholarship is funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Applications typically open in the spring. Awardees must meet renewal conditions.
Learn more at: https://wwwcp.umes.edu/sans/umes-landgrant-scholarship-program
