Miller is assuming leadership on this grant from colleague Sarah C.R. Elgin, Ph.D., professor of biology, who first secured funding from HHMI in 1992.

The grant involves a large number of WUSTL faculty and staff in activities designed to enhance the learning of science and math by students from K-12 and at the undergraduate level. It also provides opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to mentor younger students.

Competition for this grant is held every four years. Certain universities are invited to submit proposals, usually falling into one or more of four areas: curriculum development, undergraduate research programs, faculty development and K-12 science outreach activities.

Miller has overseen the running of HHMI programs since Elgin stepped down about two years ago. The submission of the new proposal was done last fall under Miller's name.

The previous and current grants have funded science-outreach activities such as professional development courses for teachers, activities for K-12 students, summer research programs for undergraduate students and curriculum development in math, biology, chemistry and physics. Also funded have been a new biophysics lab, a major overhaul of the advanced physical chemistry lab, new lab components for the biology introductory sequence and enhancements in advanced biology labs.

A Web-based tutorial and diagnostic test for incoming freshmen entering chemistry has also been developed over the last few years, Miller said. The Natural Sciences Learning Center was founded and originally funded through this grant, and is now funded by the University to support students in introductory courses in biology and other science areas.

There were four previous grants to WUSTL (including the one that is now running) from HHMI on which Elgin was the principal investigator; all have funded these types of activities.

The new grant will continue to build strength in science education through:

• Science outreach to K-12 (headed by Victoria L. May, outreach director in biology);

• Undergraduate research through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (for WUSTL undergrads to work in University faculty labs, overseen by Miller);

• Summer scholars in biology and biomedical sciences (prefreshmen research program);

• Curriculum enhancements in chemistry, physics and biology, and

• Mentoring programs for undergraduates struggling in chemistry.