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<i>Dear Colleagues:</i></div>
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<i>I hope you are doing well. I am writing to highlight a few research-related opportunities that I</i></div>
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<i>have become aware of recently. I hope that you can take advantage of at least one of them and also help me spread the word.</i></div>
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<b><i> </i></b></div>
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<b><i>TRAININGS</i></b></div>
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<b>Inclusive Mentoring of Undergraduate Researchers –</b> <b><u>Wednesdays during February 2026</u></b></div>
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Each semester, the <span style="color: blue;"><u><a style="color: blue;" data-auth="NotApplicable" class="x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA8466b8da-00cd-162b-d527-6a92fa578ece" href="https://uavip.arizona.edu/about/overview">Vertically Integrated Projects</a> </u></span>team
offers a six-hour training for mentors (faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate students) who are actively involved, or plan to become involved, in mentoring undergraduate students in research. The training is set up as four 1.5-hour participatory online meetings.
VIP Team Leaders, potential VIP leaders, and others mentoring or planning to mentor undergraduate students are welcome to join this community of mentors. </div>
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<b>More Information: </b><a data-auth="NotApplicable" title="https://uavip.arizona.edu/inclusive-mentoring-undergraduate-researchers" class="x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWAe66163da-7682-05b6-db9f-5094b179bdb0" href="https://uavip.arizona.edu/inclusive-mentoring-undergraduate-researchers">Inclusive
Mentoring of Undergraduate Students</a></div>
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<b><i>FUNDING</i></b></div>
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<b>Undergraduate Student-Initiated Original Research Program – <u>Mon March 2nd, 2026</u></b></div>
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The Office of Research & Partnerships (ORP) provides funding for undergraduate students at The University of Arizona to pursue their own research questions with faculty mentors of their choice. Each year, 10-15 awardees are competitively selected by a cross-campus
multidisciplinary committee to receive up to $1,500 each for the research project. Awardees participate in a student forum in the Fall to report progress.</div>
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<b>More Information:</b> <span style="color: blue;"><u><a data-auth="NotApplicable" title="https://arizona.box.com/s/vnb4j1f0tcr2ml5iy4oycvgk996qy6r3" class="x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWAf3728a48-1eac-7ca6-8e6d-63923867122b" href="https://arizona.box.com/s/vnb4j1f0tcr2ml5iy4oycvgk996qy6r3">Undergraduate
Student Initiated Original Research Program Application</a></u></span></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<b>AFRI Grants for Education & Workforce Development – <u>various due dates </u></b></div>
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The 2026 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) program has approximately $39.7 million available to support research, education, extension, and integrated projects that strengthen the food and agricultural
workforce. Eligible activities include K–14 professional development, youth education, community college training, undergraduate research, predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, and workforce development workshops.</div>
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<b>More Information:</b> <span style="color: blue;"><u><a style="color: blue;" data-auth="NotApplicable" class="x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA09b5f7a1-3db2-9c43-0ce4-72d0c74ae40a" href="https://arizona.box.com/s/xt2tbvxe6m5bakfho11bpbmsd9gvt4ti">AFRI Education & Workforce
Development Notice of Funding Opportunity</a></u></span></div>
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<b><i> </i></b></div>
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<b><i>RESOURCES</i></b></div>
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<b>Free Membership at American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)</b>: The University of Arizona recently became an institutional member of the AAAS, the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific association dedicated to advancing science,
engineering, and innovation for the benefit of all. UA faculty, students, and staff are eligible to claim a complimentary AAAS Elemental Membership. Benefits include access to the AAAS Member Community, policy alerts, discounts, career resources, and eligibility
for AAAS member only awards.</div>
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<b>More Information:</b> <span style="color: blue;"><u><a style="color: blue;" data-auth="NotApplicable" class="x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA06e1375d-2037-5654-a230-41189dfc2076" href="https://research.arizona.edu/announcements/u-faculty-staff-and-students-eligible-free-membership-aaas">UA
Free AAAS Membership Announcement</a></u></span></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i>Cheers,</i></div>
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<i><br>
Zelieann</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><img style="width: 120px;" width="120" title="The University of Arizona" alt="The University of Arizona block 'A' logo." src="https://brand.arizona.edu/sites/all/modules/custom/brand_generator/img/ua-sig-logo.png"></span></td>
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<div style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);"><b>Zelieann R Craig, Ph.D.</b></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">Assistant Dean for Research, College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">Associate Professor</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">,
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">Bioscience Research Labs, 355<br>
PO Box 210090 | Tucson, AZ 85721<br>
Office: 520-621-8082 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(118, 118, 118);">| </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
zelieann@arizona.edu<br>
Pronouns: she/her/ella</span></div>
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<td style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; width: 500px; height: 171.435px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" class="x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWAca086da6-c5dc-498f-c4f0-5e939053dffb" href="https://brand.arizona.edu/signature"><img style="width: 400px; height: 164px;" height="164" width="400" id="x_image_0" title="The University of Arizona Purpose & Values. Working together to expand human potential, explore new horizons and enrich life for all." alt="Integrity, Compassion, Exploration, Adaptation, Inclusion, Determination" src="https://brand.arizona.edu/sites/all/modules/custom/brand_generator/img/signature-footer.png"></a></span></td>
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