
Envision
Video: UD Envision 2024: youtube.com/watch?v=r103sICWcw0
Envision yourself as a scientist
UD Envision is a five year continuation of a previously-awarded three year program, funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) focused on generating the next generation of agricultural scientists. While minorities have traditionally been underrepresented in these disciplines and research target areas, this project supports the development of all students through intensive, hands-on research education and experiential learning projects to help bridge the perceptual change required for students to envision themselves as scientists.
With partnering institutions (Lincoln University, Delaware State University, Cheyney University, Wesley College and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore), 10 to 13 undergraduates per Summer will:
- Work with a faculty mentor to develop their own hypothesis-based research project,
- Document this project in a laboratory notebook, ePortfolio, and by creating a video summarizing the project,
- Present and distribute this video at the Delaware State Fair (it will also be posted to YouTube)
- Make a scientific poster presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in August.
The summer includes training in video equipment, editing, and storytelling, ethics, laboratory, and safety trainings, and participation in camraderie-building activities.
Envision is open to participation by any individual regardless of any characteristic protected by state and/or federal law, including, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, sex/gender, disability and/or age.
Participate in Paid Summer Research at the University of Delaware:
Stipend: $4,500 for 10 weeks
Duration: 10 weeks (June 9-August 15)
Housing: On campus Residence Hall, if needed
Name | Department | Area of Research | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Benham Abasht | abasht@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Bioinformatics/Genetics/Genomics | |
Aditya Dutta | adidutta@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Animal Physiology and Nutrition | |
Tanya Gressley | gressley@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Animal Physiology and Nutrition | |
Brian Ladman | Bladman@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Animal Diseases or Immunology | |
Shafeekh Muyyarikkandy | msm@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Food Safety and Microbiology | |
Mark Parcells | parcells@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Animal Diseases or Immunology | |
Juzhong Tan | jztan@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Food Processing | |
Changqing Wu | changwu@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Food Toxicology, Food Chemistry | |
Alex Yitbarek | yitbarek@udel.edu | Animal and Food Sciences | Animal Diseases or Immunology | |
Kelly Davidson | kade@udel.edu | Applied Economics and Statistics | Consumer Perceptions and Preferences | |
Michael Crossley | crossley@udel.edu | Entomology and Wildlife Ecology | Entomology | |
Vincenzo Ellis | vaellis@udel.edu | Entomology and Wildlife Ecology | Wildlife Ecology | |
Chris Williams | ckwillia@udel.edu | Entomology and Wildlife Ecology | Wildlife Ecology | |
Harsh Bais | hbais@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Plant Molecular Biology | |
Yin Bao | yinbao@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Digital Agriculture | |
Jesus Beltran | jbeltran@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Plant Molecular Biology | |
Alyssa Betts | akoehler@udel.edi | Plant and Soil Sciences | Plant Pathology | |
Nicole Donofrio | ndonof@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Plant Pathology | |
Jeff Fuhrmann | fuhrmann@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Plant Microbiology | |
Zach Hammaker | zhamm@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Landscape Architecture | |
Alex Huddell | ahuddell@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Environmental Studies | |
Shreeram Inamdar | inamdar@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Water Quality Analysis | |
Deb Jaisi | jaisi@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Water Quality Analysis | |
Jung-Youn Lee | jylee@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Plant Molecular Biology | |
Matt Limmer | limmer@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Environmental Studies | |
Qi Mu | qimu@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Bioinformatics/Genetics/Genomics | |
Tara Trammell | ttram@udel.edu | Plant and Soil Sciences | Environmental Studies |
Over the summer, ten to thirteen students take part in a broad range of research topics, such as Animal Health and Disease, Bioenergy and the Environment, Food Safety and Microbiology, Genetics and Genomics, Physiology, Immunology and Nutrition. During their time with Envision, students will get to experience video documentation, laboratory work, and general hands-on experience as well as many other take-aways from this program. Along with laboratory safety trainings, students also attend ethics training and multi-media trainings to learn how to effectively preform and present their work, especially for the Delaware State Fair and the Undergraduate Research Program.
Archive

UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAMS
- Hands-on Training
- Programs run June 5 to Aug. 15, 2025
- $4,500 Stipend and $500 Research Allowance
- On-campus housing available
Professor
Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences
Dept. of Biological Sciences
University of Delaware
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How to Grill Meat Safely—According to Science
June 18, 2025 | Written by Amanda Heidt of Scientific AmericanFood microbiologists, including Department of Animal and Food Sciences faculty member Kali Kniel, explain how to ensure different proteins, such as beef, chicken and pork, are prepared safely. Just as the human body houses billions of microorganisms, Kniel notes, animals also “have a naturally occurring community of bacteria that colonizes their gut and skin.” -
UD alumna Jessica Berkeridge provides veterinary care and second chances
June 17, 2025 | Written by Molly SchaferNative Delawarean and alumna Jessica Berkeridge is a veterinarian and the owner of Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital in Bear, Delaware. A Blue Hen with a big heart, Berkeridge spent 18 months rehabilitating Cheyla, a severely wounded pit bull, while she attended veterinary school. The experience led Berkeridge to open Cheyla’s Rescue Foundation, a 100 percent volunteer-run, no-kill animal shelter. -
Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them
June 17, 2025 | Written by Tess McClure and Patrick Greenfield | The GuardianEntomologist Doug Tallamy, University of Delaware TA Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was interviewed by The Guardian about what people can do to save the declining number of insects around the world. Tallamy recommends planting native plants so local insects have food to go to. Tallamy said certain plants, called “keystone plants” not only support insects, but the birds that eat those insects.