GDCB Professor Phil Becraft (PI) and Dr. Paula McSteen (Co-PI), professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri (Co-Principal Investigator), have been awarded $33,650.00 in sponsored funding by the NSF.  Professor Becraft is the chair and Professor McSteen a member of the 2013 Maize Genetics Conference Steering Committee, and this award is to help broaden participation and help defray the costs of participation of students from the U.S. scientific community to attend the 55th Maize Genetics Conference (MGC) to be held at the Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles, IL on March 14-17, 2013.  Awardees will have hotel accommodation costs defrayed and a limited number of travel scholarships will be available to qualified applicants. Applications are available online at the conference website http://www.maizegdb.org/maize_meeting/2013/.  Detailed efforts are planned to broaden the participation of women and members of groups under-represented in the sciences.

The Maize Genetics Conference assembles scientists from industry and academia to discuss the latest research developments on many areas encompassing maize genetics.  It is not only an exciting scientific meeting but provides outstanding opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists to interact with outstanding scientists within and outside the maize community.