The Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland, has invited more than two hundred U.S. universities to compete for four-year grants for programs that provide undergraduate research opportunities and broaden access to science for majors and non-majors.

The new $86 million program was launched to encourage collaborations among applicant institutions, to provide opportunities and resources for faculty members to improve their teaching skills and course materials, and to help faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates learn to mentor effectively. The grants, which range from $1.2 million to $2.2 million, will also support new courses in emerging fields such as computational biology, genomics, and bio-imaging; mentoring programs; current and future faculty development; laboratory equipment; and cooperative programs with elementary and secondary schools.

"We want to see teamwork among faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates, and we encourage collaborations that expand opportunities for all participants, including undergraduates, faculty members, pre-college science teachers, and their students," said Peter J. Bruns, HHMI's vice president for grants and special programs. "We also encourage activities that help prepare postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to be outstanding teachers as well as research scientists."