FARMINGTON -- Among the University of Maine-Farmington students conducting undergraduate-research projects this semester, 11 have been recognized by the University of Maine at Farmington Undergraduate Research Council as fall 2008 Michael D. Wilson Research Scholars and Fellows.

Under the Wilson program, each student's project is awarded funding that underwrites expenses and helps encourage and promote continuing academic investigation.

The fall 2008 Wilson Scholars are Joshua Case, New Vineyard; Ben Engel, Westford, Mass.; Isaac Frith, Randolph; Jaimie Gagne, Gorham, N.H.; Caroline Gallant, Concord, N.H.; Eric Munson, Belfast; Stephanie Nobrega, Phillipston, Mass.; Victoria Pearson, Skowhegan; William Roy, Turner; and Samuel Valentine, Farmington. The 2008-2009 Michael D. Wilson Research Fellow is Daniel Allen, Gardiner.

Pearson is a senior majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. She is investigating antibiotic resistance and co-evolution in E. coli.

Valentine is a senior with an individualized interdisciplinary major in globalization studies. He is investigating the implementation of collaborative online work environments in the classroom.

Allen is a junior majoring in mathematics. His research project involves computing the sigma invariants of braid groups found in knot theory.

These awards are funded by a gift from Michael and Susan Angelides, of Stonington, Conn., in honor of UMF alumnus Michael D. Wilson, class of 1976, who died shortly after graduating.

"These projects promote the highest level of learning with a focus on purposeful scholarship, leadership and student/faculty collaboration," said Theodora J. Kalikow, UMF president.