U. announces new credit-bearing research initiative

On Tuesday, the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost announced their development of the new Platforms for Education and Research Cores (PERC) initiative, which aims to increase research opportunities for Rutgers students, according to a University press release. 

The program is expected to forge mentoring relationships between the faculty, staff and scientists at Rutgers and undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students. Students would be mentored at 1 of the 36 research core facilities on campus, obtaining credits as well as certifications after working with advanced technology. 

Led by Jean Baum, a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, PERC is projected to be introduced in the next year, according to the release. Baum is involved in multiple research projects on campus, including the Baum Group which studies protein interaction and aggregation. 

In preparation for the launch, the initiative is looking to create an advisory committee, develop courses that would present credentials to those who take them and record all the devices at the research facilities. A new center is set to open in October that will host a specialized cryo-electron microscope.