Domestic travel for Utah State University sponsored programs is returning, but international travel is still restricted. A Utah State University's Biological Engineering research project will be among the first since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit to welcome students from outside of Utah to study on the Logan campus.
USU Biological Engineering researcher David Britt will oversee the National Science Foundation grant for undergraduate students studying Plants, soils, and microbes this summer. USU President Noelle Cockett participated in a virtual meet and greet with the group of research students Tuesday.
"They come from Georgia and Connecticut," Cockett said. "There is one student from Puerto Rico and one from Oklahoma. They were selected from a competitive process and now they get to stay in Logan for the summer and do research. It does feel good that things are started to be a little bit more normal."
In the 2020 summer, research programs were canceled, and faculty were unsure about the future of in-person lab training. USU is still being careful to ensure in-person campus programs are approved and meeting COVID-19 safety standards.
"International travel has been a bit more difficult," she said. "There is still a lot of concern about our students traveling to places like Jamaica, South America, or Asia."
University students hoping to participate in study abroad and international undergraduate programs are working with advisors at the USU Office of Global Engagement to monitor changes to policies that could allow for international travel in the coming months.
"They are looking at those on a regular basis," she said. "Hopefully by fall they may be able to travel."
Cockett said the group of biological engineering undergraduate students participating in this summer's research program at USU will arrive next week and will be in Logan until August.