Ask Senior Ryan Coller what he studies, and he'll tell you bacteriology and philosophy. Ask him why, and he'll say he likes how philosophy informs his research. "Philosophy stresses issues from different perspectives," he explains. "Doing research drives home all the information you learn in class; it adds another perspective to the science."

The interplay between Coller's majors became evident soon after he received a Wisconsin/Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship, part of the university's commitment to enriching undergraduates' educational experiences. As one of several dozen students from across campus, Coller received a $3,000 stipend and the chance to work one-on-one with a professor. While some students might have used the funding to take their research abroad, Coller chose to work with UW-Madison bacteriologist Timothy Donohue to investigate the assembly process of certain molecular proteins.

For Coller, the greatest benefit has been the hands-on research. "It's incredibly difficult to really grasp how research and basic science are done without doing it yourself," he explains. His adviser adds, "The Hilldale fellowships provide critical support so that students can take advantage of research opportunities at campuses like ours."

By writing research proposals, conducting experiments, and sharing the results, Coller says he has broadened his scientific understanding; he has learned "another side of science."

The undergraduate research experience allows students like Coller to grow not just intellectually, but also personally. After imparting technical expertise, Donohue says he stood back and watched Coller "learn, pose his own questions, and generate the self-confidence to take his research into new areas." In fact, Donohue describes his interactions with Coller as being similar to those he has with graduate students."It can be intimidating approaching professors," notes Coller, "but working directly with them requires you to move past some of those feelings."

Through the Hilldale program, Coller made valuable connections. Some have already helped him with the next stage of his life — medical school. "Jim, one of the postdocs, helped me write drafts of the personal statement," he recalls. "Another gave me a typewriter so I could fill out applications." Coller, who will graduate in May, has applied to medical schools, including UW-Madison.

"For many years, UW-Madison has been a leader in scholarly research. This research involves preeminent researchers, excellent facilities, real-world applications, and learning opportunities for both students and the public. All these components will be enhanced by the research priority."

— Martin Cadwallader,
Interim Dean of the Graduate School and Interim Vice Chancellor for Research

• Created by the National Institute for Science Education and produced by UW-Madison, the Web site The Why Files (http://whyfiles.org) discusses the processes, people, and culture that shape science. With lively language and fun graphics, the site draws on global news in areas such as astronomy, food, genetics, human behavior, and technology.

• A new program, known as "cluster hiring," is helping chart new territory in teaching and research at UW-Madison — and getting results amid intense national competition for talented faculty. Some 100 new positions have been created under the program, which forms faculty teams across disciplines to bring fresh perspectives to complex issues. The teams were first proposed as a part of the Madison Initiative, an innovative public-private partnership that matches state financial support with private funding from alumni and donors through the University of Wisconsin Foundation and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, an organization designed to protect intellectual property developed at the university.

• Located about three miles from campus, the 255-acre University Research Park enables UW-Madison researchers to take their findings in the laboratory and develop them for the marketplace in a process called technology transfer. Of the more than 80 companies in the park, half have direct ties to the university and many use licenses or patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.