IFAS building space for grad students

Visiting research scientists, interns and graduate students will soon have a place to stay right on campus as they work and study at the North Florida Research and Education Center near Greenwood. The research center is a University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences holding.

The foundation has been laid for a new multi-purpose building there where the students and working scientists can live while they’re here, according to Dr. Cliff Lamb, a professor and Associate Director of the research centers in Marianna and Quincy.

The building should be finished by late May or early June. Lamb said he believes having it available will not only save money, but help in recruiting students to the University of Florida’s plant and animal science programs and attract top scientists to spend time learning here as well.

“It’s going to be easier for us to recruit some of the cream-of-the-crop students,” Lamb said. “Being able to provide them a comfortable place where they have 24-hour access to the facilities and no travel to worry about, there’s no question that it will allow us to attract them more easily, and it also provide us the opportunity to attract top visiting scientists, people who would like to spend time learning with us.”

The house will accommodate up to eight people. Many graduate students will come and go for a few weeks at a time, others may study here longer. Scientists are expected to come and go in short visits.

Until the structure is complete, IFAS will continue renting an apartment in town which can only accommodate up to four people, at a cost of more than $500 a month.

In the past, graduate students had paid a percentage of the rent but in recent years they were not made to pay. Their contributions ended because it was determined unfair to expect them to pay their rent in Gainesville and for the weeks they spend here. IFAS had to take most of the rent money out of its operating budget.

The building will cost about $300,000. The bulk of that cost is coming from the sale of timber, a stand of pine trees harvested off the research center grounds. The trees were aging but not considered native old growth-the original trees had been harvested before the research center lands were purchased. Lamb said two local producer organizations helped convince their statewide groups to make critical contributions to the building fund as well.

The Florida Cattleman’s Association contributed about $19,000. The Florida Peanut Producers Association gave about $10,000. Lamb said the Jackson County chapters advocated heavily for the project and were key supporters in obtaining those dollars.

Among other things, the center carries out peanut and beef cattle research; studies that help those producers improve their crops and herds. “The Jackson County people were very influential in convincing their organizations, and we’re very grateful for that. We couldn’t’ have done this without them,” Lamb said. “They realize that the research done here can have a direct positive impact on the viability and productivity of what they’re doing in the field.”

As for the pine stand now cleared, Lamb said that plans are not yet firm on what to do with the land. It could be re-planted in trees to ensure another harvest years down the road, or could be use to broaden the research areas, or could sectioned off to accommodate both needs.