Michael Gaines is Professor of Biology and Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach at the University of Miami (UM).  Dr. Gaines received his master's and doctorate degrees in ecology from Indiana University. After being on the faculty for 22 years at the University of Kansas, he accepted a position in the Department of Biology at the University of Miami in 1992. Dr. Gaines teaches courses in introductory biology, research ethics and research design at the undergraduate level. He directs UM's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Education Program and a National Institute of General Medical Sciences Bridge Program between the University of Miami and Miami-Dade College. In addition, Gaines serves as campus coordinator for the Florida-Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and the Leadership Alliance.  Dr. Gaines has been recognized as an outstanding teacher.  He has won every major teaching award at UM including a prestigious university-wide Excellence in Teaching Award.  Dr. Gaines' research interests are focused on the ecological genetics of endangered small mammal species in South Florida. 

David Janos received his master's and doctorate degrees in Botany from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).  After receiving his doctorate in 1975, he spent four years as a post-doctoral fellow of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.  He joined the University of Miami faculty in 1979.  He is a mycologist, ecologist, and tropical biologist who investigates the effects of beneficial, root-inhabiting fungi on plants including those with importance for agriculture or forestry.  He has served on a National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.) committee on "Selected Biological Problems in the Humid Tropics" (1981), has been a Charles Bullard fellow in Forest Research at Harvard University (1994), and has been a visiting scientist at the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Development of Tropical Savannas in Darwin, Australia (1997).  Since 2002, he has partnered with Dr. Gaines to write grant proposals for research training of underrepresented, underserved minority students. He is the Associate Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach.

Ms. Lerner began her career at the University of Miami - Department of Medicine in Patient Accounts in July of 2000.  She rose from a Senior Patient Clinical Associate to a Coder Supervisor and then to Manager within this time.  She joined the Office of Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach in July of 2006 as Program Manager.  In January 2008 she became the Program Coordinator.  Janet works with prospective students and parents. In addition Janet works with UM undergraduates and various community schools and organizations that collaborate with the Office of Undergrate Research on various activities and programs. Before she joined the university in 2000, Ms. Lerner spent 16 years in the private sector of health care where she honed her skills as an experienced administrator and office manager.  Ms. Lerner is a native Miamian and is currently completing her B.S. degree at UM.