Research Opportunities for 2011 (primarily summer)

 

This page is up-dated as we receive notice of REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates, or internship opportunities) for 2011. Please click on the link in the "program" column to visit the program's webpage and to learn about the program and application process.

Remember that many opportunities from prior years are offered each year by the same institutions. If you are interested in a particular research opportunity from a prior year, visit their website and see if it's being offered again this year. Additionally, you can check research opportunity listings from the link on the School of Science homepage.

 

 

 

 

Undergraduate research internship in marine fisheries and ecological conservation

Position title: Undergraduate research internship in marine fisheries and ecological conservation

Agency/location: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences Morehead City, NC

Responsibilities: We seek summer interns to work in Charles H. (Pete) Peterson's lab at the University of North Carolina's Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City. Interns will work on multiple studies in marine ecology including (1) the effects of shoreline stabilization on fish habitats and salt marsh ecosystem function and (2) predator-prey interactions on oyster reefs. Interns may also participate in studies on the effects of beach nourishment on coastal habitats and human impacts on barrier island ecology. This internship will involve field and laboratory work. Interns will interact with both faculty and graduate students at the Institute of Marine Sciences. Start and end dates are flexible.

Qualifications: Upper-division undergraduates or recent graduates with an interest in field work, research experience, and a biology background will be most competitive.

Salary and housing: A monthly stipend of $1300 will be provided. Limited housing is available at the lab, but most interns in the past rent houses near the lab. We will assist in finding housing if necessary.

Closing date: March 1, 2011.

Contact/Application: Please send the following 3 documents to the email below: 1) Resume, including GPA, email addresses of three references, and transcript (unofficial); 2) A description of relevant experience (in 500 words or less); and 3) A brief essay on how this internship fits into your professional goals (in 500 words or less)

Email Rachel Gittman <Gittman@email.unc.edu> for further information.

 

Aquatic Community Ecology and Disease Ecology

A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position is available at Radford University for summer 2011 to study disease ecology in aquatic freshwater communities with Drs. Jeremy Wojdak (Radford University) and Lisa Belden (Virginia Tech).

The REU student will join a lab of graduate and undergraduate students working on an NSF-funded project focused on understanding the biotic factors that control trematode parasite transmission. The trematode we study first infects an aquatic snail host, then snails and amphibians as secondary intermediate hosts, and finally infects muskrats (among other organisms) as its definitive host. Thus, the REU student will gain experience with a number of diverse taxa. The student will work as part of our team at field sites and conducting mesocosm field experiments and lab studies, and will also be expected to develop his/her own independent research project.

The ideal candidate will be hard-working, dedicated, careful, work well in a team setting, and be interested in pursuing a career in science. The start date is flexible, but preference will be given to a student available mid-May through August 2011. The REU student will earn a stipend of $400/week for 12 weeks and receive additional support for lodging and travel expenses, and their research. The REU student will be invited to attend the Ecological Society of America's annual meeting in 2011 (and/or 2012) with our group.

Interested students are encouraged to apply by 28 February 2011, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and be currently enrolled in a college or university (i.e. recent graduates are ineligible). Students from groups typically underrepresented in the sciences and students from smaller institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications should include: unofficial copy of transcripts, contact information for two academic references, CV / resume, and a one page statement that describes your interest in the REU position, academic goals, and previous research experience (if any). Please confirm in your statement that you meet each eligibility requirement above (e.g., citizenship, enrolled in college, available for 10-12 weeks during the summer).

For more information, or if you have questions, please contact: Jeremy M. Wojdak Associate Professor Department of Biology 236 Curie Hall PO BOX 6931 Radford University Radford, VA 24142 jmwojdak@radford.edu (540) 831 - 5395