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老澳门资料 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Coastal Biology

Starting in 2013, the 老澳门资料 became one of the newest host sites for the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. The 老澳门资料 REU Program offers paid research training experiences in Coastal Biology to 10 undergraduate students during a 10-week period between late May and late July. REU participants are paired with Coastal Biologists at 老澳门资料, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) and conduct mentored research projects related to their advisor’s expertise. Prior to this, students complete a 1-week orientation to performing research in Coastal Biology to prepare them for their directed research projects. Students also gain experience in science communication by presenting the results of their project at a departmental-wide research poster mini-symposium. Participants attend research seminars and workshops on career skills in science. Students may also have the opportunity to present their research findings at professional conferences.

Funding for this REU site is provided by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Science's located in Arlington, VA. The NSF contact for this program is Elizabeth Rom. NSF does not handle REU applications; please contact each REU site directly for application information.

老澳门资料 the 老澳门资料 REU Program

Overview 

Beginning in 2013, the 老澳门资料 became one of the newest host sites for the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program.  The 老澳门资料 REU Program offers paid research training experiences in Coastal Biology to 10 undergraduate students during a 10-week period from late May-late July. REU participants are paired with Coastal Biologists at 老澳门资料 and the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) and conduct mentored research projects related to their advisor’s expertise.  Prior to this, students will complete a 1-week orientation on performing research in Coastal Biology to prepare them for their directed research projects.  Students will also gain experience in science communication by presenting the results of their project at a departmental-wide research poster mini-symposium.  Participants will attend research seminars and workshops on career skills in science.  Students may also have the opportunity to present their research findings at professional conferences.

Dates

May 20-July 26, 2024

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the 老澳门资料 REU Program, students must be: 

  • U.S. Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its possessions
  • Enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate degree.
  • Available for the full duration of the program (some exceptions possible)

Freshman- and Sophomore-level science students and students from minority groups underrepresented in science (African Americans, Latinos and Hispanics, Native Americans, Native Pacific Islanders, and Alaskan Natives) are especially encouraged to apply!

Stipends, travel and housing information

Students participating in the 老澳门资料 REU Program receive:

  • $5,500 stipend over the 10-week period
  • Free housing in a 老澳门资料 dormitory and meals
  • Support for travel expenses between 老澳门资料 and their home institution

Application

老澳门资料 老澳门资料 

老澳门资料 is a 40-year old, comprehensive public university situated on ~1,300 acres of scenic timberland located 7 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean and 12 miles southeast of the urban setting of downtown Jacksonville, FL.  Because of its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns River, and the GTMNERR, 老澳门资料 is uniquely suited to serve as a base for contemporary research in Coastal Biology.

Questions? 

Email your questions to REU@unf.edu with the subject heading “老澳门资料 REU Program”.

Note: This REU Site is funded by the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences, and the cognizant Program Director for all OCE-funded REU sites is Lisa Rom at elrom@NSF.gov or (703) 292-7709.  Since the application deadline for the 老澳门资料 REU Program fall after March 15th, this rule is not applicable to this program, and is only stated here for informational purposes.  Questions regarding the application and/or selection process for the 老澳门资料 REU Program should be sent directly to REU@unf.edu not NSF.

Apply for the 老澳门资料 REU Program

Applicants for the 老澳门资料 REU Program will need to complete an online application form. In addition to this form, students must also submit the following items, preferably in one email (excluding recommendation letters).

  1. A one- to two-page resume or curriculum vitae describing any relevant jobs, internships, volunteer work, scholarships and/or other activities that you have held or participated in and other skills or accomplishments that you wish to identify.
  2. A one- to two-page Statement of Interest describing your interests and career goals, the reasons why you hope to be selected for the program, how participation in the program will influence your career development, and the top two mentors that you hope to work with and why.
  3. An electronic copy of your current college transcript. UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS ARE PREFERRED.
  4. Two letters of recommendation from individuals capable of commenting in your academic qualifications. Letters of recommendation MUST be sent from the person writing the letter, preferably via email to REU@unf.edu either as an attachment or within the body of the email.

The deadline for applications is March 19, 2024

Research mentors and projects for the 2024 老澳门资料 REU Program

Check back regularly. More REU mentors will be added shortly!

Nikki Dix, GTM NERR

Dr. Dix is off campus at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve () where she serves as Research Director. The research program at GTMNERR is founded in long-term monitoring of weather, water quality, plankton, salt marshes, and oyster reefs. The selected REU student will work on a project to assist the GTMNERR in implementing high-frequency monitoring of chlorophyll a following recommendations developed in this national project: . Concentrations of the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll a are used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass by estuarine scientists and managers to study eutrophication, food web dynamics, and harmful algal blooms. Traditionally, chlorophyll has been measured by filtering a water sample and extracting pigments from the filter in a laboratory; however, monthly measurements are not sufficient for tracking plankton dynamics, which fluctuate hourly. Recent sensor technology allows high-frequency, in situ measurement of chlorophyll on the same YSI EXO sondes used in the NERRS long-term water quality monitoring program. However, particles and dissolved organic matter in the water can interfere with sensor fluorescence measurements. The REU student will assist GTMNERR staff in running experiments to develop corrections for those interfering variables. Skills learned specific to this project will include YSI EXO data sonde calibrations and maintenance, experimental design and implementation, data management, and coding with R programming language.

Dr. Jim Gelsleichter, Shark Biology, Physiology, and Ecotoxicology

Dr. Gelsleichter's research program focuses on population ecology, reproductive biology, and ecotoxicology of fish, particularly sharks and their relatives. REU students working with Dr. Gelsleichter will conduct research projects focused on a diverse number of topics such as shark abundance in northeast Florida waters, the roles of gonadal steroids in shark sexual differentiation, stress responses in sharks, reproductive effects of methylmercury, and the effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Gulf of Mexico fishes.

Dr. Quincy Gibson, Dolphin Population Dynamics

Dr. Gibson's research is focused on the behavioral ecology of marine mammals, with an emphasis on social complexity and population dynamics. REU students working with Dr. Gibson participate in weekly boat-based photo-identification and behavioral surveys of estuarine bottlenose dolphins in the St. Johns River (SJR). Past student's projects have examined the link between female dolphin sociality and reproductive success, the impact of a large-scale unusual mortality event on SJR dolphins, and the prevalence of skin lesions as a non-invasive indicator of dolphin health.

Dr. Matt Gilg, Evolutionary Genetics

Dr. Gilg’s research program focuses on exploring the genetic basis of traits important for response to climate change, invasive species management and the evolutionary implications of hybridization.  REU students working with Dr. Gilg will conduct research projects focused on tolerance of coral species to stressors like elevated temperature and light intensity, the genetic diversity of introduced species of marine mussels, or the role habitat plays in hybridization of local killifish species. 

Dr. Laura Habegger, Functional morphology and biomechanics in fishes

Dr. Habegger is a functional morphologist interested in understanding how form affects the function of a variety of structural components in vertebrates, particularly fishes. Her research interests are wide ranging from the estimation of bite forces among marine top marine predators to the elucidation of the osteological composition and formation of extreme skull adaptations. Students working with Dr. Habegger will be involved in different projects ranging from understanding the role of scleral ossicles in the eye of fishes, working with shark skin, the biomechanics of vertebra of fast-moving fishes and bite force estimations in top predators. All these research topics will involve various techniques including dissections, histology, computer tomography, 3D printing as well as field work to obtain samples.

Dr. Scott Jones, Coastal Wetland Plant Ecology

Dr. Jones' research explores coastal wetland responses to global change and how plants influence ecosystem function. REU students working with Dr. Jones will conduct projects focused on plant-mediated carbon cycling in salt marshes and mangroves; freshwater wetland responses to salinity intrusion; or the role of landscape gradients on coastal wetland resilience to sea-level rise.

Dr. Adam Rosenblatt, Climate Change Ecology

Dr. Rosenblatt’s research program focuses on understanding the effects of climate change and urbanization on predators, food webs, and community stability. REU students in the Rosenblatt lab will conduct research as part of projects that may include 1) How the alligator population is distributed across Jacksonville and 2) How spider and insect communities are responding to extreme heat within cities. 

 

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is home to over 2000 animals and the Animal Wellness and Research team which conducts welfare and wellbeing related research to ensure that animals residing at the zoo are given opportunities to thrive. REU student projects will focus on the behavior and wellbeing of one or more coastal species, in which they will have the opportunity to learn a number of skills including the use of behavioral (e.g. ZooMonitor) and statistical (e.g. R Studio) software. Students will also have the opportunity to contribute to other research projects focused on a diverse number of species ranging from apes and rhinos to snakes and stingrays.

SEZARC

The South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation is dedicated to increasing populations of rare and endangered species through reproductive science. SEZARC scientists perform reproductive health assessments, develop breeding plans, and conduct investigative research for zoo and aquarium species throughout the United States. Projects for this program will focus on enzyme immunoassay of biological samples from nurse sharks, zebra sharks, sand tiger sharks, manta rays or other elasmobranch species to better understand their reproductive biology and to support natural and assisted reproduction programs. We plan to include high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the validation process for those assays. The student will be based at our laboratory in the Biology building at 老澳门资料.