REU in marine ecology

REU in Marine Science at the University of California Santa Barbara A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer fellowship is open at the Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara. Duration is 12 weeks, June 3-Aug 29, although these dates can be somewhat flexible to accommodate academic schedules. We invite applications from qualified, highly motivated undergraduate students from U.S. colleges/universities to participate in a 12-week lab and field based summer research experience. The fellow will be involved with an NSF-funded project on the use of particulate organic matter by marine suspension feeders, and will do a project likely focused on some aspect of trophic relationships in kelp forests off the California coast. The student will learn ecological and biochemical methods to explore this topic, and will be required to write a report, in the format of a scientific paper, and give a presentation on their project at the end of the summer. Travel costs to and from UCSB will be covered, and the student will be provided with a $500/week stipend for living expenses. This is an intensive full-time commitment and any work or educational activities outside the program must be approved. Eligibility You are eligible if you are an undergraduate student who has completed at least two years of study towards a bachelor’s degree, and you will still be an undergraduate in the fall after the summer program. Students from underrepresented groups and institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply. Experience with scientific diving is desirable but not required. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and its possessions. The University of California is an equal opportunity employer and educator. Application Interested applicants should send a statement of interest, resume, unofficial transcript, one letter of recommendation, and contact information for one additional reference. The statement of interest should be less than 500 words and include the following information: (i) professional goals, (ii) interest in position, and (iii) relevant experience. Send application materials, preferably in one PDF or Word file, to Robert Miller (miller@msi.ucsb.edu) by April 15, 2014. You may also send all application materials in hard copy by mail to: Robert Miller, Marine Science Institute, UCSB, Santa Barbara CA 93601-6150. The letter of recommendation should be sent directly from the recommender (please include the applicants name in the subject line for emails). Incomplete applications will not be considered.