[Coral-List] NSF REU opportunity for undergraduates to work on coral reef ecology

[Rebecca Vega Thurber]

We seek a highly motivated undergraduate to fill a National Science
Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position in coral
reef ecology at Florida International University.

The successful applicant will work with Drs. Deron Burkepile (
http://www2.fiu.edu/~dburkepi/Home.html) and Rebecca Vega Thurber (
http://microbiology.science.oregonstate.edu/node/182) to conduct
experiments on nutrient exposure and coral disease dynamics in the Florida
Keys.

This position is for an undergraduate student interested in pursuing a
career or graduate studies in Marine Sciences. The successful candidate
will live and work on Key Largo in the Florida Keys and gain basic field
and laboratory research skills in coral reef ecology and microbiology. The
primary responsibility of the student will be to conduct experiments on how
nutrient enrichment affects coral disease states and progression rates, and
coral bleaching. There will be ample opportunities to participate in other
projects studying herbivore foraging behavior, coral predation, and
nutrient dynamics on coral reefs.

Eligibility: Undergraduates in their junior and senior years with interests
in biology, microbiology, and environmental sciences are invited to apply.
Students cannot have graduated at the time of the fellowship. Participants
must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and its
possessions. Minorities and underrepresented students are especially
encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a classroom/laboratory background in
ecology and marine biology. Experience working on coral reefs and/or with
microbiological techniques is preferred. Applicants *MUST* be certified
SCUBA divers with at least 20 logged dives. Certification with the American
Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) is necessary before field work begins.

This REU position runs June 3-August 23, 2013. A stipend of $5,500 will be
provided to the student for the 12-week full-time program. In addition, the
student will be provided housing at no cost. Students from outside the
South Florida area also may apply for travel funds assistance.

This position is funded by the National Science Foundation Biological
Oceanography Program.

Application Procedures: Applicants will need to submit: 1) Cover letter
briefly stating background and interests; 2) CV (resume); 3) College
transcripts of all completed work (unofficial transcript is fine); 4) Two
letters of recommendation; 5) A statement of career goals and research
interests; and 6) Evidence of SCUBA diving and/or AAUS certification.

Application materials should be sent as a single PDF file to Dr. Deron
Burkepile via email at deron.burkepile at fiu.edu. Please direct any questions
to Dr. Burkepile.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS *APRIL 25, 2013*.
-- 
Dr. Rebecca Vega Thurber
Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Oregon State University
454 Nash Hall
Corvallis OR  97331-3804, U.S.A
541-737-1851 (office) 541-737-0496 (FAX)
rvegathurber at gmail.com;Rebecca.Vega-Thurber at oregonstate.ed<Rebecca.Vega.Thurber at oregonstate.edu>