[Coral-List] NSF-REU Position in Coral Reef Ecology at Florida International University

[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 coral-algal-bacteria interactions on coral reefs 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 in 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 competition with macroalgae changes the composition of
the bacterial community on coral surfaces. There will be ample
opportunities to participate in other projects studying herbivore foraging
behavior, coral predation, and nutrient dynamics on coral reefs.



Eligibility: Applications are invited from undergraduates in their
junior and senior years with interests in biology, microbiology, and
environmental sciences.
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
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 highly preferred.

The position runs May 28-August 17, 2012.  Stipends of $5,500 will be
provided for the 12-week full-time program.
In addition, students will be provided housing at no cost. Students
from outside the South Florida area may also apply for travel
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) College transcripts of all completed
work; 3) Two letters of recommendation;
                                                4) A statement of
career goals and research interests; and 5) 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
<deron.burkpile at fiu.edu>. Application deadline is April 20, 2012.




-- 
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.edu<Rebecca.Vega.Thurber at oregonstate.edu>