OVERVIEW: The Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research REU program is an NSF funded research opportunity to support the work of several FIU undergraduate students in new and ongoing interdisciplinary research projects alongside FCE LTER lead scientists and near-peer mentors. These research opportunities are meant to engage undergraduates collaboratively and broadly in FCE research as well as across the LTER network. Students are encouraged to present research results at scientific meetings with the potential to publish their findings, while also participating in professional development opportunities on the FIU campus during the summer to build the skills and dispositions as science professionals.
DATES: This year's summer program dates are from May 22, 2023 - July 28, 2023.
THE RESEARCH: FCE LTER’s world-class research encompasses the subtropical freshwater wetlands, mangrove swamps and shallow seagrass communities within the Everglades National Park. Sources of both fresh and marine water occupy the system’s landscape influencing the system’s productivity, and nutrient flow. The Florida Coastal Ecosystem LTER examines the system’s resilience and responses to disturbances from tropical storms, droughts, and the chronic stresses of sea level rise, biogeochemical processes, and human actions.
COMMITMENT: This REU research experience is a 10-week immersive, paid research opportunity that exists on one of the two Florida International University (FIU) campuses 1.) Modesto A Maidique (MMC) Campus in west Miami-Dade County or 2.) the Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) in north Miami-Dade. Note: The professional development workshops are held on the MMC campus every week. If you choose a research project with laboratory facilities on the BBC campus, you are responsible for transportation between the campuses. The Panther Express campus buses depart every half hour Monday through Friday 6am – 10pm.
Commitment to the program involves participation across four domains:
- Research: Collaboration in project design between yourself, the Lead Faculty Scientist and your Near-Peer Mentor.
- Education: Learning alongside your Lead Faculty Scientist and Near-Peer Mentors by participating in regular meetings and developing a lab schedule that works for everyone, sharing successes, and learning from challenges.
- Community: Consider yourself as part of a community of undergraduates all dedicated to advancing scientific research, developing professionally, and attending field excursions to immerse yourself in the ecosystem.
- Professional Development: Participating in weekly workshops include scientific writing, the science of the Everglades, data management and statistical analysis, making and giving good presentations, GRFP applications, building CV’s and resumes
THE STIPEND: The REU experience includes a stipend of $6000 plus a $1200 food allowance. The stipend is awarded in three (3) installments: beginning, middle, end based on your participation and full-time work weeks.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Potential REU's must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States
- Applicants must plan to attend the entire 10-week program (May 22, 2023 through July 28, 2023). No exceptions. All in-person attendance.
- Applicants must plan to be full-time students enrolled in a college/university for at least one semester after the summer program (e.g., Fall 2023).
- Applicants should be undergraduate students in the discipline/major related to the Mentors project list that is chosen.
- Applicants should have completed at least two semesters of coursework in environment-related topics.
- Applicants cannot be enrolled in summer coursework while enrolled in the NSF Site REU program or work a part-time job.
- Applicants must attend and participate in the professional development workshops that occur 1x a week on the MMC campus as well as the group field trips.
- Applicants must fulfill program objectives completely, to receive the full stipend (Awarded in three (3) installments: beginning, middle, end).
APPLY: The application window is Dec. 5 2022 - Feb 3rd 2023. Late/incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications will be reviewed in early February. All applicants will be officially notified of their status by email in mid-March. Applicants will be expected to submit the following two items to coastalREU@fiu.edu:
- Application form
- Unofficial copy of all relevant college transcripts
If you have any questions, please email CoastalREU@fiu.edu.