Undergraduate Ecology REU in Iceland – Summer 2017!

We are looking for undergraduates to join our team of interdisciplinary
researchers in northeast Iceland this coming summer. We study the ecology of
Lake Myvatn, and interns will be expected to assist in our ongoing LTREB
(Long-Term Research in Environmental Biology) project.

ELIGIBILITY
REU candidates must be current undergraduates (not graduating before fall
of 2017) with US citizenship.

SELECTION CRITERIA AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The research focuses on the population dynamics of midges in Myvatn and the
consequences they have for the aquatic and surrounding terrestrial food
webs. The work includes conducting lab and field experiments, and collecting
arthropod, zooplankton, sediment and plant samples. The research will be
divided approximately equally between aquatic and terrestrial systems.

Our interns take primary responsibility for the routine sampling that forms
the backbone of the long-term research, in addition to conducting
independent projects. Technical lab and (especially) field skills are
essential. However, we place primary importance on the ability of
prospective interns to work both independently and as part of a research
term. We will also consider the ability of applicants to function in the
somewhat remote conditions of rural Iceland.

APPLICATIONS
If you are interested in joining our team, please apply with the following:

1. Cover letter
Your cover letter should outline your background and the reasons why you
would be a good candidate for this position. Include a discussion of why you
want this position and how it relates to your intellectual interests and
career goals. In particular, emphasize how your experiences and skills make
you a good match for the position. Highlight specific details from your
resume or other pertinent information that does not appear on your resume.
Include your citizenship, whether you have a valid driver¹s license, and
your current and future educational plans.

2. Resume
Include a current resume that details your education and work experiences.
Provide names and contact information for at least two references whom we
can contact to ask specific questions about your background and
qualifications for the position.

Submit your application as a single PDF (only 1 file), including cover
letter and resume. Email your PDF to Joe Phillips jsphillips2@wisc.edu.
Include your surname in the file (e.g., Smith_Iceland_Application.pdf). Put
“2017 Summer Research in Iceland” in the subject line of the email. After
initial screening of materials, finalists will be contacted for interviews.

DEADLINE
For full consideration for summer 2017 internships, please submit your
application by 15 January, 2017.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
REU positions include coverage of travel expenses to and from Iceland, food
and lodging, and a small stipend. Interns are expected to join the research
team in Iceland from the first week of June to late August. The timing of
the fieldwork is dictated by our needs for routine sampling and therefore is
inflexible. A critical part of the program is conducting your own research
project under our guidance. Past summer research interns have completed
their projects as senior research theses or have presented their work at
national conferences.

More information about our work and field experiences can be found at our
blog, http://uwmyvatn.blogspot.com/

Contacts:

Joe Phillips (graduate student) – jsphillips2@wisc.edu

Amanda McCormick (graduate student) – amccormick4@wisc.edu

Tony Ives (professor) – arives@wisc.edu
http://www.zoology.wisc.edu/faculty/ive/ive.html

Claudio Gratton (professor) – cgratton@wisc.edu
http://gratton.entomology.wisc.edu/category/ecosystem-linkages/