REU in Sandy Beach Ecology | Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer fellowship is open for one student 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. U.S. citizenship is required. The student will be involved with an NSF-funded project on the transport of drifting kelp from coastal kelp forests to sandy beaches where it washes up as wrack. The main objective of the project is evaluate how variation in kelp wrack input affects patterns and processes in beach ecosystems and to develop a quantitative understanding of trophic connectivity through physical transport and input of drift kelp from kelp forests to sandy beaches. The student will learn ecological and/or physical oceanographic 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 weekly stipend for living expenses.  This is a 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 in a related topic (including biology, ecology, or physics), 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 file, to Jenny Dugan (jenny.dugan@lifesci.ucsb.edu). Please include your name and REU application in file names and subject line. You may also send all application materials in hard copy by non-electronic mail service to: Jenny Dugan, 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.  Applications will be accepted through April 21, 2016.