REU Site: Tropical Ecology and Evolution at El Verde Field Station

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The REU program in Tropical Ecology and Evolution, conducted by the University of Puerto Rico, is based at El Verde Field Station, in the tropical rainforest of Puerto Rico. The program goal is to provide undergraduates with meaningful research experiences under the guidance of established scientists, in research focused on tropical ecology and evolution. Undergraduate students will spend most of their 10-week internship developing a research project under the mentorship of a faculty, in various areas of ecology and evolution such as plant population biology, community dynamics, forest ecology, arthropod biology, soil ecology, plant reproductive ecology, and population genetics. Students have a wide variety of potential areas of study to choose from, depending on their areas of interest. Students also participate in seminars and workshops on scientific data analysis, data presentation, and techniques to study different groups of tropical organisms and ecosystems (e.g., forest, soil, streams). An ethics component focuses on common issues likely to be encountered by students during their careers as well as discussions on the role of scientists in modern society. This combination of activities provides students with the tools needed to conduct scientific research in any area of science, with emphasis on Tropical Ecology and Evolution. Each year, eight students are selected based on their academic qualifications (e.g., GPA, letters of recommendation) and interest in pursuing graduate studies. Emphasis is given to students from institutions where research programs are not easily accessible and those from groups under-represented in science. Additional information is available at http://sunites.upr.clu.edu/REU/index.htm, or by contacting the Program Director, Alonso Ramirez (aramirez@sunites.upr.clu.edu; Telephone: 787-764-0000, ext. 7781).