REU Site: Ecology, Evolution, and Genomics of Grassland Organisms

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。堪萨斯州立大学将在2009-2011年夏季举办一个REU网站项目，研究草原生物的生态学、进化和基因组学。每年将选出8名本科生参加为期10周的暑期项目，并将有机会进行独立的研究项目，利用分子生物学的工具解决进化生态学中的问题。夏季课程有三个组成部分，将有助于本科参与者的专业发展：1)独立研究项目，训练学生在实地方法，实验室技术和实验设计，2)每周3学分的研究研讨会，向学生介绍草地生态系统生物学中的新问题，3)研究研讨会，将培养学生的演讲技巧。REU站点计划的主要研究资源包括生态基因组学研究所和康扎草原生物站。生态基因组学研究所包括最先进的科学设施，用于基因分型和DNA测序，基因表达和微阵列技术研讨会。康扎草原是一个高草草原保护区，是长期生态研究计划的重点研究地点。K州立大学的其他资源包括稳定同位素分析设施，专门生态研究的一系列实验室和现场设备，以及生态基因组学和草原生态学研究的领导者导师。该研究中心的研究主题是将分子技术应用于高草草原生物群的生态和进化过程的研究，其研究成果将对预测和减轻全球变化的后果具有保护意义。该计划为跨学科研究提供了独特的机会，可以利用已经运行了30多年的长期现场实验！该项目欢迎代表性不足的群体（少数民族，第一代或非传统）的学生，以及研究机会可能有限的小型学院的学生的申请。潜在的申请人被邀请从项目协调员（Brett K. Sandercock博士，PH: 785-532-0120, EM: bsanderc@ksu.edu）或访问项目网站（http://www.ksu.edu/bsanderc/reu）获取更多信息和申请表。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Kansas State University will host an REU Site program in the Ecology, Evolution, and Genomics of Grassland Organisms during the summers of 2009-2011. Eight undergraduate students will be selected each year to participate in a 10-week summer program, and will have the opportunity to conduct independent research projects that tackle questions in evolutionary ecology with the tools of molecular biology. The summer program has three components that will contribute to the professional development of undergraduate participants: i) independent research projects that train students in field methods, lab techniques, and experimental design, ii) a weekly 3-credit research seminar that introduces students to emerging questions in the biology of grassland ecosystems, and iii) a research symposium that will develop student presentation skills. Major research resources for this REU Site program include the Ecological Genomics Institute and Konza Prairie Biological Station. The Ecological Genomics Institute includes state of the art scientific facilities for genotyping and DNA sequencing, gene expression and workshops in microarray technology. Konza Prairie is a tallgrass prairie preserve and a key research site in the Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) Program. Additional resources at K State include facilities for analyses of stable isotopes, a range of laboratory and field equipment for specialized ecological research, and mentors who are research leaders in ecological genomics and grassland ecology. The research theme of this REU Site emphasizes applications of molecular techniques to investigations of ecological and evolutionary processes in the biota of the tallgrass prairie, where research results will have conservation implications for predicting and mitigating the consequences of global change. This program provides unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research that can take advantage of long-term field experiments that have been running for over 30 years! The program welcomes applications from students of underrepresented groups (minority, first-generation or non-traditional), and students at smaller colleges where research opportunities may be limited. Prospective applicants are invited to obtain further information and application forms from the Program Coordinator (Dr. Brett K. Sandercock, PH: 785-532-0120, EM: bsanderc@ksu.edu) or by visiting the program website (http://www.ksu.edu/bsanderc/reu).