REU Site: Ecosystem Studies in the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge (MNWLR) of Costa Rica

美国肯恩大学（Kean University）获得了本科生研究经验（REU）网站奖，在2013-2015年夏季，每年为8名学生提供为期10周的国际经验和培训（哥斯达黎加5周，新泽西州5周）。这个REU项目将让学生作为来自肯恩大学、热带科学中心和国家生物研究所的国际科学家团队的一部分进行研究，研究哥斯达黎加北部地区一个新的保护区Maquenque国家野生动物保护区（MNWLR）中各种未受损、受损或危险栖息地内的植被、无脊椎动物、灵长类动物、土壤微生物群落结构、生物地球化学和/或生态特征。学生们将评估生态系统条件变化的模式/指标是否可以通过栖息地、管理策略和/或大气条件观察到，并将其添加到哥斯达黎加的自然资源数据库中，因为学生们将研究MNWLR中连续生境中不同营养群落的差异，而这方面的研究很少。学生将了解土地利用、生物多样性和生态系统功能之间的联系；在欧空局区域会议上展示他们的工作，并向期刊提交手稿；并在博卡塔帕达村的小学与当地社区合作，获得增值的文化体验。学生将在研究方法、数据分析、科学交流、在期刊上发表论文、科学调查伦理和负责任的研究行为以及其他支持机制方面得到加强，以加强学生对生态/环境科学研究生课程的追求。pi将使用NSF REU通用评估工具来评估学生的科学和智力收益，并将跟踪学生在REU工作后3年的进展和活动。学生的选择将基于更全面的视角，包括成绩单、GPA、一篇关于他们为什么想在这个项目工作的文章、他们作为未来科学家的目标、他们认为自己将如何从这个项目中受益、他们所在机构可能存在的其他研究机会，以及2封推荐信。更多信息请联系Bill Eaton博士（weaton@kean.edu）或Daniela Shebitz博士（dshebitz@kean.edu）。

A Research Experience For Undergraduates (REU) Site award has been made to Kean University, providing international experience and training for 8 students per year for 10 weeks (5 weeks in Costa Rica and 5 weeks in New Jersey) during the summer of 2013-2015. This REU project will have students conduct research as part of an international team of scientists from Kean University, the Centro Cientifico Tropical and Instituto Biologica Nacional to study the vegetation, invertebrate, primate, soil microbial community structures, biogeochemical, and/or ecological characteristics within a variety of undamaged, damaged, or at-risk habitats in Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge (MNWLR), a new conservation area, in the Northern Zone of Costa Rica. Students will assess if patterns/indicators of change in ecosystem conditions can be observed by habitat, management strategy, and/or atmospheric condition, adding to Costa Rica's natural resource database as students study the differences across different trophic communities within a continuum of habitats in the MNWLR, where little research has been conducted. Students will develop an understanding of the connections between land use, biodiversity and ecosystem function; present their work at a regional ESA conference and submit manuscripts to journals; and have a value-added cultural experience working with the local community in the village of Boca Tapada in their elementary school. Students will receive enhancement activities concerning research methods, data analysis, communicating science, publishing their work in journals, the ethics in scientific investigations and responsible conduct of research, and other support mechanisms to enhance the students' pursuit of graduate programs in ecological/environmental sciences. The PIs will use the NSF REU common assessment tool to assess students' scientific and intellectual gains, and will also track student progress and activities for 3 years post-REU experience. Students will be chosen based on a more holistic perspective that includes transcripts, GPA, an essay on why they want to work in the program, their goals as future scientists, how they think they will benefit from this program, what other research opportunities may exist at their home institution, and 2 letters of recommendation. For more information, please contact Dr. Bill Eaton (weaton@kean.edu) or Dr. Daniela Shebitz (dshebitz@kean.edu).