REU Site: Integrative Tropical Biology at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama

位于巴拿马共和国(PA)的史密森热带研究所(STRI)获得了本科生研究体验(REU)现场奖，该奖项将在2014-2017年夏季为10名学生提供为期10周的国际体验。这项REU计划得到了NSF国际和综合活动办公室和生物科学局(生物基础设施部)的支持。STRI的综合热带生物学REU项目建立在环境生物学的三个广泛研究主题上：(1)适应和恢复能力，(2)物种相互作用，(3)生态系统变化的驱动因素。每个主题都受到了解生物系统如何整合以回答有关生物多样性起源、维护和保护的问题的共同需要的驱动。该计划特别专注于开发使用数据类型所需的工具，这些数据类型正在改变这三个主题的科学。在暑假期间，学生们将对利用基因组技术在基因、表型和环境之间建立联系的项目进行尖端研究。学生们可以使用来自卫星、固定翼飞机和无人机的日益复杂的光谱数据来研究森林是如何变化的。此外，学生将参加一系列研讨会(包括负责任的研究)和专业发展活动，挑战他们对科学和未来职业的批判性思考。预计来自研究机会有限的学校的学生将在该计划中接受培训。学生将学习研究是如何进行的，许多人将在科学会议上展示他们的工作成果。该计划还将涉及跨学科，面向传统生命科学系的学生，如分子生物学、生物学和植物学，以及那些对探索自然过程感兴趣的工程、数学和计算机科学学科的学生。申请者必须在网上提交完整的申请，并将被要求使用REU通用评估工具的定制版本提供对其经验的自我评估。学生必须在项目结束后被跟踪，并必须回复通过NSF报告系统发送的自动电子邮件。欲了解更多信息，请访问http://stri.si.edu/reu/，，或联系国际和平组织(W.Owen McMillan博士，电子邮件：mcmilano@si.edu)或共同国际组织(Ana K.Spalding博士，电子邮件：spaldinga@si.edu)。

This Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site award to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), located in the Republic of Panama (PA), will provide an international experience for 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2014 - 2017. This REU program is supported by NSF's Office of International and Integrative Activities and the Directorate for Biological Sciences (Division of Biological Infrastructure). STRI's REU program in Integrative Tropical Biology is built on three broad research themes in environmental biology: (1) Adaptation and Resilience, (2) Species Interactions, and (3) Drivers of Ecosystem Change. Each theme is driven by the common need to understand how biological systems are integrated to answer questions about the origins, maintenance, and preservation of biodiversity. The program specifically focuses on developing the tools needed to work with the data types that are transforming science across the three themes. During the summer, students will conduct cutting edge research on projects that leverage genomic technologies to make the connections between genotype, phenotype, and the environment. Students can study how forests are changing using increasingly sophisticated spectral data from satellites, fixed wing planes, and drones. Moreover, students will participate in a series of workshops (including responsible conduct of research) and professional development activities that will challenge them to critically think about science and their future careers.It is anticipated students from schools with limited research opportunities will be trained in the program. Students will learn how research is conducted and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. The program recruitment will also reach across disciplines and target students in traditional life science departments such as molecular biology, biology and botany, as well as those interested in exploring the natural processes who are enrolled in engineering, mathematics, and computer science disciplines.Applicants must submit complete applications online and will be required to provide a self-assessment of their experience using a customized version of the REU common assessment tool. Students are required to be tracked after the program and must respond to an automatic email sent via the NSF reporting system. More information is available by visiting http://stri.si.edu/reu/, or by contacting the PI (Dr. W. Owen McMillan at mcmillano@si.edu) or the co-PI (Dr. Ana K. Spalding at spaldinga@si.edu).