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

该本科生研究经验（REU）网站奖授予位于巴拿马共和国（PA）的史密森尼热带研究所（STRI），将在2014年至2017年夏季为10名学生提供为期10周的国际体验。该REU项目由美国国家科学基金会国际和综合活动办公室以及生物科学理事会（生物基础设施部）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的研究主题上：(1)适应和恢复力，(2)物种相互作用，(3)生态系统变化的驱动因素。每个主题都是由理解生物系统如何整合的共同需求驱动的，以回答有关生物多样性的起源、维护和保护的问题。该计划特别侧重于开发与数据类型一起工作所需的工具，这些数据类型正在改变这三个主题的科学。在夏季，学生们将对利用基因组技术在基因型、表型和环境之间建立联系的项目进行前沿研究。学生们可以利用卫星、固定翼飞机和无人机提供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（包括负责任的研究行为）和专业发展活动，这些活动将挑战他们批判性地思考科学和他们未来的职业生涯。预计来自研究机会有限的学校的学生将在该项目中接受培训。学生将学习如何进行研究，许多人将在科学会议上展示他们的工作成果。该项目还将招收跨学科的学生，目标是分子生物学、生物学和植物学等传统生命科学系的学生，以及那些对探索自然过程感兴趣的人，他们就读于工程、数学和计算机科学学科。申请人必须在线提交完整的申请，并要求使用REU通用评估工具的定制版本提供他们的经历的自我评估。学生在项目结束后需要被跟踪，并且必须回复通过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PI （W. Owen McMillan博士mcmillano@si.edu）或co-PI （Ana K. Spalding博士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).