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

本研究经验的本科生（REU）网站奖史密森热带研究所（STRI），位于巴拿马共和国（PA），将提供10名学生在2014年至2017年的夏天10周的国际经验。 该REU计划由NSF的国际和综合活动办公室和生物科学理事会（生物基础设施部）支持。STRI的综合热带生物学REU计划建立在环境生物学的三大研究主题上：（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。每个主题都是由共同需要了解生物系统是如何整合的，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三个主题中正在改变科学的数据类型一起工作所需的工具。 在夏季，学生将进行前沿研究项目，利用基因组技术，使基因型，表型和环境之间的联系。学生可以使用来自卫星、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（包括负责任的研究行为）和专业发展活动，这将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。 该计划的招聘也将覆盖跨学科，目标学生在传统的生命科学部门，如分子生物学，生物学和植物学，以及那些有兴趣探索自然过程谁是就读于工程，数学，和计算机科学学科。申请人必须在网上提交完整的申请，并将被要求提供一个自我-使用REU通用评估工具的定制版本对其经验进行评估。学生需要在课程结束后进行跟踪，并必须通过NSF报告系统自动发送电子邮件。更多信息可访问http：//stri.si.edu/reu/，或联系PI（W. Owen McMillan在mcmillano@si.edu）或共同研究者（Ana K. Spalding at 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).