REU Site: Research experiences in marine and estuarine disturbance ecology in the northern Gulf of Mexico

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The Division of Ocean Sciences will continue funding for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory (DISL) located on Dauphin Island, AL. The program will bring eight undergraduates to DISL each summer for three years. Students will participate in a 10-week guided research project and a professional development program. The main objective of the DISL REU Program is to provide research experiences in the marine sciences for undergraduate students from 2-year and 4-year primarily undergraduate institutions, with a special focus on students from the northern Gulf of Mexico coast (nGOM). The DISL REU program seeks to enhance understanding of how marine and estuarine ecosystems and living resources of the Gulf of Mexico respond to disturbance. Students will conduct semi-independent research experiences across disciplines in coastal ecology (plant, invertebrate, fish, mammal), toxicology, microbiology and biological, chemical, physical and geological oceanography. Students will participate in seminars, field trips, group discussions, and a formal poster symposium to develop critical professional skills. Networking is encouraged, and mentors facilitate publication of a peer-reviewed paper and presentations at scientific meetings following the internship. By providing basic research skills and career development to underserved and underrepresented students, this REU will increase the likelihood of enduring participation in sciences among these students and build capacity for their future success in any field. These efforts, in turn, will increase the diversity of Ocean Science professionals and role models for future students in STEM. By targeting students along the nGOM coast, the program additionally supports local communities and economies by enhancing the education and intellectual capital of the next generation in technical fields in the region.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.