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

向基恩大学颁发了本科生研究体验(REU)SITE奖，在2013-2015年夏季期间，每年为8名学生提供为期10周(哥斯达黎加5周，新泽西5周)的国际经验和培训。这个REU项目将让学生作为来自基恩大学、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，以研究哥斯达黎加北部地带马奎克国家野生动物保护区(MNWLR)各种未受损、受损或濒危栖息地内的植被、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。学生将评估是否可以通过生境、管理策略和/或大气条件观察生态系统条件变化的模式/指标，将其添加到哥斯达黎加的自然资源数据库中，因为学生在MNWLR的生境连续体内研究不同营养群落的差异，那里几乎没有进行研究。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；在欧空局地区性会议上介绍他们的工作并向期刊提交手稿；在他们的小学与博卡塔帕达村的当地社区合作，获得增值的文化体验。学生将接受关于研究方法、数据分析、科学交流、在期刊上发表他们的研究成果、科学调查中的道德和负责任的研究行为以及其他支持机制的强化活动，以促进学生在生态/环境科学方面的研究生课程的追求。PIS将使用NSF REU通用评估工具来评估学生的科学和智力成就，并将跟踪学生在REU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该项目工作的论文、他们作为未来科学家的目标、他们认为自己将如何从该项目中受益、他们的母校可能存在哪些其他研究机会，以及2封推荐信。欲了解更多信息，请联系比尔·伊顿博士(weaton@kean.edu)或丹妮拉·谢比茨博士(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).