Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Summer Opportunity!
10 weeks (23 May – 29 July, 2016)
Mentors: Dr. Julienne Ng and Dr. Robert Laport
Disentangling the Roles of Ecological and Historical Processes in Community Structure: a Continental-Scale Approach
Mentors: Dr. Julienne Ng and Dr. Robert Laport
Disentangling the Roles of Ecological and Historical Processes in Community Structure: a Continental-Scale Approach
We are recruiting two undergraduate students to conduct independent research at the University of Colorado Boulder (Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology) as part of an NSF-funded REU. Students will work in the Smith lab under the guidance of Dr. Julienne Ng and Dr. Robert Laport,
Project Description:
Both ecological (e.g. competitive exclusion, environmental filtering) and historical processes (e.g. speciation, dispersal) are considered central to the assembly process. However, disentangling the roles that these two processes play in shaping community structure has been a major challenge because both ecological and historical processes can give rise to similar patterns. The aim of the REU project is to identify the ecological and historical processes underlying plant community assembly in sites across the United States that have been surveyed by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON).
REU participants will investigate the phylogenetic community structure of four speciose plant families at each NEON site to answer: (1) How have historical processes shaped patterns of community structure? (2) How have species functional traits shaped patterns of community structure? Investigating these questions will require accessing and manipulating large datasets, and conducting molecular phylogenetics and statistical comparative methods. The project will therefore provide opportunities for students to gain valuable skills in obtaining and managing large amounts of data from various publically available databases, as well as hands-on experience with diverse aspects of systematics and comparative biology.
The discrete nature of the REU project provides an element of independence to the research and an opportunity for students to be involved in all stages of the endeavor (including co-authoring a manuscript). Throughout the summer, the students will engage in scientific interactions through research, paper discussions, attendance of research seminars, and one-on-one meetings with the mentors.
Research Support:
REU participants will be provided a stipend ($500/week for 10 weeks), dormitory housing, and return airfare (up to $500).
Application:
Please send a personal statement that describes your research interests and how this REU will support your professional goals (no more than half a page), a resume or CV, unofficial transcripts, and the contact details of two professional references (including title, how you know them, phone number and email address) to Dr. Julienne Ng (julienne.ng[at]colorado.edu).
Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and an undergraduate during the entire period. We especially encourage students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science to apply.
Applications close 4th March, 2016.
Project Description:
Both ecological (e.g. competitive exclusion, environmental filtering) and historical processes (e.g. speciation, dispersal) are considered central to the assembly process. However, disentangling the roles that these two processes play in shaping community structure has been a major challenge because both ecological and historical processes can give rise to similar patterns. The aim of the REU project is to identify the ecological and historical processes underlying plant community assembly in sites across the United States that have been surveyed by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON).
REU participants will investigate the phylogenetic community structure of four speciose plant families at each NEON site to answer: (1) How have historical processes shaped patterns of community structure? (2) How have species functional traits shaped patterns of community structure? Investigating these questions will require accessing and manipulating large datasets, and conducting molecular phylogenetics and statistical comparative methods. The project will therefore provide opportunities for students to gain valuable skills in obtaining and managing large amounts of data from various publically available databases, as well as hands-on experience with diverse aspects of systematics and comparative biology.
The discrete nature of the REU project provides an element of independence to the research and an opportunity for students to be involved in all stages of the endeavor (including co-authoring a manuscript). Throughout the summer, the students will engage in scientific interactions through research, paper discussions, attendance of research seminars, and one-on-one meetings with the mentors.
Research Support:
REU participants will be provided a stipend ($500/week for 10 weeks), dormitory housing, and return airfare (up to $500).
Application:
Please send a personal statement that describes your research interests and how this REU will support your professional goals (no more than half a page), a resume or CV, unofficial transcripts, and the contact details of two professional references (including title, how you know them, phone number and email address) to Dr. Julienne Ng (julienne.ng[at]colorado.edu).
Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and an undergraduate during the entire period. We especially encourage students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science to apply.
Applications close 4th March, 2016.