Undergraduate education is one our highest priorities at Blandy Experimental Farm. Since 1992 Blandy has provided Undergraduate Research Fellowships to students interested in ecology and environmental science. We have been aided in this effort by funding from the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Our primary goal is to teach students to formulate testable hypotheses about important ecological and evolutionary questions. The format of the program encourages students to develop skills in experimental design, data collection, analysis, and critical reading of primary scientific literature. Students also learn to prepare and communicate scientific information to other scientists and the general public.
Our program exposes students to a diversity of research projects that collectively illustrate how natural systems function and how science progresses. Through the course of the summer we provide students with information on various career options in ecology and the environmental sciences. Next summer we will offer 10 awards that carry a $4668 stipend + an additional meal budget, free housing, and a budget for supplies and research-related travel. Interested students can access the necessary application form and instructions directly from our application page (http://www.virginia.edu/blandy/ReuWebPage/HomePage.php). If you need further information please send an email to Kyle Haynes or call 540 837-1758 ext 292 M-F, 9-5 Eastern Time. The application and all supporting materials are due on March 1, 2010. These fellowships are only available for U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents.
