One Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position is available in Dr. Jeffrey Feders Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics Laboratory with the University of Notre Dame for summer 2010.
Project Description: The main project the REU will conduct will involve the monitoring of Rhagoletis pomonella (the apple maggot fly) in eclosion cages set up the summer of 2009 to determine the eclosion curves of different populations; this is with the hypothesis that the different host races will eclose at a time that briefly precedes the ripening of their respective host fruit. In addition to monitoring tents, the REU will also be involved in setting up an experiment to investigate host odor discrimination under natural conditions, driving up and down the Pacific Northwest to collect infested fruit, and then processing subsequent pupae for further experimentation. There also exists the opportunity for the REU to conduct an independent project involving questions related to the sympatric speciation of Rhagoletis pomonella. A valid drivers license and passport is required, and the ability to identify trees from a moving vehicle is preferred (some training will be involved). Project Site Location: The Pacific Northwest, the lab is stationed in Vancouver, WA (20 minutes north of Portland, OR), but a lot of travelling up and down the I-5 corridor will be involved and trips to southern Oregon and Canada are likely. Please email [email protected] with questions. REU position is offered through the University of Notre Dame GLOBES program, and application materials and further information can be found at: http://globes.nd.edu/reu2010.shtml. Priority will be given to applications postmarked by Feb. 12, 2010. Eligible candidates must be current sophomores and juniors, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Women, minority students, disabled students, and students from small colleges are encouraged to apply.
