The Jornada Basin LTER has openings for 1-2 motivated students under the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Undergraduate researchers will contribute to the implementation of a new cross-scale interactions experiment at the LTER, and their efforts will play a key role in enhancing our understanding of the ecological patterns and processes governing shrub encroachment and grassland remediation in the Chihuahuan Desert.
The students will work with Dr. Finn Pillsbury from New Mexico State University and the JRN LTER, assisting in the installation of experimental manipulations and collection of field data on various biotic and abiotic properties, including dust deposition, belowground gas exchange, and vegetation structure. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to develop an independent research project and gain experience collecting data from numerous sources, including remote sensing, field measurements, and automated sensors. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of a large, long-term ecological experiment that covers multiple disciplines, focuses on multiple spatial scales, and has the involvement of investigators from a number of institutions. A stipend and housing at the LTER site are provided. The positions run from mid-May to mid-August, but start and end dates are flexible. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident working toward a bachelors degree. To apply, please submit a letter of interest and a CV with contact information for two references to Dr. Finn Pillsbury, [email protected]. Positions will remain open until filled.
