Position title: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) – BrazilStreams Project
Position type: Seasonal/temporary Duration: 10 weeks(June-August) Application Deadline:April 10, 2015 Project Description: The Marine Biological Laboratory is seeking applicants forthe Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program sponsored by theNational Science Foundation. The successful applicant will work as part of alarge-scale, multi-disciplinary project examining the effects of agriculturaldevelopment on the structure and function of headwater streams of the BrazilianAmazon. We will hire an undergraduate student to work as part of ourteam evaluating how soybean-maize agriculture affects the movement of nitrogen(N) from farm fields to headwater streams. The REU student will develop a project within this context focused onunderstanding the fate of N once it reaches stream channels (e.g., downstreammovement, food web uptake). The student will work at Tanguro Ranch, a large (800 km2)industrial soybean farm where we have field station and collaborate with Brazilianand U.S. researchers. The student willlive at the field station and work in stream watersheds on the farm propertywith a team of Brazilian field technicians and their MBL mentors. There will be the opportunity to both doon-the-ground field research and to use remote sensing and earth-systemmodeling approaches to scale the results. The project will begin at MBL withan orientation (1-2 weeks) to the ecology and agriculture of Mato Grosso,Brazil as well as the goals and objectives of the larger project. The studentwill live and work with their MBL mentor at the Tanguro Research Station for thesubsequent 3-4 weeks of their project. The student will also be required to presenttheir work to the Woods Hole scientific community at the MBL Annual UndergraduateSymposium held in August. Basic qualifications:Applicants should have completed basic coursework in biology, chemistry, andideally ecology or ecosystem studies. Someproficiency with Spanish and/or Portuguese and experience working in fieldconditions strongly desired. We willspend long hours working in hot, tropical conditions, which includes hiking tofield sites, carrying heavy equipment, and executing experiments in remotelocations. Applicants need to meet Brazilian Visa requirements,including passing a background check. REU positionsare available to U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents only who are currentlyenrolled as undergraduates at U.S. colleges or universities (no graduatingseniors). How to Apply: Visit https://mbl.simplehire.com/postings/2963. The following items are required: 1) CoverLetter which includes a detailed statement describing your relevant experience,research interests and why this opportunity appeals to you; 2) CV/Resume; 3) Reference,list of 3 with contact information; and 4) Unofficial transcripts. Please contact Dr. Kathi Jo Jankowski with questions:[email protected].
