> The Global Change Biology and Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry lab at the > University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is seeking an undergraduate > student for an innovative NSF-funded REU project integrating ecosystem > ecology, biogeochemistry, and environmental microbiology. The project will > contribute to a larger effort to improve understanding of when, where, and > why the microbially mediated process, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to > ammonium (DNRA), is an important soil nitrogen transformation process in > terrestrial ecosystems. DNRA retains nitrogen in ecosystems to support plant > productivity and reduce water pollution resulting from nitrate runoff; it > also competes with other microbially mediated nitrogen transformations to > decrease soil emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas that > contributes to climate change. Despite its potential importance, DNRA has > generally been disregarded in non-flooded terrestrial ecosystems because of > the misconception that it is restricted to conditions found in flooded > environments, such as wetlands and rice paddies. > > During the 10-week program, the REU student will gain hands-on training and > valuable experience in both field and laboratory research conducted on the > UIUC campus, including the option to learn about stable isotope pool dilution > and tracer methods, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, or Illumina > sequencing of soil microbial genes. The student will be guided in the > development of an independent project that culminates in an oral presentation > of the project results to the lab group. The selected student will be > primarily mentored by Dr. Wendy Yang, an ecosystem ecologist and > biogeochemist; Dr. Robert Sanford, an environmental microbiologist; or Dr. > Joanne Chee-Sanford, a microbiologist; placement will be determined based on > the student’s expressed interest. > > Program details: > - The program runs for 10 weeks, from May 29, 2018 to August 3, 2018. > - Travel expenses to/from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and lodging > will be provided. > - The student will receive a weekly stipend. > > Qualifications: > - U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the > United States > - Must be enrolled in a baccalaureate or associate degree program > (part-time or full-time); transfer students and high school students accepted > into and starting a degree program in Fall 2018 are eligible > - Prior research experience NOT required > - Has a strong interest in ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, > environmental microbiology, or related fields > - Shows academic promise > > Applications are due by March 23, 2018 and should include the following: > - 1-2 page cover letter, including responses to the following three > questions: > 1. Which faculty mentor are you interested in working primarily with, > and how does that investigator’s field of research relate to your interests? > 2. What do you hope to gain from this research experience? > 3. What do you envision yourself doing career-wise 10 years from now? > - CV/resume > - Transcript (unofficial is ok) > - Contact information for 3 references > > Applications and questions should be sent to Dr. Wendy Yang at > ya...@illinois.edu. > > For more information about the Global Change Biology and Stable Isotope > Biogeochemistry lab and the parent project for the REU project, please visit > http://bit.ly/REU-UIUC >
