We seek to fill two (2) NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) positions at the Savannah River Site (SRS) Corridor Experiment (near New Ellenton, South Carolina) for projects investigating the role of corridors on insect and plant ecology in the summer of 2025. Students will work directly with Thomas Smith (University of Wisconsin, based at SRS), Melissa Burt (Tusculum University), and the project collaborators (Ellen Damschen, John Orrock, Lars Brudvig, Nick Haddad, Julian Resasco, Doug Levey) to: (1) gain insight and experience in ecology field research and (2) conduct a mentored research project of their own within the context of ongoing research.
REU students will be on site at SRS collecting data in the field in the largest corridor experiment in the world. In addition to working with a large team of other undergraduates, graduate students, principal investigators, and US Forest Service personnel, they will gain experience with experimental design, data collection, data analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. Students will design and conduct an independent research project with the guidance of their mentors, attend lab meetings focused on research and professional development, and assist with field tasks associated with the Corridor Project. Potential tasks include surveys of plant-pollinator interactions, mark-recapture of insect populations, insect sampling via pitfall traps, collection of plants for functional traits measurements, vegetation surveys, and site maintenance tasks. Students should expect to develop individual projects around one of two topics related to: 1) the impacts of fragmentation and corridors on insects and/or plant-insect interactions, or 2) the demographic effects of corridor use by plant herbivores. Applicants should be hard-working, inquisitive, dedicated, and responsible. This would be a good opportunity for students interested in pursuing careers in science, particularly in ecology and conservation biology. Application Process: Deadline to Apply: February 26th, 2025 for full consideration, rolling deadline thereafter until positions are filled. Interested students are encouraged to apply by submitting to: tasmit...@wisc.edu<mailto:tasmit...@wisc.edu> (1) a short letter (~1 page) that explains your interest in the position and summarizes any relevant experience, (2) a CV or resume, and (3) the names and contact information for two references. Applications will begin to be reviewed on February 26th and will continue to be considered until the positions are filled. Applicants should expect to spend approximately 12 weeks of summer 2025 at SRS as an REU. Start/end dates: late May-early August. Stipends are ~$500/week with an additional offset to living expenses ($50/week), reimbursement for travel to South Carolina for non-local individuals (up to $500), and funds for research expenses related to the project. Housing is not provided, but we can assist in identifying housing arrangements for each student. We are interested in individuals at any stage of their undergraduate career, but REU students must be enrolled as undergraduates through at least August 2025 (i.e., cannot be graduating in May 2025) and be US citizens or full-time residents. For more information contact the REU mentors: tasmit...@wisc.edu<mailto:tasmit...@wisc.edu> and mb...@tusculum.edu<mailto:mb...@tusculum.edu?subject=REU%20inquiry> Permanent link to REU advertisement: https://damschenlab.zoology.wisc.edu/2025/02/11/hiring-research-experience-for-undergraduate-reu-students-to-work-on-corridors-and-insect-plant-ecology/ To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
