The Bernhardt Lab in the Department of Biology at Duke University is advertising two Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) positions for summer 2025. Each REU is a paid position intended to provide undergraduates with experience designing a research project, conducting independent scientific research, and presenting their findings to varied audiences. This summer, students will have the opportunity to partner with ecological researchers at the Hubbard Brook Long Term Ecological Research program, a program that has been monitoring the forests and streams of the Hubbard Brook watershed for over 60 years. Based in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (New Hampshire, USA), our research group is currently investigating how mosses in streams support ecosystem function (organic matter storage, nutrient cycling) and freshwater biodiversity. These positions are an exciting opportunity to contribute to research focused on how mosses provide food resources and habitat for the larger stream ecosystem. No prior experience working in freshwater ecosystems is required, only an enthusiasm for environmental science and a willingness to collaborate on multiple team science projects.
The REUs hired for these positions will be responsible for developing an independent project and will require team-based fieldwork for three weeks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. REUs will also have the opportunity to attend and participate in the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study Annual Cooperators’ meeting (July 9-10th) during their stay in New Hampshire. The students will be mentored by postdoctoral fellows from both the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Duke University, Danielle Hare and Heili Lowman, in addition to faculty members Christopher Solomon and Emily Bernhardt. Required tasks will include: - Full-day fieldwork within streams to include hiking to field sites, collecting soil and water samples, surveying stream habitat (no overnight camping required) - Sample processing in the Bernhardt laboratory at Duke University, which will include filtering, drying, and weighing samples - Data Analysis using Excel and R (training will be provided) - Reading and synthesizing scientific papers The REU Fellows will be paid a $5,000 stipend and provided with housing assistance. The position will run for 10 weeks from approximately May 18th through July 31st (depending on students’ academic schedules). To apply, please submit a CV or resume and a 250-word statement of interest via e-mail to heili.low...@duke.edu with the subject line “Hubbard Brook REU” by **Wednesday, April 2nd at 5pm EST**. Please also direct any questions regarding the position to the same e-mail address. To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
