Please distribute to any undergraduates who might be interested:
Unique Opportunity for Ten Undergraduates 2009 Ecological Genetics Field Study Abroad in China With funding from NSF's Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) program, we are offering 10 undergraduates (U.S. citizens or permanent residents only) the opportunity to participate in a unique study abroad opportunity in China during the summer of 2009 (mid-May through mid-July). The research focus of our PIRE grant is a forensic biogeographic study of species that are native to China and invasive in the southeastern U.S. as well as a growing number of species native to the southeastern U.S. and invasive in China. Each summer, we will run an 8 week field course where we will visit biological communities throughout China. After the field course, students can elect to continue in short-term research internships in our partner labs in China. Students will need to be prepared to take full advantage of this experience. Each spring semester, students will enroll at the University of Georgia (UGA) and take 3 courses; two in intensive elementary Mandarin Chinese and a laboratory course in genetics. No prior experience with Chinese language is required, although students should have had at least a course in introductory biology and preferably courses in ecology and evolutionary biology. The cost to the student of the summer program is minimal: the grant covers travel to and within China, lodging and most meals. The student is responsible for insurance, visa costs and personal expenses. Students are also responsible for the costs of enrolling at the University of Georgia for all required courses (all students are charged at the in-state tuition rate of ~$200 per credit hour). Applications for the 2009 program are available on our website: http://www.genetics.uga.edu/pire. The deadline for application is fast approaching, although we can extend it if a highly motivated student contacts us showing interest and needing some additional time to get together the application materials. We encourage any interested students to contact us for more information. Or, see the web site: http://www.genetics.uga.edu/pire/undergrad.html or e-mail us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rodney Mauricio Program Director, UGA-China PIRE Department of Genetics University of Georgia
