Harvard Forest offers an exciting program for up to 30 undergraduate students from institutions across the country to collaborate with scientists conducting ecological research for 12 weeks during the summer of 2010. Program Description: Each student will participate in an on going study with senior researchers from Harvard University, Marine Biological Lab- Ecosystems Center, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts and other collaborators. Responsibilities generally include field and laboratory studies, data analysis and scientific writing. In addition, students attend weekly seminars given by nationally known scientists about their research and workshops on ethics and career and graduate school planning. At the end of the summer, students will develop their research results and present their findings at a student research symposium. Research Projects: Harvard Forest research focuses on the dynamics of forest ecosystems and their response to natural and human disturbances. Researchers come from many disciplines and specific projects center on population and community ecology, paleoecology, land-use history, aquatic ecology, biogeochemistry, ecophysiology, and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges. Projects in summer 2010 will focus on: Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens Plant Biology, Population and Community Ecology Large Ecosystem Experiments and Permanent Plot Studies Conservation Biology and Biodiversity Forest Ecosystem Response to Global Change Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics Reading and Conserving the New England Landscape Compensation: Students are paid a stipend of $5520 for the 12 week session which runs from May 24 through August 13, 2010. Excellent on-site housing and a full meal plan are included as part of the program. Assistance with travel costs to and from Harvard Forest is also provided. Who Should Apply: We seek a diverse group of students from a variety of undergraduate programs across the country. Students should have a demonstrated interest in ecology but are not required to have previous field/lab experience and there is no minimum GPA required. We accept students from all class years, and are particularly interested in recruiting students from community colleges, small teaching schools as well as larger research institutions. To Apply: Visit http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/education/reu/reu.html for our on- line application. Applications are due February 5, 2010.
