REU Opportunity on Stormwater Management and Ecosystem Function

A National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer fellowship is open at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. We invite applications from qualified, highly motivated undergraduate students from U.S. colleges/universities to participate in a 12-week lab and field based summer research experience. The program runs from May 23 – August 12 but start and end dates are flexible. The student will participate in an NSF-funded project studying the effects of stormwater management on ecosystem function (e.g. nutrient dynamics, biological integrity, temperature attenuation and hydrology) in urban streams. The student will learn field and laboratory techniques, experimental design and data analysis to develop his/her own research project within this topic. The student will be required to write a report in the format of a scientific paper and give a presentation on their project at the end of the summer. The student will also be encouraged to submit an abstract of their work for presentation at a scientific meeting (e.g. American Geophysical Union). The REU provides a $450/week stipend for living expenses and travel costs to the scientific meeting will be covered.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate institution and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Students from underrepresented groups and institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should send: (1) a statement of interest, (2) resume, (3) unofficial transcript, (4) one letter of recommendation and (5) contact information for one additional reference. The statement of interest should include the following information: (i) professional goals, (ii) interest in position and (iii) relevant experience and be sent to Dr. Sara McMillan (smcmillan (at) uncc.edu). The letter of recommendation should be sent directly from the recommender (please include the applicant’s name in the subject line for emails). Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted through April 22, 2011.