This opportunity is curated through the UF TESI Environmental Leaders Network. Opportunities posted through the Network may not be affiliated with the Florida Museum or TESI, but are shared with UF undergraduate students who want to learn more about environmental research, education and outreach, and civic engagement. 

Host Organization

University of Washington

Location

New Orleans, LA

Type of position

Paid Research Experience for Undergraduates

Salary of $7,000 (plus housing, meals, and travel provided)

Position description

The Wood Lab is dedicated to answering the question, “Is the world wormier than it used to be?” A new NSF-funded project addresses this question for the parasites of riverine fishes. We use parasitological dissection of liquid-preserved fishes stored in natural history collections to reconstruct long time series of parasite abundance, encompassing decades of environmental change. Our goal is to quantify how environmental impacts like urbanization, pollution, and climate change might cause parasites to increase or decrease in abundance over time. We seek to hire four undergraduates for a 10-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) internship to take place between June and August of 2024.

We anticipate hiring two undergraduates from the University of Washington and two who attend universities in the US Gulf South region. The position is supported by a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for a project entitled “Reconstructing parasite abundance in river ecosystems over the past half-century.” The students hired into this position will have the opportunity to be at the forefront of a new sub-discipline: the historical ecology of parasitism.

Each intern will:

  • Conduct “field work” as part of a large team (i.e., parasitological dissections conducted at the Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute in New Orleans, LA)
  • Learn about aquatic ecosystems of the US Gulf South region through field trips
  • Conduct an independent research project under the supervision of multiple research mentors
  • Collaborate with an international group of senior parasite ecologists and ichthyologists
  • Engage with local elementary-level STEM learners through a program designed to bring parasite biodiversity learning modules into New Orleans-area schools
  • Be among the first to use a novel, powerful tool for understanding why and how parasite communities shift in response to global change

Each intern will receive:

  • Round-trip travel to New Orleans, LA (if not already located in the area)
  • A stipend of $7,000 (one-half to be paid at the beginning of the internship, one-half to be paid at the halfway point)
  • Lodging in New Orleans for the period of the internship (June through August 2024)
  • Meals for the period of the internship (June through August 2024)
  • Support to attend a scientific conference, where each intern will present results from their independent research project after the internship concludes

Qualifications

Note that no previous research experience is required! We are hiring on the basis of potential, not necessarily experience.

The ideal candidate will:

  • be enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Washington or a university located in the US Gulf South region
  • have taken courses in ecology
  • be interested in the field of ecology and in conducting scientific research demonstrate curiosity
  • adopt a rigorous and scholarly approach to science, with evidence of this from previous coursework
  • be a respectful, professional, and generous team player
  • have a positive attitude in the face of obstacles or setbacks
  • have excellent time management skills; accomplish goals by creating realistic but ambitious plans and initiating open communication when plans need to be adjusted
  • have the willingness and the courage to discuss issues openly (i.e., to give and receive feedback, to celebrate successes, and to discuss ways to overcome challenges)

We encourage applications from individuals who are members of groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences.

Start Date

06/09/2024

Application Due

11/15/2023

To apply:

To apply for this position, please reach out to Dr. Chelsea Wood at chelwood@uw.edu. Attached to your e-mail, please include:

  • A letter of intent, including at least one paragraph on your professional goals and interests, at least one paragraph on why you are a good candidate for this position, and the name, phone number, and e-mail address of at least two individuals who can comment on your qualifications.
  • CV or resume
  • Transcript (an unofficial transcript is fine)

From the individuals who reach out using the approach above, Dr. Wood will select a subset of candidates to move on to the next stage of consideration, which will be an interview (in person for UW applicants, via Zoom for other applicants).

To learn more:

Dr. Chelsea Wood, chelwood@uw.edu