REU position doing research at the Marine Science Center

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Academic Level:
For most summer research programs, this is your upcoming status as of the fall. Always check with the individual program's website for details.

Undergraduates - First Year
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Description:
The Bowen lab focuses on how the structure and function of microbial communities are affected by human activities as well as how microbial communities alter their environment, from whole ecosystems like salt marshes to oysters, lobsters and plants. You can learn more about our research here: https://www.northeastern.edu/bowen_lab/

We are hiring one REU student for the summer to work on a project focused on salt marsh nutrient cycling. Two possible projects for the REU to tackle are described below, though we are also happy to consider other project ideas that facilitate student's interests:

1)Investigate collections of enrichment cultures to perform important biogeochemical cycles. Experiments can be focused on two main questions. 1. What are the functional linkages among cultivated microbes that allow them to efficiently use a variety of energy sources 2. How will two different consortia behave when mixed together? Will one consortium win, or will a new assemblage form? This project can include aspects of molecular biology, biogeochemistry, and bioinformatics. The project is focused on asking questions at the cutting edge of this field and will be highly relevant to our understanding of microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycles.

2)Examine global change stressor impacts on microbial nitrogen cycling and microbial community structure. Major Questions: 1) How resilient are tidal marsh microbial communities to physicochemical changes? 2) Does preconditioning with a lower amount of the same stressor allow for greater resiliency to change? 3) How do changes in microbial community structure/enzyme expression impact biogeochemical cycling in salt marsh sediments? A project investigating any of these questions will enhance skills in molecular genetics, biogeochemistry, and global change ecology and will provide results relevant to those fields.

The REU duration is 10 weeks, but timing is flexible. The student will be based at Northeastern University's Marine Science Center in Nahant, MA. Public transportation from Northeastern Main Campus is available by or students can drive to Nahant directly. The position comes with a $5000 stipend and $1500 to cover the cost of research.

We are particularly interested in mentoring students who are looking to pursue graduate education in the fields of ecology or environmental science and that have enjoyed their coursework at their home institution. Priority will be given to underrepresented and/or first-generation college students from under-resourced families and communities. If you are interested in applying for this position please send a resume, an unofficial copy of your transcript, and a cover letter that describes your research interest and your future goals, along with the names and contact information for two letters of reference.


Application Deadline: 2/1/2024

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This program is funded by:
National Science Foundation (NSF)


Page last updated 3/22/2023
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