International Research Experience for Students in China

Click Here to Learn More and Apply! 

• Program Info
• Contacts

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
Undergraduates - Sophomore
Undergraduates - Junior

Note: this opportunity encourages applications from community college students.

Description:
The University of Florida will offer an International Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students Program funded by the National Science Foundation during this next summer. In this 10-week summer program, students will conduct research in conservation science in southwest China.

This IRES program will provide U.S. undergraduate students a rare opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research on human-wildlife feedbacks in flagship protected areas in a biodiversity hotspot in the mountains of southwestern China. Students will work with U.S. PIs from the University of Florida and experts at China West Normal University in Sichuan, China.

Students will have the opportunity to conduct independent research projects broadly related to the topic of coupled human and wildlife systems. Possible projects could include but are not limited to (1) analysis of existing infrared camera trapping imagery and GIS data on wildlife and other natural resources collected from giant panda habitat, (2) sampling of greater Nanchong city's scenic areas for water quality, microbial communities, wildlife abundance, and disturbance, and (3) semi-structured interviews of local communities. The diverse collection of interrelated projects will give students the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of subject areas (e.g., wildlife ecology, behavioral ecology, molecular biology, microbial ecology, human dimensions of wildlife) as they tackle key questions that shape cutting-edge development of interdisciplinary and systems-level research on wildlife conservation.

Student participants will gain soft skills and have career building opportunities through professional development workshops offered during the program. While abroad, students will also have a rare opportunity to be immersed in Chinese culture and expand their worldviews, in turn better preparing them to join the global internationalized workforce.

For more background about the research, see lab websites of Dr. Hull and Dr. Fujimoto.

The first week will be spent in the program orientation in Gainesville, FL and the remainder will be in China.

Students will receive:

-$500 in weekly stipend (for 10 weeks)

-Food, housing, air/ground travel, and visa costs all covered.

Undergraduate students from any university who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents are invited to apply. Students from underrepresented backgrounds and minority groups are especially encouraged to apply. Students should be at a freshman, sophomore, or junior level at the time of application. Students need to have a passport valid up until December 31.

Please visit our website to learn more about how to apply!


Participating Institution(s):
(Click an institution to see all programs it hosts or sponsors)

Program Materials:

This Program can be Described by:

Learn More and Apply!
This program is funded by:
National Science Foundation (NSF)


Page last updated 1/6/2025
Click here to submit updates to this program listing!
Create your own user feedback survey