Program in Coastal Biology

Beginning in 2013, the University of North Florida became one of the newest host sites for the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. The UNF REU Program offers paid research training experiences in Coastal Biology to 10 undergraduates students during a 10-week period between June 2 and August 8, 2014. REU participants will be paired with Coastal Biologists at UNF, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Jacksonville Field Lab and conduct mentored research projects related to their advisor's expertise. At the beginning of the program, students will complete a 1-week orientation on performing research in Coastal Biology to prepare them for their directed research projects. Students will also gain experience in science communication by presenting the results of their project at a departmental-wide research poster mini-symposium. Participants will attend research seminars and workshops on career skills in science. Students may also have the opportunity to present their research findings at professional conferences. 

The 2014 REU session will focus on research topics including shark ecology and physiology, pinniped nutrition, dolphin behavioral ecology, invasive species (lionfish) biology, evolutionary genetics and speciation in mollusks, crustacean reproduction, salt marsh restoration, fish ecology, fish endocrinology, and marine natural products.  Information about mentors, research topics, dates, and application procedures are posted on the REU web site (https://www.unf.edu/coas/biology/coastal_biology/REU.aspx). Applications are due on March 7, 2014.