REU 2009-2012: Undergraduate Research on the Olympic Peninsula, USA, and the Northern Zone of Costa Rica

Experience science first hand as part of a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program studying the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and Costa Rica.

Nine students will be selected each year to participate in an intensive 12-week research program in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State (6 weeks) and in Costa Rica (6 weeks) to study the characteristics of different habitats—from pristine to heavily managed—examining parameters from different trophic levels; determine how these values may change between different and related habitats; assess the impact of land management strategies on these habitats; and identify the effects of that various land management strategies have had on the forests of both regions.

It is our vision that the students weave the two projects together as a single whole, with a more global perspective to see how habitats vary; how land management affects both temperate and tropical rainforests; and to be able to look for the global commonalities. The initial focus for the first year or so will be to understand the soil microbial community structure and function, and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrient dynamics in these tropical and temperate forests. This information will provide the baseline information to which we will be able to compare vegetation characteristics in the future. Projects will take place in various forested areas of the Olympic Peninsula, and in Costa Rica we will conduct projects in the Northern Zone forests and the cloud forests of Monteverde.

Highlights

A twelve week program on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, USA, and the Northern Zone of Costa Rica

• $5,400 stipend

• Experience and study both temperate and tropical old growth rainforests

• Six weeks in Costa Rica and six weeks on the Olympic Peninsula

• Contribute to unprecedented research on the comparative ecology of these systems

• Design and execute individual and group field research projects

• Gain experience with field and lab equipment and methods

Click here to download REU application form

Checklist for Application

___ 1. Letter of Application (include your tribal, underrepresented group, and/or 1st generational student status if relevant)
___ 2. An essay of approximately 1000 words detailing your:
• Educational and career goals;
• Reasons for wanting to participate in this program; and
• Previous experiences that indicate how much success you could have in this program.
___ 3. Unofficial transcripts
___ 4. Contact information for two professional or faculty references who are familiar with your scientific experiences/coursework.
___ 5. REU application form

The first round of submissions are already under review! If you have not applied but still wish to do so, please submit your application asap for priority consideration. The absolute deadline is 5pm, April 20.

Submit to: Dr. Brian Hauge
Director, Undergraduate Research
Peninsula College / WWU-PC
1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360.417.6587
bhauge@pencol.edu