National Science Foundation Research Opportunity
3D Invertebrate Herbivory and Biodiversity in Deciduous North American Forest Canopies: Inspiring Students with Physical Disabilities to Pursue Field Biology
June 1 – August 11, 2013 | Baker University, Baldwin City, Kan.
More info | Apply Now
Want A Different Research Experience?
Want new skills, new challenges, a research publication opportunity, a bit of adventure, and to be part of the future of the planet?
NSF: The Research Opportunity
This is a three dimensional research project to define the taxonomy and distribution of Tardigrades (Water Bears) in the Canopy and the herbivory of insects on a North American deciduous forest. This project is a fast paced, tree climbing, data collecting, rapid analysis, and results oriented internship and not for the timid.
Students will be professionally trained to ascend into the canopy where they will measure the impact of micro and macro invertebrates on the habitat and establish a baseline from which change can be measured. This is the cutting edge of ecological analysis in a world impacted by climate change. Students will learn to use remote sensing, GIS, HPLC, GC-MS, and an EA Scanning Electron Microscope to document the micro environment.
Students will be employed for the summer, and collaborate with the PIs to prepare their data for presentation and publication. They will meet and network with the scientists and graduate students at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, KU Microscopy & Analytical Imaging Lab, KSU LTER, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Students may attend a regional, national or international meeting and present your results.
Students will be part of a small team of young scientists who are defining and base lining the condition of the temperate forests before global warming completely exerts pressure for the forests and canopy to change.
We are recruiting students with ambulatory disabilities
Designed from the beginning to be an opportunity for students with ambulatory disabilities the project is based on the idea that a wheelchair is not a limit to good field biology. To explore the canopy we climb ropes not trees, and in the lab we use microscopes, computers, and minds which have no limits.
8 Positions: 4 for students in wheelchairs
Apply by Friday, March 15, 2013
More info | Apply Now
For more info you can contact Dr. William Miller at 785-594-8379 or [email protected]
