Undergraduate Research

University of Texas Marine Science Institute

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

http://reu.utmsi.utexas.edu

Field Experiences in South Texas Coastal Dynamics, June 1 - August 10, 2011

 The level of funding for Summer 2011 is uncertain until Congress passes a budget for the fiscal year. Funds for 2 fellowships will be available at a minimum, a complete program depends on renewal of funds from NSF.

Ten fellowships will be available for the summer of 2011, for undergraduate students to conduct independent research projects on the causes, effects and consequences of coastal environmental change.  Each student will work with a faculty mentor on topics such as:
  • Watershed processes, land-sea interactions, coastal hydrology Biogeochemistry, organic matter cycling, water column optics
  • Zooplankton ecology, phytoplankton physiology and ecology
  • Fish reproductive physiology, environmental toxicology
  • Estuarine ecology, seagrass and marsh ecosystems
  • Larval fish ecology, behavior, mariculture
  • Benthic and community ecology
Information on faculty research interests may be found at http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu/people/faculty.html
REU @ THE MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE
The Marine Science Institute is located in Port Aransas, on 72 acres on the Gulf of Mexico.  REU projects will take advantage of the wide variety of coastal habitats near the Institute, including shallow bays, hypersaline lagoons, seagrass beds, estuaries, mangroves, and marshes.  UTMSI is the lead state agency for the 185,000-acre Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, the only reserve in the Western Gulf of Mexico biogeographic region.

The 10-week summer program begins with a 2-day research cruise on the R/V Katy and ends with a symposium in which students will present their research results.  Along the way, students will create web pages and blogs about their research, and participate in a variety of professional development activities. 

  • Eligibility:  Students must be undergraduates in their sophomore or junior year, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and its possessions.
  • Stipends:  Students will receive a summer stipend of $450 per week for the 10-week program, full room and board, a research allowance, and a travel allowance.
  • APPLY!  Program information can be found at http://reu.utmsi.utexas.edu
  • Deadline for applications is February 16, 2011.
Questions about the program may be directed to Dr. Edward Buskey, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Dr. Deana Erdner, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


All students who are offered a position at this REU site will have until March 14, 2011 to accept or reject the offer.  Any student who is asked to accept or reject an offer before this date should contact the NSF OCE REU Program Director, Lisa Rom, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 703-292-7709.