Research Site:
Site locations focus on the coastal ecosystems of south Florida extending from the freshwater Everglades, through coastal mangroves, seagrass beds of Florida Bay, and out to our coral reefs. Participants will have the opportunity to work in an ecosystem of their choice and situated in one of our three major divisions: the Freshwater Resources Division; the Coastlines and Oceans Division, including the Sea Level Solutions Center; and the Land and Biodiversity Division. Projects may also align with the cross-cutting initiatives of the Everglades Foundation, the Tropical Conservation Institute, the Environmental Forensics & Public Health, the Environmental Finance & Risk Management, and the Innovation for Sustainable Built Environments programs.
Overview:
Partnerships among Florida International University’s Coastal Ecosystems Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site program, the Everglades Foundation and Florida Everglades Long Term Ecological (FCE LTER) research site have opportunities for undergraduate researchers across multiple disciplines and projects. See our Mentors page. The research opportunities for undergraduates REU are 10-week paid research experiences located on the Biscayne Bay and Modesto campuses of Florida International University in Miami, Florida. This year’s program runs from May 22nd to July 28th. The hands-on, immersive research opportunity supports students in developing and conducting an independent Everglades research project in collaboration with a research team made up of FIU faculty, and graduate students’ mentors.
Research Overview:
The research focuses primarily on the ecology of coastal ecosystems across gradients of human impact. Research includes coastal ecosystems ecology, environmental aquatic chemistry, and the connections among the Everglades wetlands, coastal mangrove forests, seagrass beds and shallow water coral reefs. Goals primarily aim to detect the sources, transport and transformation of environmental stressors and the ecosystem responses under rapid changing climate and land-use. The hydrologic connectivity between the natural, agricultural, and urban landscapes results in a highly complex network of contaminant and pollutant sources that are transported throughout a heavily managed water landscape. Learn about one of the largest Ecosystem Restoration projects in the world: NSF’S Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program, based at the University’s Institute of Environment at FIU.
For Questions about the program, please contact Beth Simmons (besimmon@fiu.edu).
To Apply:
Please visit our websites.
a. NSF REU: Understanding Coastal Ecosystems from the Everglades to the Coral Reefs
The application window is Dec. 5th – Feb 3rd, 2023. Acceptances will be announced mid-March.
