April 6 deadline to apply for summer research experience

By Brenda Alling, WSU Vancouver

summer-researchVANCOUVER, Wash. – Undergraduate students can apply through April 6 to do nine weeks of hands-on science research and professional development at Washington State University Vancouver June 15-Aug. 14.

The campus received a three-year, $260,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Each student will receive a $4,725 stipend plus commuting and meal expenses. For more information and to apply, visit http://vancouver.wsu.edu/reu.

The project at the non-residential campus is unique in targeting “place-based” undergraduates in the Vancouver/Portland, Ore. area – highly qualified students who may not have the opportunity to travel for summer research. Students who have local housing for the summer but attend college outside the region are welcome to apply.

Columbia River Basin research

Students will work with a faculty member in any of 10 research areas focused on the Columbia River Basin, such as aquatic invasive species, endangered butterflies or disturbance ecology at Mount St. Helens. Students will conduct research in the mentor’s lab as part of a team, along with other undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and research technicians.

In addition to hands-on science, students will participate in team-oriented professional development activities to build collaborative research skills. They will take field trips around the state.

Integrating land, water ecology

Rollwagen-Bollens
Rollwagen-Bollens

“Over the next three summers this new project will provide 24 undergraduate students with financial support to undertake hands-on, independent scientific research, working face-to-face with individual School of the Environment and affiliated faculty members on the Vancouver campus,” said Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, associate clinical professor in the school and principal investigator for the program.

Bollens
Bollens

She manages the program with Steve Bollens, professor and director of the Aquatic Ecology Lab. They are two of 10 faculty research mentors for participating students.

The summer program, “Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics: Integrating Terrestrial and Aquatic Perspectives,” is part of NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates.

Learn more about WSU Vancouver at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/about-wsu-vancouver.