Summer Research Program in Ecology
Sponsoring Institution
Harvard UniversityApplication Deadline
March 1, 2004Dates of Internship
June 1 - August 20, 2004Stipend
$3600 (undergraduates) or $3200 (graduated students) plus free room and boardSynopsis
Harvard Forest offers an exciting program for up to 20 undergraduate students and recent graduates to collaborate with scientists conducting ecological investigations for 12 weeks during the summer of 2002.Program Description: Each student will participate in an on-going research project with a researcher from Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, Marine Biological Laboratory Ecosystem Center or other institutions. Responsibilities may include field sampling, laboratory studies, data analysis and scientific writing. In addition, students attend weekly seminars and workshops given by nationally known scientists on topics regarding ecosystem research, career planning, and graduate school preparation. In July, participants attend a one-day symposium on careers in ecology at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. At the end of the summer, students will develop their research results, prepare an abstract, and present their findings at a student research symposium. View previous year's symposium abstracts. Academic credit may be arranged with the student's home institution. Students are encouraged to give a presentation regarding their summer research project upon returning to their home institution.
Research Projects: Harvard Forest research focuses on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest ecosystems, including atmospheric pollution, global warming, hurricanes, treefalls, and insect outbreaks. Researchers come from many disciplines, and specific projects center on Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens; Plant Biology, Population & Community Ecology; Aquatic Studies; Large Experiments & Permanent Plot Studies; Retrospective Studies; Conservation & Management; Atmospheric Chemistry and Soil Carbon & Nitrogen Dynamics. Summer 2004 projects and researchers are detailed at http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/education/reu/mentors.html.
Harvard Forest: The Forest is located in central Massachusetts about 70 miles west of Boston. The 3000-acre site lies in the Transition Hardwood-White Pine-Hemlock forest region, and includes a variety of forests and wetlands. Facilities include laboratories for nutrient analysis, physiological and population ecology, isozyme, tree-ring and pollen analysis; greenhouses; herbarium; computer laboratory; library; archives; and the Fisher Museum.
Near-by Attractions: During off hours, summer students often visit the nearby college-towns of Amherst and Northampton, take day trips to Cambridge and Boston, organize hikes in New Hampshire's White Mountains and explore Maine's coastline at Acadia National Park.
Funding: A portion of the funding for this program is provided by the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU) and the A.W. Mellon Foundation/United Negro College Fund Summer Internship Program for Ecology Research.
Students may apply by contacting the program officials below or by visiting the program's website: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/education/reu/reuapp.pdf
Address
Harvard Forest
Summer Program
P.O. Box 68
324 N. Main Street
Petersham, MA 01366
Phone: (978) 724-3595
Email: hfapps@fas.harvard.edu
Last modified 16 March 2004