Summer Students Test Scientific Waters

Class of 2006 REU fellows and their instructors

The summer of 2006 marked the 18th year that college students from around the country had an opportunity to work alongside marine scientists in labs at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), a Maryland Sea Grant program funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), pairs students with faculty mentors at Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) in Cambridge and Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) in Solomons to conduct academic research projects for 12 weeks.

In the summer of 2006, fourteen students from Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New York, California, Wisconsin, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Puerto Rico participated in the REU program at UMCES. Students worked with advisors to complete projects in fields ranging from fisheries to physical oceanography. Among this year's project titles were: "The Effects of Differing Hurricane Tracks on Storm Surges on the Chesapeake Bay," "The Effects of Oyster Reefs and Breakwaters on Seagrass Beds," and "The Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Snapping Turtle Behavior and Metabolism." At the end of the summer, students presented their results at a special symposium and wrote papers that synthesized their findings. To see photos of the orientation cruise in the Chesapeake Bay and read abstracts of all their projects, visit the web at www.mdsg.umd.edu/programs/research/reu/.

In addition to their research, students also participated in special programs focused on communication, careers, and ethics. Another highlight was sharing research experiences with students from the Multicultural Students at Sea Together (MAST) program, run by Hampton University in Virginia, whose sailboat anchored at HPL and CBL during a three-week voyage on the Chesapeake.

The REU program nationwide is a major contributor to NSF's goal of developing a diverse, internationally competitive, and globally engaged science and engineering workforce. Research experience is one of the most effective avenues for attracting talented undergraduates and retaining them in careers in science and engineering, including careers in teaching and education research. Maryland Sea Grant has successfully applied to NSF for funding for its REU program for nearly 20 years and is one of only two Sea Grant programs which is an REU site.

Maryland Sea Grant is currently seeking students for the summer 2007 REU program, which runs from May 20-August 12. To be eligible, students should be undergraduates who have completed at least two years of study towards a bachelor's degree and still be undergraduates in the fall of 2007. Preference is given to students who are rising seniors. Those from underrepresented groups and institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and its possessions. The University of Maryland is an equal opportunity employer and educator.

Fellows receive a stipend of $3,700, housing costs, and round-trip travel expenses. Opportunities exist for students to publish or present their summer research findings at regional and national conferences. Applications are due February 13, 2007. To apply, visit the web at www.mdsg.umd.edu/programs/research/reu/. Contact Fredrika Moser (moser@mdsg.umd.edu) with questions.

2007 Fellowship Opportunities

Coastal Management Fellowships, NOAA Coastal Services Center. These two-year fellowships, currently available for 2008-09, were established in 1996 to provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for postgraduate students and to provide project assistance to state coastal zone management programs. The program matches postgraduate students with state coastal zone programs to work on projects proposed by the state and selected by the fellowship sponsor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. Fellowships offer a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement.

The application deadline for submitting fellowships to the Maryland Sea Grant office is January 29, 2007. For information about the projects and states where fellowships will be located and for application details, visit www.mdsg.umd.edu/Policy/coastalmgmt.html and www.csc.noaa.gov/cms/fellows.html.

Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships, National Sea Grant College Program. Maryland Sea Grant seeks applicants for these 2008 fellowships, funded by the National Sea Grant office and administered through individual state Sea Grant programs. Knauss Fellows spend a year in marine policy-related positions in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. Past Fellows have worked in the offices of U.S. Senators and Representatives, on Congressional subcommittees, and at agencies such as the National Science Foundation and NOAA. Fellowships run from February 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009 and pay a stipend of $33,000 plus $7,000 for health insurance, moving, and travel.

Applications are due at the Maryland Sea Grant office March 1, 2007. For application details, visit the Maryland Sea Grant web site, www.mdsg.umd.edu/Policy/knauss. For information about the fellowship program nationally, visit the National Sea Grant Office, www.seagrant.noaa.gov/Knauss/knauss.html.

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