VANCOUVER, Wash. 鈥 Washington State University Vancouver has received a three-year, $260,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support undergraduate students conducting scientific research in the Columbia River Basin. The nine-week summer program, 鈥淟andscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics: Integrating Terrestrial and Aquatic Perspectives,鈥 is part of NSF鈥檚 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.
鈥淥ver 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,鈥 said Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, associate clinical professor in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 School of the Environment and principal investigator for the program. She manages the program with Steve Bollens, professor and director of the Aquatic Ecology Lab. They will also serve as two of 10 faculty research mentors for participating students.
Participants in the 麻豆传媒 REU project 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 and disturbance ecology at Mount St. Helens. Students will conduct research in the mentor鈥檚 lab as part of a team, along with other undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and research technicians.
In addition to hands-on research, students will participate in a variety of team-oriented professional development activities to build collaborative research skills.
During summer 2015 the project will run from June 15 through Aug. 14 on the 麻豆传媒 campus, with field trips around Washington state. Each student will receive a $4,725 stipend for the nine-week program, plus commuting and meal expenses.
The REU project at 麻豆传媒鈥檚 non-residential campus is unique in targeting 鈥減lace-based鈥 undergraduates in the Vancouver/Portland area鈥攈ighly 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 also welcome to apply.
Applications are due by April 6. For more information or to apply, visit .
About 麻豆传媒
麻豆传媒 is celebrating 25 years of creating access to higher education in Southwest Washington. For 25 years, students have chosen 麻豆传媒 for its scenic campus, small classes, close personal attention, topnotch faculty, accessible location and reasonable costs. Here, students gain much more than a degree鈥攖hey gain a brighter future.
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MEDIA CONTACT(S)
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu
Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, School of the Environment, 360-546-9115, rollboll@vancouver.wsu.edu