Research experience is an important and exciting part of your undergraduate experience. One way to obtain this vital experience is to work with a graduate student. There are many opportunities available.

A good way to approach a potential grad student mentor is via email. The directory of all graduate student emails is located here. A brief letter stating why you are interested in the internship or research and contact information is a great starting point. Research is a great way to obtain course credit, as well as obtain an experience unlike any other.

Student Byron Ledbetter said, "This is probably your best opportunity to learn about how ecological research actually works. It combines field work in a beautiful environment with serious scientific analysis and writing. Even if stream ecology isn't your chosen field, this is still a great chance to get your feet with with real ongoing research."

Here are some examples of the great opportunities available to you:

CURRENT OPENINGS!

We are looking for 2-3 outstanding and highly motivated students to assist with ongoing research projects in the laboratory of Dr. Sonia Altizer in the Odum School of Ecology.   Students can work for hourly pay or design a project for research credits. Research in our lab focuses on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases in animal systems. We seek students to assist in 3 key project areas:

• Tracking parasites in monarch butterflies using citizen science data. Students will help to expand a continent-wide program for data collection involving volunteer participants in North America. Duties include contacting participants, preparing and mailing sampling kits, processing samples returned to the lab, and updating information on the WWW.   Writing and organizational skills and ability to communicate with the public required. For more information on this project, see www.monarchparasites.org

• Experimental studies of host-parasite interactions in monarch butterflies .   Students will assist in rearing greenhouse plants, rearing caterpillars, handling adult monarchs, parasite assessment and microscope work.   Laboratory experience working with plants and insects and microscopy skills desired. Requires precise attention to detail and use of sterile protocols. For more information on this project, see www.monarchparasites.org

• Global Mammal Parasite Database. Students will help add to and maintain an electronic database of parasites and infectious diseases in three wild mammal groups: primates, carnivores and ungulates. Previous experience with library work and data entry is strongly preferred. GIS experience and an interest in mammal ecology and parasite diversity is helpful. For more information on this project, see www.mammalparasites.org

Interested students must commit a minimum of 10 hrs per week during the spring and fall semesters, and/or 20 hrs per week during the summer months.   Flexible hours and pay available. We prefer students who can work from early April through late December. For more information on our lab and projects, contact Sonia Altizer, saltizer@uga.edu , or visit our lab website at: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~saltizer/Lab/ .   To apply please send a current resume, list of relevant coursework, and a short (less than 1 pg) statement of your research goals and past experience. Also indicate which of the projects you are most interested in. Send to Sonia Altizer, saltizer@uga.edu by April 1, 2007.

ECOL 4960
Title: Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on Stream Macroinvertebrates

We are currently seeking an undergraduate research assistant to conduct a stream ecology project during the Spring 2007 semester.  This is an unpaid position, but coursework credit will be provided as 'Practical Research Experience' (3 credits ECL 4960).  

This research project involves working in an aquatic ecology lab to investigate the effects of long-term nutrient enrichment on stream macroinvertebrate communities.   The research assistant will help design a project addressing how stream nutrient enrichment affects food quality, and indirectly alters macroinvertebrate consumption and assimilation efficiencies.   On average, this position will require 9 hours per week split between background reading, laboratory research, and data analysis.  

Interested applicants should email John Davis at the Odum School of Ecology (jmdavis@uga.edu ) with a copy of their resume, contact information for three references (email and phone number), and a short cover letter stating why they are interested in this position.   Please reference "Undergraduate Research Intern" in the email subject line.

ECOL 4940 and 4960
Title:   Ecology and geomorphology of shallow-water habitats in the Etowah River, GA.

There is an opening for 3 students that are interested in participating in ongoing research in river and stream ecology. Field work opportunities include documenting habitat characteristics of endangered fish habitat, measuring aquatic plants, and fish collections. Lab work opportunities include identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates and estimating plant biomass. Students may enroll in Ecology Internship (ECOL 4940; 3 credit hours) or Ecology Research (ECOL 4960, 3-4 hours), depending on past research experience. Contact Will Duncan at wduncan@uga.edu for more information.

Title: Apparent inhibition of aquatic microbes on mixed-species leaf litter in the presence of rhododendron

There is an opening for one student interested in field and laboratory research at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory and University of Georgia, respectively. Field work would include collection of leaf litter in fall 2006 at Coweeta. Laboratory work would include identifying leaf litter species, preparing laboratory mesocosms for a short-term experiment, bacterial and fungal analyses of leaf litter. Students may enroll in Ecology Internship (ECOL 4940; 3 credit hours) or Ecology Research (ECOL 4960, 3-4 hours), depending on past research experience. Contact John Kominoski at jkominos@uga.edu for more information. Please see my webpage for more information about me and my research: http://jkominoski.googlepages.com.

PREVIOUS UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES:

Title: Investigation into the Stimuli Responsible for Floral Initiation in
Podostemum ceratophyllum (Podostomaceae)
Student:   Byron Ledbetter

Student assisted with field work and lab work related to shoal habitats in the Etowah River, GA. Work included canoeing portions of the river while conducting geomorphic and plant surveys. Identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates, laboratory processing of leaf packs from a Coweeta LTER research project, and biomass measurements were part of the second internship. Introduction to data analysis, research design, and directed reading were components of both semesters. Work was supervised by Will Duncan and Cindy Tant in Ecology, under the faculty advisement of Dr. Judy Meyer.

Title: Exploring the Efects of Tree Species Diversity on Decomposition
Student: Jimmy Blackmon

Student assisted with field and lab work on a graduate research project exploring the effects of tree species diversity on decomposition. Work focused on chemical analyses of leaf litter and soil invertebrate animal identification, but also included leaf litter ID, sample collection from the field (mostly Coweeta LTER), field site maintenance, and general lab chores. The student became sufficient in most procedures regularly used for leaf litter chemical and biota analysis. Work was supervised by Becky Ball, Ph.D. candidate in Ecology, under the faculty advisor Dr. Mark Bradford.