REU Site: Undergraduate Research in Integrative Evolutionary Biology

University South Carolina Research Foundation, Columbia SC

Investigators

Abstract

This University of South Carolina REU site focuses on providing undergraduates with a research experience in integrative evolutionary biology. The Program's objective is to provide training opportunities for students interested in the intersection between molecular genetics and organismal level processes. Students participate in 9-week independent research projects under the direction of one or more faculty mentors who span the range of areas in evolutionary biology. Students learn about hypothesis generation and testing as well as the techniques and experimental designs used in their mentors' laboratories. In addition, a series of discussions presents information about how to get into and be successful in graduate school. At the end of the summer, each student writes a summary of his/her work and presents an oral version in a departmental mini-symposium. Previous participants were from diverse and under-represented groups and many have gone on to graduate school after completing their undergraduate degree. More information is available at http://www.biol.sc.edu/~elygen/reu/evolution.html or by contacting Dr. Bert Ely at Ely@sc.edu (Tel 803-777-2768).