REU Site: Research Internships in Ocean Sciences (RIOS)

Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Brunswick NJ

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract 0755094: This award provides renewed funding for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at Rutger's University. The program will support ten students during a ten week summer research program. The intellectual focus of the program is provided by access to the LEO-15 ocean observing platform and related technologies. Advances in remote sensing, ocean observatories, autonomous vehicles, numerical modeling, and molecular biology are changing oceanography. The faculty and research facilities at IMCS allow undergraduates to explore these technologies to understand estuarine and costal ecosystems. An initial five-day orientation introduces students to ongoing research, focusing on the continental shelf off New Jersey, the Hudson River/New York Harbor, and the Mullica River/Great Bay systems. The two estuaries provide a sharp contrast in their human impacts on coastal ecosystems. The orientation includes two days at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Tuckerton, with hands-on experience in the coastal LEO-15 research area, and on the Mullica River. The program will include independent research projects by the students, participation in a bi-weekly summer lecture series on topics such as scientific writing, science careers, ethics and data presentation. It will conclude with a written report and student poster presentations. Students will be encouraged to publish in peer-reviewed journals and participate in national conferences following the summer research program. The site will be supported by the Department of Defense in partnership with the NSF REU Program.