To apply
Fill out the Google Form at https://forms.gle/WfdnAKRaoj4V3tL96.

Application deadline
January 21st, 2025; interview requests sent by 1st week of February 2025.

Overview
The University of California Berkeley (PI, Benjamin Wong Blonder) and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL, a field station) (PI, Ian Breckheimer) are seeking a Research Experiences for Undergraduates participant for summer 2025. The student would be based in Gothic, Colorado at RMBL, on traditional Ute lands.

The student will spend the summer:

• Carrying out independent research focused on alpine plant demography and community ecology as part of a two-person student team at a field site located on the upper slopes of Mt. Baldy (~3540 meters above sea level)
• Gaining skillsets with seed identification and measuring seed dispersal

As part of a 40-person undergraduate education program, the student will also:

• write proposals, carry out independent research projects, and write reports and give presentations on those projects
• participate in weekly workshops to build skills in scientific writing, data analysis, science ethics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion
• participate in a short course on Rocky Mountain ecosystems or wildlife (optional)

Research Project
The student will perform independent research in the context of the Mt. Baldy Community Demography Study, an ongoing long-term study of alpine plants and how they respond to drought and climate change. Data from this work has been used in several publications, and the project recently received support from the National Science Foundation.

Dates
June 7th – August 12th 2025 (flexible, but must participate for 10 weeks)

Compensation

• Stipend of $7000
• Roundtrip travel from home to field station
• All field station fees and tuition
• Housing in shared cabin accommodations
• Meal plan in the dining hall (3 meals per day)
• Optional credit for coursework (2 credits) and/or research (8 credits)

Mentoring

• The student would be co-mentored by Dr. Breckheimer and Dr. Blonder.
• Breckheimer will be on-site for the duration of the summer, while Blonder will be on-site for the latter part of the summer, but available to meet remotely.
• Additional peer support will come from a second student working on the same project as part of a team.

Context and social support

• The RMBL undergraduate student community is racially and socioeconomically diverse, though the regional community is less diverse.
• The RMBL Community Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee holds numerous events and community spaces to facilitate belonging for students.
• Both mentors are involved in institutional equity and decolonization efforts and are committed to providing a supportive work environment for students.

Eligibility

• Willingness to live in shared rustic accommodations in a semi-remote field station setting.
• U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents who are undergraduate students.
  • An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree.
  • Students who are transferring from one college or university to another and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer may participate.
  • High school graduates who have been accepted at an undergraduate institution but who have not yet started their undergraduate study are also eligible to participate.
  • Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates are generally not eligible to participate.
• Availability to travel to Colorado during program dates (+/- 1 week on each end).
• No prior research experience is necessary.

Preferred qualifications

• Completion of at least one biology or ecology class
• Ability to hike 6-8 miles (1500 ft elevation gain) each field day (willingness is more important than speed)
• Interest in working in a team setting

Funder
This opportunity is funded by the National Science Foundation under grant DEB-2425575.