REU Site: Undergraduate Research Experiences in DNA-based discoveries in Hawaii's biodiversity
Stuart Donachie donachie@hawaii.edu (Principal Investigator) & Stephanie Kraft-Terry (Co-Principal Investigator)
This REU Site award to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) supports the training of 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2016-2018. Participants use high-throughput DNA sequencing and phylogenetic methods to study the identity and origins of Hawaii's native, endemic and invasive organisms. Participants have been mentored by faculty from the departments of Botany, Biology, Microbiology, the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at UHM, CTAHR, WRRC, SOEST, and Kapi'olani Community College.
The REU experience begins each summer with one week of laboratory training in molecular, microbiology and genomic techniques, to allow students with limited higher-level biology background or no research experience to participate. We aim to recruit a diverse group of REU participants from a variety of institutions and backgrounds. We provide on-campus housing to support students who must relocate to participate. The REU experience includes workshops that help you explore graduate school, scientific communication, and the responsible conduct of research. Your 10-week experience culminates in your presentation of a scientific poster that describes the work you've done.
More information about the program is available by visiting here, or by contacting the PI (Dr. Stuart Donachie at donachie@hawaii.edu) or the co-PI (Dr. Stephanie Kraft-Terry at kraft2@hawaii.edu).