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Research Programs and Participating Mentors

**Please note: The specific project each REU student will undertake will be determined after the student's acceptance.
The following mentors will be participating in the 2013 REU session:


  • Dr. Kellie Dixon, Chemical Ecology Program - This program uses advanced analytical techniques to investigate all aspects of water quality in lakes, rivers, estuaries and the coastal marine environment. Ongoing projects include the development of new methods for detecting oil pollution on coastal waters, and performing advanced studies of marine optics with respect to seagrass survival. REU students assist with field collection of samples, data entry and laboratory analysis of water quality parameters. Students with chemistry laboratory coursework and computer experience preferred.  One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Jayne Gardiner, Sensory Biology & Behavior Program - This program focuses on sensory and cognitive processes and capabilities in a variety of marine animals. Many marine animals face losses of sensory information due to natural and human-induced environmental changes, which can impact their ability to find food or mates and avoid predators. The practices involved in fish farming can result in animals learning to feed differently than their wild counterparts, which may impact their survival. The REU student will participate in laboratory-based research on feeding behavior in fish, using methods such as high-speed videography. Potential projects include assessing the impacts of environmental contaminants, climate change, or the hatchery-raising of fish. Students with advanced biology coursework and computer experience preferred. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Emily Hall, Ocean Acidification Program - This program focuses on effects of ocean acidification (OA) and climate change (CC) on marine organisms and their ecosystems. Potential projects include the effects of OA and CC on corals, bivalves, or other important marine organisms. REU students will predominantly be working with one of two OA and CC testing facilities, assisting with field collection of samples, data entry, and laboratory analysis. Some travel to the Summerland Key field station might be required. Students with a chemistry background preferred. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Kate Kohler, Environmental Health Program - This program investigates the impacts of toxic substances on humans. A major focus is to determine how people with chronic lung problems are affected by Florida red tide. REU students in this program assist with conducting health surveys of individuals exposed to red tide, data analysis and developing literature on human health effects of marine toxin exposure. Students with strong interpersonal skills, good experience with computer software and interest in public health preferred. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Vince Lovko, Phytoplankton Ecology Program - Projects under this program will focus on the biology and ecology of phytoplankton, typically with an emphasis on the red-tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Projects may include laboratory and/or field-based studies exploring population and bloom dynamics, species interactions, or phytoplankton community composition and species distribution. REU students will have opportunities to learn aspects of phytoplankton culture, identification and enumeration, bioassay techniques, light and fluorescent microscopy, field sampling of phytoplankton communities and data analysis techniques. Students with basic laboratory experience are preferred. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Erinn Muller, Coral Reef Ecosystem Research Program - This program focuses on coral reef ecology, specifically the impact of diseases on coral reef assemblages. Coral disease is one of the greatest threats to reefs around the world. The project involves the use of spatial epidemiology - the study of where and when disease outbreaks occur - to further understand the environmental and ecological parameters that may influence coral-disease activity. Students must be comfortable spending a significant amount of time on the computer, as much of the time will be spent analyzing photographs and data. Students should also be strong swimmer/comfortable in water in day and night. Prefer students who are SCUBA certified; familiar with GIS; familiar with command-driven computer programs such as R and Matlab; and have basic biological statistics skills. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Kim Ritchie, Marine Microbiology Program - This program studies microorganisms and their role in the marine environment. Ongoing projects include determining healthy and threatened marine organisms, assessing baseline microbial communities associated with healthy marine systems and understanding the role of microbes in coral health and disease and the beneficial factors affecting coral reef resistance and resilience. Methods combine field assessments with microbiological and molecular techniques. REU students assist with microbial culturing, DNA sequencing, PCR, cloning and there is potential to sample via snorkeling and/or SCUBA. Students should have a basic microbiology background and an interest in coral reef protection. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Cathy Walsh, Marine Immunology Program - The Marine Immunology Program focuses on basic and applied immunological research of marine animals ranging from cartilaginous fishes to marine mammals. Basic research efforts contribute to a better understanding of comparative vertebrate immune function as well as phylogenetic insights into human immunity, while applied studies provide unique information helpful in assessing immune health of wild populations of marine animals, including marine mammals, exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. REU students will participate in laboratory-based research projects on immune function in sharks, skate, or other marine wildlife such as manatees. REU students will be involved with laboratory procedures such as cell culture, ELISA, western blotting, microtiter plate-based assays and gel electrophoresis. One student will be selected for this research experience.

  • Dr. Nick Whitney, Shark Behavioral Ecology Program -  This program uses a variety of electronic tags (with a focus on accelerometers) to study the movement, behavior, and energy use of free-living sharks. The REU student should be prepared to work in the field on occasion but also spend long hours analyzing data, downloading/synchronizing/preparing tags for deployment, etc. Experience with analytical computer software, digital photography, and/or electronics is preferred, and field experience (snorkeling/kayaking/boating) is helpful. Excellent organizational skills, the ability to work independently, and meticulous attention to detail will be the most important skills required for this project. One student will be selected for this research experience. 

  • Dr. Jennifer Yordy, Marine Biomedical Research Program - This program focuses on identifying links between marine animal and human health. Marine animals are a growing source of natural products that may serve as novel treatments for human disease. Research projects in this laboratory specifically focus on the identification and characterization of wound-healing and anti-cancer properties of natural products derived from sharks, skates and rays. REU students will be involved with a variety of laboratory-based procedures, including cell culture, protein and organic compound extractions, functional activity assays, gel electrophoresis, western blotting and PCR.  Previous experience with molecular biology techniques is preferred. One student will be selected for this research experience.