The deadiline for the Field Biology Program at the University of Notre Dame
Environmental Research Center is approaching fast! Don’t miss out!
Your own field research =E2=80=A6 Classes in the field =E2=80=A6 3 credits/summer Tuition
and housing provided and a summer stipend ($3500 East, $4000 West)!!!
Apply now for UNDERC-East and -West for summer of 2018! These programs
promote understanding of field biology and how field research is conducted
through 10 weeks in the wilds. It begins with a summer at UNDERC-East in
Michigan=E2=80=99s Upper Peninsula and then the opportunity for a second summer at
-West in Montana. UNDERC-East is open to 28 sophomores/juniors from any
college/university. From the UNDERC-East class, 8 students (juniors or
seniors) are selected for UNDERC-West. Each summer, you receive
three-credits along with tuition, housing, travel between the Notre Dame
campus and the site, and a stipend ($3500 at East, $4000 at West).
1) UNDERC-East (May 21=E2=80=93 July 27): 8000 acres of lakes, streams, wetlands,
and forests owned by Notre Dame and a core site in the National Ecological
Observatory Network (NEON) that are home to abundant wildlife (including
beaver, porcupine, black bear, deer, loon). Course modules include
vertebrate ecology, invertebrate ecology, aquatic ecology and forest
ecology with each providing background information, field research
exercises, and group research projects designed by the class. Five or more
weeks are spent by each student designing and conducting their own field
research project under direction of faculty or graduate students. Projects
have ranged from fish, insect and mammal behavior and ecology to forest,
lake and stream ecosystem ecology to local Native American ecosystem use.
2) UNDERC-West (June 6 =E2=80=93 August 15, pre-requisite is UNDERC-East): Explore
more than a million acres on the National Bison Range and Flathead Reservation
that includes grasslands, montane forests, streams and lakes that are home
to abundant wildlife (including bison, elk, mountain lions and grizzly
bear). Course modules like those at UNDERC-East include wildlife ecology,
grassland ecology, and montane ecology, as well as an environmental
history/Native American ecology module (in part during the cross-country
drive to and from -West). Each student conducts an independent research
project in collaboration with a faculty or graduate
student advisor that is more advanced given the skills learned at
UNDERC-East. Recent projects have included invasive plant ecology,
animal behavior
and habitat relationships, grassland, forest, wetland and stream dynamics,
and Native American plant and wildlife use. Applications are available
online (http://underc.nd.edu).
Further information can be obtained at the UNDERC website (
http://underc.nd.edu), or from Dr. Michael Cramer, UNDERC East Assistant
Director (mcramer@nd.edu), or Dr. David Flagel, UNDERC West Assistant
Director (dflagel@nd.edu). Application deadline is Friday, November 10,
2017 and notification of acceptance will be provided by Monday, December
11, 2017. Acceptance is based on past academic performance and a statement
of purpose. Preference is given to students pursuing a career in
environmental sciences. Applicants are required to be present for the
duration of the course.
— Dr. David Flagel
Assistant Director, West
University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center
Office Phone: 574-631-2612