Panama Research Internship, Cusack Lab, UCLA

3- to 6-month position starting April 2018.

A research intern is sought to be trained in and assist with ecological measurements for a new drying experiment in seasonal tropical forests in Panama. The project seeks to understand the effects of decreased rainfall on soil carbon and root dynamics across tropical rainforests that have different background precipitation rates. The intern will spend substantial time working in rainforest field sites, and will learn about setting up dry- down structures and collection of plant and soil samples for analysis. The intern will also learn basic laboratory processing and analysis of environmental samples, including nutrient and carbon extractions in salt solutions, soil moisture, soil carbon, and root biomass measures. The intern will spend about 60% of their time in the field, and 40% of their time in state-of-the-art research laboratories run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The research intern will be supervised by Dr. Cusack remotely, and will work day-to-day with Dr. Cusack’s post-doctoral researcher on-site. The position is based in Gamboa, Panama, and there is frequent boat and car travel to access 6 field sites along a rainfall gradient from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast of the Panama Isthmus. The intern will receive airfare and a cost-of-living stipend which will cover housing and food costs. Living quarters will be in shared housing with other researchers in Gamboa (dorm-style housing or a shared house). Interested applicants should send their CV and a brief statement of interest to dcusack@geog.ucla.edu.

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