National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF
REU) Position in Livebearing Fish Evolution & Reproductive Behavior Research
Overview: A 10-week NSF REU position is available in David Reznick’s lab at
the University of California, Riverside for June-August 2019 (June 17
preferred start date). The REU Student will participate in research on the
evolution of placentation in livebearing fishes (poeciliids). Poeciliids
have the unique attribute of having evolved the functional equivalent of a
mammalian placenta at least nine times. There are at least three clusters
of species that contain close relatives with and without placentas. This
raw material gives us the opportunity to address questions about why and
how placentas evolved that cannot be addressed in mammals because all
placental mammals trace their common ancestry to a single origin of the
placenta that happened 100-200 million years ago. We are studying aspects
of reproductive behavior, development, and genomics with experiments
involving crosses between females from different populations of several
placental and non-placental species. These crosses are performed to assay
female and offspring fitness based on the genetic distance between the
female and male’s populations. Furthermore, we, in collaboration with
another lab, use genetic techniques to determine the paternity of offspring
produced in experimental crosses in which females are artificially
inseminated with sperm from multiple males. The goal is to determine if
there is differential success among males siring offspring and differential
provisioning of offspring during development.
Duties: The REU Student will be working with a PhD student to choose a
project and collect/analyze data. Duties will include helping to maintain
experimental fish (e.g. feeding, water changes and tank cleaning) and
record data throughout the duration of the experiment. Additional duties
(i.e. genetics benchwork or specific experimental methods) will depend on
the applicant’s skills and interests.
Eligibility: All animal care and laboratory training will be provided, and
no experience is required. Applicants should be highly motivated,
responsible, and have a strong desire to learn about and conduct
evolutionary biology research. It is essential that applicants be able to
work in a collaborative environment and be able to perform occasionally
repetitive, meticulous tasks. NSF requires that applicants be US citizens
or permanent residents of the USA or its possessions. Furthermore, students
must be current undergraduate students enrolled through Fall 2019. We
especially encourage students from under-represented groups and
institutions with relatively limited research opportunities (e.g.,
community colleges and undergraduate-only institutions) to apply.
Travel, Stipend, & Research Expenses: Travel to and from Riverside, CA will
be provided (up to $800) as well as a stipend of $500/week ($5000 total)
for approx. 40 hours per week. Housing will not be provided.
Application Details: Send a cover letter and CV (see below for contents) in
an email with the subject “Reznick REU Position” to Samantha Levell (
sleve004@ucr.edu) by April 20th, 2019 at 5pm PST. All applications will be
reviewed after the deadline, and top applicants will be contacted for Skype
interviews shortly after. All applicants will be notified by May 6th
whether they have received the position or not.
Your cover letter: should be 1-2 pages (single-spaced) and describe why you
want this position and how it fits into your career goals. Indicate any
experience you have working with fish/live animals. You may also suggest
potential independent research projects, which we may be able to
accommodate during the REU period.
Your CV must include: relevant coursework and current GPA, any
work/volunteer/research positions held, current/past research project
descriptions or publications, awards/honors, and contact information for
three references.
The Reznick lab strives to maintain a positive environment for all its
members. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for this
position without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran
status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
–0000000000008030e1058554ad86
Content-Type: text/html; charset=”UTF-8″
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<div dir=”ltr”><div dir=”ltr”><div class=”gmail_default”><span style=”font-family:tahoma,sans-serif”> </span><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) Position in Livebearing Fish Evolution & Reproductive Behavior Research</font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Overview: A 10-week NSF REU position is available in David Reznick’s lab at the University of California, Riverside for June-August 2019 (June 17 preferred start date). The REU Student will participate in research on the evolution of placentation in livebearing fishes (poeciliids). Poeciliids have the unique attribute of having evolved the functional equivalent of a mammalian placenta at least nine times. There are at least three clusters of species that contain close relatives with and without placentas. This raw material gives us the oppo
rtunity to address questions about why and how placentas evolved that cannot be addressed in mammals because all placental mammals trace their common ancestry to a single origin of the placenta that happened 100-200 million years ago. We are studying aspects of reproductive behavior, development, and genomics with experiments involving crosses between females from different populations of several placental and non-placental species. These crosses are performed to assay female and offspring fitness based on the genetic distance between the female and male’s populations. Furthermore, we, in collaboration with another lab, use genetic techniques to determine the paternity of offspring produced in experimental crosses in which females are artificially inseminated with sperm from multiple males. The goal is to determine if there is differential success among males siring offspring and differential provisioning of offspring during development.</font></div><div class=”gmail_defau
lt”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Duties: The REU Student will be working with a PhD student to choose a project and collect/analyze data. Duties will include helping to maintain experimental fish (e.g. feeding, water changes and tank cleaning) and record data throughout the duration of the experiment. Additional duties (i.e. genetics benchwork or specific experimental methods) will depend on the applicant’s skills and interests. </font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Eligibility: All animal care and laboratory training will be provided, and no experience is required. Applicants should be highly motivated, responsible, and have a strong desire to learn about and conduct evolutionary biology research. It is essential that applicants be able to work in a collaborative environment and be a
ble to perform occasionally repetitive, meticulous tasks. NSF requires that applicants be US citizens or permanent residents of the USA or its possessions. Furthermore, students must be current undergraduate students enrolled through Fall 2019. We especially encourage students from under-represented groups and institutions with relatively limited research opportunities (e.g., community colleges and undergraduate-only institutions) to apply. </font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Travel, Stipend, & Research Expenses: Travel to and from Riverside, CA will be provided (up to $800) as well as a stipend of $500/week ($5000 total) for approx. 40 hours per week. Housing will not be provided. </font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Application Details: Send a cove
r letter and CV (see below for contents) in an email with the subject “Reznick REU Position” to Samantha Levell (<a href=”mailto:sleve004@ucr.edu“>sleve004@ucr.edu</a>) by April 20th, 2019 at 5pm PST. All applications will be reviewed after the deadline, and top applicants will be contacted for Skype interviews shortly after. All applicants will be notified by May 6th whether they have received the position or not. </font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Your cover letter: should be 1-2 pages (single-spaced) and describe why you want this position and how it fits into your career goals. Indicate any experience you have working with fish/live animals. You may also suggest potential independent research projects, which we may be able to accommodate during the REU period. </font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div c
lass=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>Your CV must include: relevant coursework and current GPA, any work/volunteer/research positions held, current/past research project descriptions or publications, awards/honors, and contact information for three references. </font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”><br></font></div><div class=”gmail_default”><font face=”tahoma, sans-serif”>The Reznick lab strives to maintain a positive environment for all its members. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for this position without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.</font></div></div></div>
–0000000000008030e1058554ad86–