National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates

Funded by the National Science Foundation - Division of Ocean Sciences Research Experience for Undergraduates Program and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the focus of the DISL REU Program is to provide participants with the opportunity to carry out an independent research project while working under the direction of a faculty mentor as part of a productive research laboratory.

Any rising sophomore, junior, or senior undergraduates with interests in ecology, biology, chemistry, geology, biomedicine, or physical and environmental sciences can apply to this REU Program.

For more information, please contact DISL Registrar Regina Kollegger.

Funding for this REU site is provided by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences located in Alexandria, VA. NSF Award 1838618. The NSF contact for this program is Elizabeth Rom. NSF does not handle REU applications; please contact each REU site directly for application information. Participation in the DISL REU Program each year is contingent on the continuation of funding from the National Science Foundation.

Eligibility:

Applications are invited from undergraduates rising to their sophomore, junior, or senior years with broad interests in ecology, biology, chemistry, geology, biomedicine, and physical and environmental sciences. Students cannot have graduated at the time of the fellowship. Students who have participated in an NSF OCE-funded REU program are not eligible for a second internship without special permission (please contact DISL before applying). Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and its possessions.

Minorities, veterans, non-traditional students, and those from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Stipends of $6,000 will be provided for the 10-week full-time program. Students will be provided on-campus housing and an additional food stipend by DISL. Students from outside the Mobile, Alabama area may also apply for travel assistance (up to $500.00).

Application Procedures

Complete the online application
Submit college transcripts (can be unofficial and uploaded online),
Two letters of recommendation (Please request letters at least two weeks prior to the application deadline and remind reviewers of the deadline).

Incomplete packages may not be considered.

For further information, please contact the University Programs Registrar Regina Kollegger, (251) 861-2141, ext. 7526.

The DISL REU Program is funded by:

The National Science Foundation - Division of Ocean Sciences Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

2021 REU Participants

Charlie Dvergsten/Carleton College	Alison Robertson/Molly Miller	“Hemolytic Mechanisms of Toxicity in Six Benthic Dinoflagellates Associated with Ciguatera Poisoning”
Jordan King/SUNY Maritime College	Ronald Baker	“Digestion Rate Experiments: Helping Identify Foraging Habitats”
Eli Kemp/Lyon College	Jeff Krause	“Spatial variability of sediment silica and its reactivity in Mobile Bay”
Che'Isha Johnson/Talladega College	Carl Cloyed	“The Direct Effects on Isotope Values During Decomposition of Stranded Dolphins and Manatees”
Kahylin Nesbitt/Oakwood University	Brandi Kiel Reese/Jennifer Bloodgood	“Source Tracking of Bacterial Sepsis in 2 Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates)"
Shelby Blair/Rogers State College	Kelly Dorgan	“Infaunal bioturbation effects on disturbed sediment structure”
Sophie Wong/University of Virginia	Kenny Hoadley	“Sexy Symbionts: Increased sexual reproduction in Symbiodiniaceae under nutrient limitation”
Mimi Eason/Northern Arizona University	Lee Smee	“Everything in Moderation: Comparing the Effects of Exposure to Predator Cues in Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)"
Elexuzz Davis/Alabama State University	John Lehrter	“The Effects of Increasing Salinity on Deltaic Sediment Organic Matter Remineralization”

2020 REU Participants

Steve Akin/ Angelo State University	Shaun Wang	Trace Element Enrichment Found in Plankton Across the Mobile Bay, Alabama
Melanie Ponce/ Martin Methodist College	Lee Smee	Scared Strong: Using Predator Cues to Enhance Oyster Survival for Reef Restoration
Marco Pastrana/University of Michigan	John Lehrter	Primary Production and Respiration Patterns Across the Salinity Gradient in Mobile Bay
Joseph Brennan/Florida International University	Kenny D. Hoadley	Moderate Nutrient Concentrations Reduce Production of reactive Oxygen Species in Anemones During Thermal Stress
Ti-Ara Turner/Judson College	Ruth Carmichael	Oysters as Bioindicators: Testing Shell as a Proxy for Tissue to Detect Trace Metal Pollution
Trinity Curry/Stillman College	Ron Baker, Jeff Krause	What Drives Variability in Microphytobenthos Biomass and Carbon Stable Isotope Values?
Sydney Markham/Oklahoma State University	Alison Robertson	Prevalence of Caribbean Ciguatoxins in Queen Triggerfish
Rylee Malone/SUNY Maritime College	Kelly Dorgan	Polychaete Burrowing Efficiency

2019 REU Participants

Elijah Tripp/ University of Mobile	Kelly Dorgan	Infaunal Behavior Variance Observed in Normoxia and Hypoxia
Ryan Roseburrough/ Spring Hill Collge, Alabama	Shaun Wang	Leaking Heavy Metals: The Spread of Chromium Through the Mobile Bay and River
Lauren Alvaro/ Florida Gulf Coast University	John Lehrter	Spatial Patterns of Organic Matter Stocks and Sources in Mobile Bay
Terrance Mitchell/ Tuskegee University, Alabama	Alison Robertson	Behavioral Effects of Ciguatoxins in Gulf Killifish
Ciara Laurence/ University of Maine	Brian Dzwonkowski	Are Alabama Upwellings Broken? A Comparison of Burger Number and Velocity Structure
Sharil Deleon/ University of Rhode Island	Ron Baker, Jeff Krause	Variability in Microphytobenthos Biomass and Carbon Stable Isotope Values in Northern Gulf of Mexico Salt Marsh Systems
Ryanne Murray/ Eckerd College, Florida	Alissa Deming	Dead or Alive: Elemental Analysis of Stranded Bottlenose Dolphins
Emily Combs/ Florida Atlantic University	Lee Smee	Wake Up and Smell the Crabs! Comparison of Seed Oysters Versus Spat on Shell

2017 REU Participants

Rachel Pugh/ Miss. Gulf Coast Community College	Kelly Dorgan Bill Walton	Polydora websteri Blisters in Crassotrea virginica: Strength, Area, Color
Jenny Rhee/ University of La., Lafayette	Brian Dzwonkowski Jeff Krause	Nutrient flux and physical stability drive phytoplankton biomass variability along the Alabama shelf
Marnie Tabor/ Athens State University, AL	Jeff Krause Just Cebrian	The Contribution of Epiphytic and Sediment Diatoms to Benthic Productivity
Hanae Togami/ Haverford College, PA	Ruth Carmichael	Chilean mussels reconstruct environmental conditions during two coral die-off events
Harrison Watson/ Jackson State University, MS	Bill Walton	Observing Polydora websteri Infestation in Crassostrea virginica: Methods in Oyster Farm Planning

Faculty Mentors

	Baker, Ronnie, Ph.D. (James Cook Univ., Australia) Dr. Baker's research focuses on the functional roles of coastal ecosystems in support of fisheries, particularly their role as nurseries for fishery species. Research opportunities include field and laboratory based studies of coastal food webs, with a focus on the diets of early juveniles of fishery species. rbaker@disl.org
	Carmichael, Ruth, Ph.D. (Boston Univ., 2004). Research focuses on how human activities and pollution affect animals (oysters, horseshoe crabs, dolphins and manatees) and their habitats, using traditional ecological, elemental and telemetry methods to understand responses to change, from physiology to growth and survival or movement patterns. Carmichael is Director of the DISL Manatee Sighting Network and the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Students in her laboratory can opt to work with a marine mammal veterinarian (Dr. Jennifer Bloodgood; DVM-Ph.D. 2020, Univ of Georgia) to conduct additional studies related to disease and causes of mortality in marine animals. rcarmichael@disl.org
	Dorgan, Kelly, Ph.D. (Univ. of Maine, 2007). Dr. Dorgan is an ecologist whose research focuses on interactions between infaunal organisms and marine sediments. She is interested in the mechanics of worm burrowing as well as the impacts of worms on sediment structure and biogeochemical cycling. Current projects in the lab include how infauna affect the acoustic and geotechnical properties of sediments, how daily changes in oxygen affect animal behaviors and biogeochemical cycling, interactions between fauna and physical properties of sediments following a disturbance such as a major storm, and the roles of meiofaunal organisms in sediment ecosystems. kdorgan@disl.org
	Dzwonkowski, Brian, Ph.D. (Univ. of Delaware 2009). Research interests lie in coastal physical oceanography (things related to the structure and flow of water (currents, tides, stratification) and how physical processes impact biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem function. bdzwonkowski@disl.org
	Hoadley, Kenneth D. Ph.D. (Univ. of Delaware, 2016). The transfer of energy and complex responses to climate perturbations within unique symbioses such as that between the dinoflagellate taxa (Symbiodiniaceae) and reef corals are of particular interest within the lab. Dr. Hoadley’s lab uses a combination of physiological measurements and molecular techniques to identify acclamatory and/or stress mitigating techniques employed by various phytoplankton species in response to environmental stress. khoadley@disl.org
	Krause, Jeffrey, Ph.D. (Oregon St. Univ., 2008). Research focuses on how phytoplankton (marine single-cell plants), especially diatoms, cycle energy and elements in the ocean, and the processes promoting the efficient transfer of their material to higher organisms (e.g. primary and secondary consumers). jkrause@disl.edu
	Lehrter, John, Ph.D. (Univ. of Alabama, 2003). Research focuses on understanding nutrient, organic matter, and oxygen cycling in coastal systems and how these cycles are related to aspects of water quality (eutrophication, hypoxia, coastal acidification). Research includes use of remotely sensed data and numerical modeling to aid coastal management. jlehrter@disl.org
	Powers, Sean, Ph.D. (Texas A&M, 1997). Research focuses on the ecology of marine fish and invertebrates, particularly those that support commercial and recreational fisheries. The ultimate goal of his research program is to provide scientifically sound information to direct the conservation and restoration efforts of marine fisheries and habitats. spowers@disl.org
	Reese, Brandi Kiel, Ph.D. (Texas A & M University, 2011). Research is interdisciplinary by bringing together Geology, Molecular Microbiology, and Geochemistry to provide a more integrated examination of aquatic and sediment biogeochemical cycling. Specifically specializes in combining state-of-the-art culture-independent molecular techniques (including metatranscriptomics and metagenomics) with high throughput culturing and advanced geochemical analysis to describe the total microbial environment. This systems biology approach to understanding microbial ecology has spanned marine and freshwater; shallow sediments within estuaries and coastal hypoxic zones; deeply buried continental mines and caves, and marine subsurface sediments through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). bkielreese@disl.org
	Robertson, Alison, Ph.D. (James Cook Univ., Australia, 2005). Research focuses on toxicity and health impacts of natural toxins and human pollutants in marine and freshwater systems, particularly sub-lethal effects on behavior, reproduction, immune system, and nervous system function. arobertson@disl.org
	Smee, Lee, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006) Research focuses on chemical signaling between predators and prey communities, including work related to oyster reef ecology, mangrove encroachment, pesticide effects on blue crabs, and biogeography of seagrass communities in the Gulf of Mexico. lsmee@disl.org
	Titus, Ben Ph.D. (Ohio State University, 2017). Research in the Titus Lab uses the iconic mutualisms from tropical coral reefs to understand the evolutionary and ecological processes that generate biodiversity in these tightly linked interactions. We combine field research, systematics, and genomic approaches to understand mutualisms at all levels of biological organization. btitus@disl.edu