University of Minnesota, Twin Cities or Duluth, MN

Position Title: Research Experience for Undergraduates on Sustainable Land and Water Resources

Organization: University of Minnesota

Location: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities or Duluth, MN

Position Overview:  This REU introduces undergraduate students to the key elements of research on land and water resources that are essential to improving management practices. Research teams are hosted on two Native American reservations and at the University of Minnesota and projects are developed in collaboration with the tribes’ resource management divisions. The REU incorporates an interdisciplinary team-oriented approach that emphasizes quantitative and predictive methods, Indigenous and community-based research methods, and traditional ecological knowledge.

Projects take place on the main campus of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota; and at Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Students in Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Social Sciences (including Civil Engineering, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Geology, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Computer Science, Geography Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Linguistics, Communications Science and Risk and Decision Sciences), and related disciplines are invited to apply.

The REU on Sustainable Land and Water Resources introduces undergraduate students to the key elements of research on land and water resources that are essential to improving management practices, with a focus on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and diverse interdisciplinary research teams. Students work on one of three teams on projects that integrate Earth-surface dynamics, geology, hydrology and other disciplines.  Research teams are hosted on two Native American reservations and at the Univ. MN and projects are developed in collaboration with the tribes’ resource management divisions.  The REU incorporates an interdisciplinary team-oriented approach that emphasizes quantitative and predictive methods, CBPR, indigenous research methods, and traditional ecological knowledge.

The REU encourages participation by underrepresented students and students who are unsure about how they fit into the world of science to pursue STEM careers.  The REU develops unique rigorous scientific research projects that are place-based, meaningful, and that are the product of an intensive collaboration with Native American communities. This REU supports students in ways that go far beyond a typical REU, and takes place at three different and geographically dispersed sites (Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Montana; the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus; and the reservation of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, with students living and working at the University of Minnesota, Duluth). The REU encourages all students to apply, including Native Americans, students from other groups underrepresented in the sciences, men and women, nontraditional students, parents, veterans, and students with disabilities. Students who are not able to come and participate at one of their sites can apply to participate remotely. The students, faculty, graduate and post-doctoral mentors, tribal professionals, and other community members will be intimately engaged in community-based participatory research (CBPR).  The protocols and methods for effective CBPR (and in particular with tribal entities) will be modeled and supported by literature and practice.  Projects developed through CBPR for this REU will inherently support tribal resource management goals.  Results will be disseminated to tribal authorities and community members as well as the broader scientific community.

The program is for 10 weeks in the summer from mid-June to mid-August. Participants live and work on three teams in three locations but form one research community. Participants gather at the beginning of the program for an Orientation in Glacier Park in Montana. Housing, food, and transportation are arranged. After intensive team-building activities, and orientation to their core program elements of Community-Based Research and Ethical Research on Tribal Lands, participants head for their research locations (at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT for Team SPA; in Minneapolis, MN for Team Stream; and in Duluth, MN for Team Zaaga’igan). Weekly videoconferences keep the community closely knit, and participants share their research progress. Participants are mentored to write a research paper or story map and create a poster. An All-Team Gathering at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory in Minneapolis, MN at the end of the summer allows everyone to come back together and share their research. Finally, students have the opportunity during the following year to share their research at a national conference.

Start/End Dates: June 10 to August 9, 2024

Salary/Pay:  Participants receive of stipend of $6000 for the summer (10 weeks).

Application Deadline: February 4, 2024

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.