Dr. Patrick Bohlen

Research in the Bohlen lab focuses on urban ecology, with an eye toward understanding of factors that affect natural features and biodiversity in urban systems and using that understanding to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban environments. Current projects in this lab focus on invertebrate ecology in urban systems, including:

1. Pollinator ecology and conservation
2. Ground beetle diversity in urban systems

Students working in this lab will have an opportunity to skills and experience in: sampling insect populations using standardized field sampling protocols; processing, identifying and archiving collected insect samples; assessing floral quality and resources for pollinators; evaluating habitats and plant communities; basic use of geographic information system (GIS) software; experimental design and data analysis.

Dr. Lisa Chambers

The Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab led by Dr. Lisa Chambers focuses on understanding natural chemical cycles occurring at the soil-water interface. Through analyzing the properties and processes in wetland soils and shallow sediments, we contribute knowledge on how ecosystems can serve to mitigate global climate change through soil carbon burial and reduce the nutrient pollution that causes harmful algal blooms through microbial transformations. A 2024 REU student will develop a project to investigate either, (1) how dredge spoils may be used beneficially to restore coastal wetlands and protect soil carbon from mineralization, or (2) how soil properties impact ecosystem health and resilience. The student will gain field skills collecting soil samples in wetlands in Florida and laboratory skills conducting bench-scale experiments and soil and water analyses.

Dr. Geoffery Cook

The Marine Ecology and Conservation (MEC) Lab at UCF studies the factors influencing the distribution, abundance, and demographic structure of coastal marine species, with a taxonomic focus on fishes and macroinvertebrates. A 2024 REU student will develop a project under the mentorship of Dr. Cook and MEC lab graduate students exploring fish population or community dynamics (i.e., how they vary spatially and temporally) or quantify their response to coastal habitat restoration. Depending on the specific project and model species selected, the REU student will gain experience in field sampling, species identification, data analysis and scientific writing.

Dr. Melinda Donnelly

Research in the Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab (CEELAB) focuses on estuarine habitat restoration in Florida, including coastal wetlands, living shorelines, seagrasses, and oysters.  CEELAB’s restoration efforts are science-based and engage the local community to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of these critical estuarine habitats. A REU student for summer 2024 working with Dr. Donnelly will develop a study to evaluate the long-term effects of living shoreline restoration on habitat quality to support the development of a shoreline restoration plan for the state of Florida. The student will have the opportunity to gain experience in field-based research and using ArcGIS for mapping and spatial analysis.

Dr. Robert Fitak

The Fitak Integrative Genomics Lab applies next-generation DNA sequencing and bioinformatic approaches to understand the incredible array of biodiversity and the specific adaptations, physiology, and behavior that make species unique.  For Summer 2024, the REU student will work with the mentor to design a project related to one of two key active research areas: 1) genomics of infectious diseases in wildlife, or 2) understanding the relationship between animal movement/navigation and environmental changes. The REU students will learn how to perform basic molecular assays such as DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing, as well as how to analyze data using both bioinformatic and statistical approaches.  Although research in the Fitak Lab does not generally involve field work, the technical skills involved in genomic and bioinformatic analyses are rapidly becoming an essential component of interdisciplinary conservation research and management.

Dr. Michelle Gaither

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a longstanding problem in Florida. They negatively impact human health, lead to habitat degradation, and cause wildlife mortalities. In response, the state has invested tens of millions of dollars to improve monitoring and mitigation. However, these efforts are contingent on the proper taxonomic identification of species involved and typically depend on visual identification and enumeration via light microscopy. Although still the standard, these techniques have limitations as some species cannot be easily distinguished based on morphological characteristics alone. The Gaither lab is seeking an REU student to work with a UCF PhD student and scientists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) to optimize a molecular toolkit for the accurate and efficient detection and quantification of HAB taxa across the state. The REU student will learn the latest molecular techniques and apply these to sampling throughout Florida. The project will involve some field collections and/or a visit to the FWRI office in St. Petersburg Florida to assist with sample collection. Moreover, the student will learn techniques including DNA extraction, real-time PCR, Illumina library preparation, and metabarcoding.

Dr. Kelly Kibler

The Kibler Ecohydraulics laboratory conducts research related to flow-biota interaction in aquatic ecosystems and applies this basic science to the design of green infrastructure for climate adaptation. During the summer of 2024, an REU student will develop an individual project related to characterizing flow and sediment transport in biological canopies (mangrove forest, seagrass beds and/or oyster reef) and discover key hydrodynamic thresholds in habitat suitability for these organisms, which are commonly applied as ‘ecosystem engineers’ in aquatic restoration. The REU student will make observations in the field using cutting-edge hydrodynamic instruments, perform experiments in a sediment recirculating flume, and create numerical hydrodynamic models. Depending on the student’s interest, research questions may range from the basic science of life in moving fluids (how does roughness of an oyster reef create turbulence cues that influence larval dispersal and settlement?) to highly applied and design-oriented questions (design of a habitat mosaic to mitigate erosion and flood hazards).

Dr. Kate Mansfield

Dr. Mansfield leads the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group (UCF MTRG) comprised of three field-based research programs: 1) a sea turtle reproductive biology monitoring program; 2) an in-water netting project examining foraging ecology, health, and demographics of large juvenile turtles; and 3) a theoretical and empirical project examining the movements and behavior of offshore, oceanic dispersal stage turtles. Mansfield’s Florida field sites are located on the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding coastal habitats. One student will be selected to participate in all aspects of the lab’s work and gain a rare opportunity to work with federally protected species. Example REU projects may include (but are not limited to) (1) examining satellite telemetry data to determine habitat use and seasonal movements of sea turtles across life stages and habitats; (2) exploring the physiological tradeoffs sea turtles experience across life stages by quantifying body temperature and behavior relative to available sea temperatures; or (3) examining the long-term (1980s to present) spatial sea turtle nest distributions and reproductive output relative to abiotic/environmental factors on the nesting beach (e.g., predation, incubation temperature, beach renourishment, beach erosion, and salt water inundation).

Dr. Anna Savage

Research in the Savage lab utilizes genomics and disease ecology to understand the evolutionary trajectories of reptile and amphibian populations facing emerging infectious diseases. REU student(s) joining the lab in summer 2024 will develop a project focused on invasive pathogens in snake species of the southeastern United States. Specifically, they will identify infections with pentastome lung parasites that were introduced to Florida with Burmese pythons, and now infect over a dozen native snake species. Students will conduct field work, necropsies, and museum preparation of roadkill snakes, including venomous species. They will also use molecular and morphological methods to identify presence and severity of pentastome infections. This work will allow the student to formulate their own hypotheses about the host-pathogen system and add to a broader effort to characterize the threat of this pathogen to native snakes.

Dr. Linda Walters

Dr. Walters and the Coastal & Estuarine Ecology Lab focus on understanding, conserving, restoring, and documenting the success of restoration for a variety of foundational species (oysters, mangroves, marshgrasses, seagrasses) along Florida’s east coast, primarily within the boundaries of Canaveral National Seashore. Equally important to this research is community engagement. The REU student selected for summer 2024 will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of coastal restoration, research, and monitoring. Additionally, a project of interest to the REU student will be developed that focuses on: 1) testing new biodegradable restoration materials for oyster reef restoration, 2) assisting with a virtual reality study with community volunteers to increase the likelihood they will continue to participate in restoration efforts, or 3) using wildlife camera traps to determine use of restored areas by threatened/endangered wading birds and small mammals. The student will gain experience in boat-based field research, data collection, data analysis, and scientific presentations.