Summer Research Program

Department:
Astronomy

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Physics, astronomy, extrasolar planets, planetary transits, radiation transfer

About the lab:
This project involves theoretical modeling of planetary atmospheres, and is appropriate for students interested in physics and/or astronomy.

Prerequisites:
Any level (year in college) is appropriate for this project, as the goals can be adjusted for the level of the student. The student should have taken some calculus-based physics. While prior experience with computer programming is not necessary, the student should be interested in learning scientific programming, most likely in python.

Specific project(s) available:
Analyze simulations of radiation interacting with planetary atmospheres to compute the expected “transit spectrum” and “lightcurve.” This will be compared to ground and space-based observations. The focus will be on “atomic resonance lines” which interact strongly with the atmosphere.

Web site:
http://people.virginia.edu/~pla7y/

Department:
Astronomy

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Physics, astronomy, extrasolar planets, stars, orbital dynamics.

About the lab:
The student will conduct theoretical modeling of the orbits of extrasolar planets, and how their size and shape may be changed over time due to tides. This project is appropriate for students interested in physics and/or astronomy.
While the planets in our own Solar System have nearly circular orbits, it is quite common for planets orbiting other stars (extrasolar planets) to have highly "eccentric", or squashed-looking, orbits. However, for planets orbiting very near their parent star, the orbits tend to be much more circular than the population as a whole. This is thought to be due to "tidal friction", a process in which the planet and star raise tides on each other, and if there is some friction the kinetic energy in the tidal motions can be converted to heat. The effect of tidal friction is that the non-circular part of the orbit can be damped away, with the heat dumped in the star or planet, and the orbit becomes more circular over time.

Prerequisites:
Any level (year in college) is appropriate for this project, as the goals can be adjusted for the level of the student. The student should have taken some calculus-based physics. While prior experience with computer programming is not necessary, the student should be interested in learning scientific programming, most likely in python.

Specific project(s) available:
The goal of this summer project is to study the dynamics of the fluid motion in the star and planet as well as the orbital dynamics. The primary tool will be computer simulations, and hence the first part of the summer will be spent learning the needed computer skills. Simulations will then be carried out and visualized to understand the different physical processes at work.

Web site:
http://people.virginia.edu/~pla7y/

Department:
Astronomy

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Astronomy theory

About the lab:
We use computer simulations to study the light produced when gas falls into black holes.

Prerequisites:
A preparation in either physics or computing would be beneficial.

Specific project(s) available:
Students would work with me and my graduate students to use computer codes developed by our group to generate images and spectra from computer simulations of gas falling into black holes. Students would also learn about the observational data from black hole sources and gain some familiarity with computer visualization tools that are used interpret the outputs of high performance computer simulations.

Web site:
http://people.virginia.edu/~swd8g/

Department:
National Radio Astronomy Observatory - Central Development Lab

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Radio astronomy receivers

About the lab:
Software development for testing the ALMA front end radio astronomy receiver or its sub-assemblies.

Prerequisites:
Software development or computer science: having completed programming projects for a university course.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/cdl

Department:
Astronomy

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Star and planet formation

About the lab:
As a research group, we are interested in several different aspects of how stars and planets form. We learn about these things by using a combination of computer models and observations from telescopes. Students will spend most of their summer learning how to use computers to model chemistry and the propagation of radiation (i.e. light, radio waves, etc.) in an astronomical context. The end goal is to make concrete predictions for what we might observe with existing astronomical telescopes.
From a practical point of view, this includes the use of the Python programming language, version control software (i.e. git), other existing astronomical software, as well as how to simulate astrophysical processes in parallel (i.e. on more than one CPU at a time). There will also be opportunities for students to attend professional development seminars and scientific research presentations.

Prerequisites:
Some experience with calculus is required. Experience with differential equations is an advantage, but not required. Basic computer programming experience is also a requirement. Any experience with the Python programming language will be an advantage.

Specific project(s) available:
Title: How can we see if newborn planets are growing?
Description: A star forms when a dense core of gas and dust collapses under gravity. A fraction of the core material forms a spinning "protoplanetary" accretion disk around the new star. Dust particles in the disk settle via gravity, become concentrated, and interact with any surrounding gas. The dust grows to “pebble” (mm- to cm-) size particles, accumulates into approx. 1000 mile radius planetesimals, which then somehow grow into planets. These newborn planets grow further by accreting more stuff from the surrounding disk. The ultimate fate of a newborn planet, i.e., whether it ends up like the Earth or like Neptune, depends on how much it can grow during a short period of time.
Understanding the details of this growth, from the stage when newborn planets are small (e.g. less massive than Mars), is critical to understanding both our own Solar System, as well as planets around other stars. Using cutting-edge computer models, this project aims to predict what the observable “lighthouses” of this growth process are, and how we go about seeing them with telescopes.
In order to make these predictions, we need to make “synthetic observations”, i.e., estimate what existing astronomical telescopes should see when they look for these “lighthouses”. We are therefore looking for an enthusiastic student to work with (and possibly extend) an existing set of software tools that can make these predictions. Training for the student will be provided as necessary.

Web site:
https://astronomy.as.virginia.edu/research

Department:
Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Microbial pathogenesis; host-pathogen interactions

About the lab:
The goal of the Criss laboratory is to understand how the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the cause of gonorrhea, resists killing by neutrophils of the innate immune system. We combine bacterial genetics, imaging of infected cells, and functional immune assays to understand how the bacteria and immune cells interact. We have identified a cohort of genes that are differentially regulated in bacteria during infection. The summer project will entail making mutations in one or more of these genes and testing the resulting mutant bacteria for sensitivity to killing by neutrophils. The experiments will use techniques in molecular biology (PCR, plasmid preparation, cloning, DNA sequencing), bacteriology (transformation, bacterial growth on antibiotic media to obtain mutants, growth assays), and immunology (bacterial killing by neutrophils, neutrophil release of antimicrobial products, neutrophil phagocytosis).

Prerequisites:
Introductory biology course that covers molecular biology (the genetic code, DNA to RNA to protein). Not required but helpful is experience in molecular biology (PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA sequence analysis), for instance in a lab class.

Specific project(s) available:
See above

Website:
http://mic.med.virginia.edu/criss/

Department:
Center for Public Health Genomics (CPHG)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Bioinformatics

About the lab:
Computational analysis of biological data

Prerequisites:
Must have prior experience in bioinformatics or computer science.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
http://databio.org/

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Inorganic, Organometallic, Main-Group, Optoelectronic Materials, Hydrogen Energy

About the lab:
Chemical Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Molecular Main-Group Compounds; Glovebox and Schlenk line; Crystal Growth and X-ray Crystallography

Prerequisites:
General/Organic Chemistry

Specific project(s) available:
Students may work on any of the ongoing projects in our lab. Info available via our website.

Web site:
http://gilliardgroup.chem.virginia.edu

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Catalysis, Energy Processes, Organometallic Chemistry, Synthesis

About the lab:
The Gunnoe group is focused on the development of new homogeneous catalysts for reactions of relevance to clean energy as well as large-scale petrochemical processes. Research efforts include the development and study of catalysts for water oxidation (relevant to the conversion of sunlight to fuel), alkane oxidation (relevant to the conversion of natural gas to liquid fuel and high value chemicals) and arene functionalization (relevant to petrochemical processes). Students in the Gunnoe group receive training on synthesis and characterization of transition metal and organometallic complexes and application of these new complexes toward new catalytic reactions. Substantial experience with NMR spectroscopy is obtained. Many of our projects are highly collaborative and involve collaborations with other chemistry groups, materials science groups and chemical engineering groups.

Prerequisites:
N/A

Specific project(s) available:
Development of new catalysts for: 1) water oxidation (solar to fuels), 2) alkane oxidation (natural gas to liquid fuels and high value chemicals) and 3) arene functionalization (relevant to petrochemical processes).

Web site:
https://gunnoelab.virginia.edu

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Organic Chemistry

About the lab:
Organic Synthesis relevant to the preparation of bioactive small molecules. Basic techniques include reaction setup, monitoring, and analysis, purification via chromatography, anhydrous and air-free techniques, and use of instrumentation such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Gas Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and Mass Spectrometry.

Prerequisites:
Ideally the candidate will have completed two semesters of Sophomore Organic Chemistry and the associated laboratory courses.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
www.hilinskilab.com

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Chemical Biology

About the lab:
Preclinical drug discovery

Prerequisites:
Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Laboratory Experience

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
http://hsulab.com/

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Renewable Energy

About the lab:
Developing new materials to convert carbon dioxide into useful products using renewable energy

Prerequisites:
General and organic chemistry; lab experience would be helpful

Specific project(s) available:
Synthesizing Cr-based electrocatalysts

Web site:
machangroup.virginia.edu

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Chemistry, Chemical Biology

About the lab:
Our laboratory conducts research at the interface of chemistry and biology by employing new chemical tools and design principles to better understand fundamental aspects of cellular communication. Our research program is centered on three areas involving: 1) synthesis and application of new fluorescent and luminescent bioprobes, 2) new methodologies for constructing designer signaling networks, and 3) new approaches to study protein folding mechanisms in living cells. The long-term goal of these projects is to provide insights into signaling processes associated with normal physiology as well as human diseases such as liver disease, diabetes, and cancer. These multidisciplinary efforts are supported by a combination of approaches including synthesis, protein design and evolution, bioanalytical chemistry, and molecular biology.

Prerequisites:
Interest in small molecule synthesis and biological applications.

Specific project(s) available:
A summer student in our lab can expect to synthesize new fluorescent molecules. These new probes are then evaluated in vitro and subsequently tested in living cells.

Web site:
http://cstains.as.virginia.edu/

Department:
Chemistry

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Materials Chemistry, nanoscience, renewable energy and catalysis

About the lab:
We are focused on well-defined nanocrystal catalysts for clean energy conversion and fuel transformation. We take advantage of our expertise in solution-synthesis of functional nanocrystals, structural characterizations and multiscale simulation to develop efficient catalysts for fuel cells, water electrolyzers, and biomass conversion to green fuels.

Prerequisites:
General chemistry and lab

Specific project(s) available:
Developing multimetallic nanocrystals for clean-energy conversion

Web site:
http://zhanglab.as.virginia.edu/

Department:
Systems & Information Engineering

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Smart and Connected Health

About the lab:
Building models to predict health state from multimodal sensor, developing technology to collect data on human health.

Prerequisites:
Programming in R or Python, probability and statistics

Specific project(s) available:
Student Health and Well-being in the Living Link Lab.

Web site:
http://faculty.virginia.edu/S2HeLab/

Department:
Chemical Engineering

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Mechanobiology

About the lab:
Our lab develops biomaterials to study how cells sense and interpret signals from their surroundings. We use that information to treat diseases and grow new tissue. Students will gain experience in a range of techniques including biomaterial synthesis and characterization, cell culture, and microscopy.

Prerequisites:
N/A

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
http://faculty.virginia.edu/caliari/index.html

Department:
Engineering Systems and Environment / Civil Engineering Program

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Civil Engineering / Water Resources

About the lab:
We are working with our local community to improve civil infrastructure and the environment using data, information technology, and engineering principles. Examples include reducing flooding risk through stormwater infrastructure, measuring air quality in the community to identify pollutant hotspots, understanding traffic flows and ways to improve mobility (especially when impacted by extreme weather conditions), and related topics. Students would be able to work with the faculty adviser, graduate students, and local stakeholder groups to define and complete a specific project idea within this research space.

Prerequisites:
Course work in engineering, computer science, environmental science, or related fields.

Specific project(s) available:
Multiple projects are possible, but as an example, one specific project we are doing now and could be extended with help from a summer student would be to build and deploy water level sensors for stormwater systems in the community to better understand storm water flows and flooding risk in the region.

Web site:
http://uvahydroinformatics.org

Department:
Materials Science, Chemical, and Mechanical Engineering

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Nanoparticle Engineering

About the lab:
A student will develop skills in nanoparticle synthesis and characterization. Research equipment includes Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Prerequisites:
Chemistry, Physics, Calculus

Specific project(s) available:
Development of patchy nanoparticles through ligand phase separation.

Web site:
Under development

Department:
Engineering Systems and Environment

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Risk analysis and systems engineering

About the lab:
Our current research sponsors are the Port of Virginia, US Army Corps of Engineers, NSFCHEST.org, NSF, US Navy, VDOT, Virginia Department of Corrections, Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems, and the Embassy of Italy. Students will be invited to participate in several of these activities with an aim to join in authorship of publications with the UVA graduate students and faculty. Topics include energy, transportation, water, communications, environmental, and sociotechnical systems.

Prerequisites:
Introductory courses in an engineering degree program

Specific project(s) available:
Risk, safety, security, or resilience analysis of particular logistics or large-scale systems of the above research sponsors.

Web site:
https://engineering.virginia.edu/research/centers-institutes/center-risk-management-engineering-systems

Department:
Environmental Sciences
Note: Application deadline for this project is Monday, February 10th. Students will conduct research and be housed at Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster, Virginia (6364 Cliffs Road, Cape Charles, Virginia) for 10-weeks starting the first week in June. Participants receive a stipend of $4,500 (divided into installments) plus housing.
Virginia Coast Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Seagrass productivity + blue carbon

About the lab:
VCR-LTER is the site of the largest and most successful seagrass restoration project in the world. The Berg lab uses front-of-the-field technologies to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases in seagrass meadows, and how they relate to seagrass productivity and biogeochemical cycling. By measuring gas quantities and these different processes, we aim to develop a better understanding of how coastal systems such as seagrasses can help mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. The selected candidate will develop and implement their own project in the VCR-LTER seagrass meadows with direct mentoring from two graduate students at the field site and advising from Dr. Peter Berg. Candidates will not only gain invaluable experience, but also have the opportunity to work with new and innovative technologies. Please email Dr. Cora Johnston if you have questions or require additional information about opportunities hosted at the Coastal Research Center.

Prerequisites:
The candidate must be comfortable on boats and working in shallow waters.

Specific project(s) available:
Possible projects are available working on primary production, epiphytes, trace gases, new methods for quantifying bubbles, or anything else that fits into the framework of current projects.

Web site:
https://berg.evsc.virginia.edu/

Department:
Environmental Sciences
Note: Application deadline for this project is Monday, February 10th. Students will conduct research and be housed at Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster, Virginia (6364 Cliffs Road, Cape Charles, Virginia) for 10-weeks starting the first week in June. Participants receive a stipend of $4,500 (divided into installments) plus housing.
Virginia Coast Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Seagrass biodiversity: epifaunal spatial patterns and collection methods

About the lab:
A major objective of the VCR-LTER is to understand how the restoration of seagrass affects biodiversity at landscape scales. However, collecting mobile animals living within seagrass meadows is challenging and prone to sampling bias. The goals of this position are to (1) quantify the biases introduced by different seagrass epifauna sampling methods, and (2) identify landscape-scale spatial patterns of epifaunal biodiversity. The position will involve field work collecting samples and laboratory work identifying and measuring collected animals. Please email Dr. Cora Johnston if you have questions or require additional information about opportunities hosted at the Coastal Research Center.

Prerequisites:
The ideal candidate will be excited about biodiversity, dedicated, detail-oriented, and excel in working independently and as part of a team.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
https://castorani.evsc.virginia.edu/

Department:
Biological Sciences - George Washington University
Note: Application deadline for this project is Monday, February 10th. Students will conduct research and be housed at Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster, Virginia (6364 Cliffs Road, Cape Charles, Virginia) for 10-weeks starting the first week in June. Participants receive a stipend of $4,500 (divided into installments) plus housing.
Virginia Coast Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Coastal forest disturbance ecology

About the lab:
Coastal forest trees are being killed by storm surge and groundwater salinization. As trees die off and marsh species move in, dead tree snags remain as a ghost forest. Scientists at the VCR are studying this process and the proximal controls on vegetation change in the marsh-forest boundary, in preparation for a large-scale forest disturbance experiment. We are looking for assistance in gathering baseline data on coastal forest plots that are experiencing these changes. We expect to see pine regeneration cease and adult tree stress and mortality across a gradient in saltwater exposure. As trees die, we believe that light availability changes and becomes sufficient first for shrubs, followed by marsh grasses. We are also interested in colonization and spread of the invasive species Phragmites australis within this transition zone. The student researcher will assist with data collection on measures of forest health, including tree and shrub censuses, vegetation monitoring plots, seedling counts, and litter trap sampling. By collaborating with several PIs involved in the experiment (Gedan, Kirwan, Fagherazzi, Johnson), the student will gain exposure to and skills in plant community ecology, insect ecology, geomorphology, and hydrology during the summer. Please email Dr. Cora Johnston if you have questions or require additional information about opportunities hosted at the Coastal Research Center.

Prerequisites:
The student must be able to stay until early to mid-August, when the last round of plant community data will be collected. Applicants should have completed a course in introductory biology, have comfort with Excel, and be comfortable being outdoors in summertime conditions.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
http://www.gedanlab.com/

Department:
Environmental Sciences

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Climate Dynamics

About the lab:
My research group focuses on understanding how and why atmospheric wind and weather patterns (jet streams, low- and high-pressure systems, etc.) change and vary over time. Over the 21st century, computer models project that the Hadley circulation, the large-scale atmospheric circulation in the tropics, will widen, pushing arid subtropical regions further poleward. Likewise, regions of heavy precipitation associated with the midlatitude jet streams are also projected to shift poleward. Current research goals focus on 1) understanding the role that clouds play in these circulation changes and 2) isolating the potential impacts of these circulation changes for regional climate change in the United States. A student working on this project should expect to gain experience with scientific computing and statistics. Specifically, a student will learn how to read in and manipulate large climate data sets, apply statistical techniques to isolate patterns of climate variability and change, and plot maps of the resulting patterns to interpret and display.

Prerequisites:
Some prior computer programming experience (especially with MATLAB or Python) is preferred.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
https://uva.theopenscholar.com/kevin-grise/research

Department:
Environmental Sciences
Note: Application deadline for this project is Monday, February 10th. Students will conduct research and be housed at Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster, Virginia (6364 Cliffs Road, Cape Charles, Virginia) for 10-weeks starting the first week in June. Participants receive a stipend of $4,500 (divided into installments) plus housing.
Virginia Coast Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Oyster reef hydrology + ecology

About the lab:
Researchers will participate in quantifying the dual benefits of oyster growth and wave attenuation across various designs of artificial oyster reefs near Short Prong Marsh. The study will investigate which design best enhances restoration for these two purposes, with elevation as the primary independent variable of interest. Tasks will largely include deployment of wave gauges and data analysis. Candidates will also help to monitor the effects of oyster restoration on the sediment and infauna community surrounding the Short Prong oyster reefs. Individuals will gain experience in collecting infauna and sediment cores, IDing infauna, and processing sediment to quantify organic matter. This data will add to 3 previous years of data, to analyze change from before construction and as the reefs develop.
There is also potential to survey various marsh edges throughout the VCR to record differences in edge morphology and relate them to the hydrodynamic environment. Tasks would include setting up edge markers and measuring retreat for marshes affronted with oysters and not. Change in marsh edge location and slope profiles would also require use of Trimble RTK GPS equipment. Independent investigations related to these topics are also welcome for advisement by the Reidenbach lab group. Please email Dr. Cora Johnston if you have questions or require additional information about opportunities hosted at the Coastal Research Center.

Prerequisites:
Applicants should have taken introductory courses in ecology and/or hydrology; experience or an interest in Geographic Information System (GIS) is preferred.

Specific project(s) available:
N/A

Web site:
http://faculty.virginia.edu/reidenbach/

Department:
Environmental Sciences
Note: Application deadline for this project is Monday, February 10th. Students will conduct research and be housed at Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster, Virginia (6364 Cliffs Road, Cape Charles, Virginia) for 10-weeks starting the first week in June. Participants receive a stipend of $4,500 (divided into installments) plus housing.
Virginia Coast Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Carbon stock variability in seagrass meadows

About the lab:
The Virginia Coast Reserve is home to some of the most pristine coastal waters on the Eastern Seaboard and the largest successful seagrass restoration in the world, making it a unique place for studying seagrass ecology. Our research focuses on connectivity, spatial variation, and resilience of seagrass meadows, as well as their role as “blue carbon” ecosystems (i.e. long-term carbon sinks).

Prerequisites:
The candidate should be interested in pursuing a career in marine ecology, hardworking, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and can work both independently and as part of a team. Student should also be comfortable working on boats, wading in shallow waters, handling marine specimen (e.g. sediments, seagrass plants), and using laboratory equipment (training will be provided).

Specific project(s) available:
This project will build on our current research investigating the drivers of seagrass carbon stock variability across spatial scales.

Web site:
https://med.virginia.edu/faculty/faculty-listing/kjm4k/

Department:
Environmental Sciences

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Global Change Ecologists

About the lab:
The Plant Ecology & Remote Sensing Lab (PERS) study vegetation-climate interactions in the context of climate change. Research includes spatial ecology, plant physiology, remote sensing, and climate change. Primarily interested in the climatic controls on vegetation photosynthesis and related plant functioning, the feedbacks of vegetation to the climate, and the impact of climate change on vegetation phenology. A novel approach was developed to quantify photosynthesis and leaf traits remotely. Advanced computation approaches such as data assimilation are used to bridge the gap between observations and models to improve our predictions of carbon, water, and energy fluxes.
Questions the PERS Lab ponder: How does climate change affect our trees? Can our agriculture survive the drought? What are the novel techniques (cameras, UAVs, and innovative sensors) that we can use to better understand our ecosystem? These are the key questions we seek to understand in the PERS lab. What are the tools we use? First we use remote sensing, which uses sensors onboard satellite, airplane, UAV, or on the ground (in the forests), to measure key health" metrics of trees.

Prerequisites:
Some knowledge of coding (python, or matlab, or R) is preferred.

Specific project(s) available:
The student will be working on a project to characterize the 3D structure of trees using LiDAR. Individuals will learn the most advanced way to characterize the details of trees (even the angles of each leaf), coding to analyze the data.

Web site:
https://uva.theopenscholar.com/plant-ecology-lab

Department:
Department of Biology - Virginia Commonwealth University
Note: Application deadline for this project is Monday, February 10th. Students will conduct research and be housed at Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster, Virginia (6364 Cliffs Road, Cape Charles, Virginia) for 10-weeks starting the first week in June. Participants receive a stipend of $4,500 (divided into installments) plus housing.
Virginia Coast Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER)

Area of research and sub-discipline:
Plant response to overwash burial on barrier islands

About the lab:
Because of the tight coupling of island ecological processes and oceanic and atmospheric drivers of disturbance (e.g. hurricanes, nor’easters, sea level rise), barrier islands are at the forefront of global climate change. Barrier islands respond to long term presses, like sea level rise, by “rolling over” (i.e. landward migration of an island) often through sediment transport onto the back-barrier marsh platform via overwash. Overwash occurs during storm events when waves and surge breach the foredune, washing sediment and saltwater into the swales and island interior. Ammophila breviligulata and Spartina patens are the two most common dune-building grasses along the Virginia barrier islands, also occurring in the island interior. Their ability to respond to burial is important in the recovery following overwash. We have established a field experiment in the island interior, where overwash would occur. Plots with equal cover of A. breviligulata and S. patens were established with plants surrounded by 20 L plastic buckets with a 30 cm diameter to contain sand. Treatments consist of five burial levels (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm) in which shoreline sand was applied to replicate a natural burial disturbance from overwash.
Please email Dr. Cora Johnston if you have questions or require additional information about opportunities hosted at the Coastal Research Center.

Prerequisites:
The preferred applicant will be capable of and willing to tolerate sometimes challenging field conditions, including biting insects and prolonged exposure to high temperatures and sun.

Specific project(s) available:
The REU student will take help with the deconstruction of this experiment. Measurements of aboveground percent cover, stem number, and plant height will be made. All biomass (aboveground, within the sand column, and below the original soil line) will be quantified and partitioned into leaf, stem, roots, rhizomes. These data will be used in a model of barrier island evolution that incorporates species characteristics. Students will work closely with members of the VCU Coastal Plant Ecology Lab (CPEL).

Web site:
https://biology.vcu.edu/people/faculty-staff/julie-zinnert.html