The program’s theme is the Microbiology of Low Oxygen Ecosystems (MLOxE).
REU programs are funded by the National Science Foundation to create summer research opportunities for college students. A core goal is to recruit students from schools with limited research programs, or from groups traditionally underrepresented in science. For our program, we are particularly interested in applications from American Indian and Alaska Native students, African American and other Underrepresented Minority (URM) groups, or schools with limited research opportunities. But we invite everyone with an interest to apply. Applicants can be students (part or full time) from either a 2-yr or a 4-yr school. No prior research experience is necessary. Applicants must be US citizens.
Admitted students will be paired with a faculty mentor at MSU in Bozeman, Montana, where they will conduct an independent project in summer 2022 (10 wks in total; May 31-August 05). Each student will receive a $6000 stipend. Travel, room, and board expenses will be covered. Applications to the program are due by February 11.
The MLOxE REU program leverages MSU’s unique expertise in microbiology, notably focusing on environments with little or no oxygen. If you’re not in the field, this theme might seem obscure. The truth is the exact opposite. Low oxygen microbes are vital for environmental and human health. They influence (or control) processes such as food breakdown in the intestine, toxin removal from the environment, and greenhouse gas production. They are also models for understanding the origins of life on this planet, and the potential for life on other planets.