Olivia Dudley worked on a project investigating the influence of color on the abundance of microbial colonization on plastics in sea water. The theory behind her study was that marine microbes might be attracted to certain colors, possibly due to the chemical additives used in the production of the dyes. Research on this subject could aid in policies regarding the production of colored plastics.
Meet Jerry Goss and his research in the latest Scientist Selfie video from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Siarah Hall studied the light use efficiency of reef communities, or how efficient each community is at using light for photosynthesis. She used data collected from the NASA-funded COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) mission, which—for this study—included 32 sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, the Marianas, and Palau. She combined efficiency data with benthic cover data to get estimates of the efficiency of each benthic type.
Harvey Castillo a student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he studied wildlife biology. At BIOS, Castillo worked with biological oceanographer Amy Maas researching the physiological responses of microscopic zooplankton to changing ocean temperature.
Shannon Lemieux is a student at Oregon State University majoring in fisheries and wildlife sciences with a minor in earth sciences. During her internship at BIOS, she worked with reef systems ecologist Eric Hochberg on a project studying the phenology, or yearly cycle of change, of coral pigment in Bermuda’s corals.
Jacob Ancri a student at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he is majoring in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomaterials. During his internship at BIOS, Ancri worked with environmental chemist Andrew Peters on a project to develop a method for analyzing the presence of microplastics in the atmosphere.
REU students had the opportunity to share their research progress and outcomes during a virtual poster session held in the new multimedia MAGIC room.
The online application form for the 2022 BIOS REU program is available here. The 2022 program will begin on August 29 and end on November 18.
An REU internship at BIOS is a great way to gain the experience necessary to embark on graduate studies or careers in the marine, oceanographic and atmospheric sciences!
BIOS has National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) funding to support nine undergraduate student researchers at BIOS during the fall semester. Students will conduct individual research projects in a collaborative team environment under the expert mentorship of BIOS faculty and staff. The 2022 REU research projects are based around the following broad research themes:
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Research Theme 1:
Measuring Coral Reef Community Light-Use Efficiency -
Research Theme 2:
Coral Reef Function: Environmental Drivers of Organism and Community Scale Metabolism -
Research Theme 3:
Coral Larval Settlement and Recruitment Dynamics
Throughout the semester, REU students will give presentations that outline their research topic, methods, and results, including a final presentation to BIOS faculty, staff, and visiting students. REU students will also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of field excursions to learn about Bermuda's natural history, flora and fauna as well as workshops and seminars given by BIOS faculty.
Eligibility and Terms of Internship
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. To be eligible, applicants must be over 18 years of age and enrolled in a program of undergraduate study immediately before and after the program dates. Underrepresented groups and students attending colleges or universities with limited STEM research opportunities are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants are ineligible if they have participated in a prior NSF-funded REU in Ocean Sciences. Successful candidates are advised to arrange for independent study credit through their home institutions. Return airfare (from and to the U.S.), campus accommodation, meals and a competitive stipend are covered by the BIOS REU program; medical/travel insurance is the responsibility of the student.
Application Procedure
Before you begin your application please review the instructions carefully. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. The application deadline is May 31. Applications received after this date may be considered subject to availability.
Students will be working on individual projects within a collaborative group setting organized around three broad, overarching research themes. While applicants will be asked to indicate their preferred area of research, final decisions will be made by the selection committee.
Further Information
Since the inception of our REU program in 1991, BIOS has enabled over 200 students to undertake independent research projects in Bermuda. Of these, approximately 80 students have translated their efforts into peer-reviewed publications in prominent scientific journals and conference proceedings. BIOS’s REU program provides a springboard to future careers in ocean and atmospheric sciences and as a result, REU students have positive things to say about their experiences:
- “My internship helped me to gain valuable experience in science and communication. Additionally, I feel that this internship helped me to gain perspective because of the broad diversity of learners, researchers, and faculty supported at BIOS. I feel more prepared to make decisions about my future career path.” Jacob Harrison, 2021
- “I hoped to learn about oceanography and oceanographic career paths, develop new professional skills, and decide if I want to pursue research further. I achieved all three of these goals.” Kaitlyn Lindholm, 2021
- “My time at BIOS taught me how to manage my time, work through a research project, and become better at oral presentations. After experiencing what a true research setting encompasses I have become even more confident that I want to pursue a career in marine science research.” Natalie Munich, 2021
Monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The health and well-being of everyone involved in BIOS’s educational programs is our top priority. Due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, only fully vaccinated students are able to participate in BIOS programs.
If you have questions that relate to the coronavirus disease as it concerns your plans for studying at BIOS, including application deadlines, the potential for cancellations, rescheduling, and refunding, please contact the Education Department.
When making travel plans, please review updated health advisories and guidelines provided by the U.S. Department of State, the Bermuda Government, and the World Health Organization.
Visit the BIOS Facebook page to learn more about REU alums and the science research going on at BIOS.
Funding for this REU site is provided by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences located in Arlington, VA. Award number OCE-2050858. The NSF contact for this program is Elizabeth Rom. NSF does not handle REU applications; please contact each REU site directly for application information.