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Stipended Trainee/Intern: Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) (OR)

There are multiple REU positions available at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center for Summer 2024. In particular, the Seabird Oceanography Lab – led by Dr. Rachael Orben – is looking for an REU to assist in a long-term seabird monitoring project. Deadline to apply: February 13, 2024.

Agency/Organization: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University

Location: Newport, Oregon

Website: Click here

Job Description: There are multiple REU positions available at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center for Summer 2024. In particular, the Seabird Oceanography Lab – led by Dr. Rachael Orben – is looking for an REU to assist in a long-term seabird monitoring project.

We are looking for an REU Intern who is interested in a mix of field work and data processing and analysis. The REU Intern will assist with field work as part of the long-term monitoring of seabirds at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport, Oregon. This work requires early mornings and involves carefully following nests of cormorants and murres from egg lay to chick fledging. The intern project will be based on photos taken of murres carrying fish to feed their chicks. We are interested in understanding differences in diet between colonies in Oregon. The project will involve determining prey ID from photos and R coding for data analysis. The internship program will culminate with a presentation of your research and results at the end of the summer.

Qualifications: Students who are from community colleges and universities where research opportunities are limited, and/or from groups underrepresented in marine and coastal science are particularly welcome and encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from students with backgrounds and interests in any of these areas: biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, environmental science, mathematics, computer science or engineering.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must be currently enrolled in college with a minimum of one term remaining after the summer program toward a bachelor’s degree.

Wage: $630/week with on-site housing provided; free housing on-site; round-trip travel expenses.

To apply: Interested students are required to submit the items below. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 5 p.m. PST or until filled. 

  • Application form (sample PDF of the application): When applying, please indicate interest in working with Dr. Rachael Orben on your application.
  • Review the Hatfield mentors and indicate the areas of interest for which you wish to be considered.
  • Short answer questions
  • A list of courses
  • List of references. Letters of recommendation are not required or accepted.
  • Transcripts are not required for the initial application. However, applicants who are selected will be required to provide unofficial transcripts for verification.
  • All students who are invited to this REU site have until March 15 or later to accept or reject the offer. This means the earliest any applicant can accept a position is March 15. 
  • OSU HMSC REU Information webinar recording – program review, application, and Q&A session with the Program Director

Application Deadline: February 13, 2024

Start Date: June 17, 2024

Contact: Itchung Cheung, Program Director (HMSC_academic@oregonstate.edu)