Summer Program in Statistical Modeling for Geoscience Now Accepting Applications

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Applications are now being accepted for a National Science Foundation-sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). This 8-week program offers hands-on research for undergraduate students in statistical models with applications to geoscience that is designed to help prepare participants for careers in the expanding fields of statistics and data analysis.

The program runs from May 16 to July 9 on the Melbourne campus of Florida Tech. There are eight slots available, and participants must be undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program, preferably finishing their sophomore year. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups and community college graduates are encouraged to apply.

Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the program will cover all costs for participants, including a travel allowance to Melbourne, housing in a Florida Tech residence hall, a $600 weekly stipend and a $100 weekly meal allowance. Travel allowances may also be provided to students to present their summer research at a future conference.

Participants will work on a research project in one of four areas: the impact of climate change on glaciers; sea level rise projections and modeling; the impact of climate change on ciguatera in Florida and the Caribbean; and the impact of benthic communities on water filtration in coastal estuaries.  

“The goal of this program is to provide students who have little or no prior research experience, particularly minority students at early stages of their education, with an opportunity to participate in challenging research projects,” said Nezamoddin N. Kachouie, an associate professor in Florida Tech’s Department of Mathematical Sciences. He is the principal investigator and oversees the REU program, which is hosted by his department and the Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences.

In addition to research opportunities, there will be seminars on improving students’ public speaking and presentation skills, workshops on how to develop, gain and improve students’ analytical thinking, data analysis and coding skills, and opportunities to learn from experience about scientific research and how to apply academic work to real-world problems.

Applications will be accepted until March 15, after which a review process will determine the eight participants.

Additional details and the application form are available at  https://research.fit.edu/smag-reu/. For more information, contact Nezamoddin N. Kachouie at nezamoddin@fit.edu or Steven Lazarus at slazarus@fit.edu.