Are you a University of Florida undergraduate interested in the Gulf’s seagrass ecosystems and ready for an independent research experience on seagrass stress ecology?
Supported by the UF Gulf Scholars Program, the UF Coastal & Marine Ecology Lab offers an undergraduate research opportunity focused on assessing the health and stress indicators of seagrass within the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. This experience integrates both laboratory and analytical skills. We will select one student for the Fall 2025 semester.
This opportunity provides hands-on experience in coastal community ecology, emphasizing laboratory-based research with some fieldwork components. Participants will also engage in public outreach activities, enhancing their science communication skills.
Who you’ll work with: The lab’s Principal Investigator is Dr. Laura K. Reynolds, and the primary mentor for this undergraduate research experience will be senior postdoctoral researcher Dr. Enie Hensel.
Benefits of the Program
The selected student will receive:
- A $1,200 stipend.
- An understanding of seagrass ecology and conservation, with a particular emphasis on the Gulf Coast’s seagrass ecosystems and current management strategies.
- Hands-on laboratory and field research experience focused on seagrass.
- Opportunities for public speaking and the development of digital communication products.
- An independent research experience, including conducting a literature review, processing samples (methods), reviewing and analyzing results, and synthesizing findings to contextualize the research within the broader field of ecology.
- Mentorship, time management assistance, and participation in three two-hour workshops on Gulf Coast ecology, statistical modeling and R coding, and scientific writing.
Program Components
Laboratory Research Experience
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Main duties will include processing seagrass imagery and measuring lesions and grazing marks on seagrass collected within the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve.
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Opportunities to learn skills related to seagrass morphology and production.
Field Research Experience
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A field trip opportunity involving seagrass or water quality monitoring in the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve in the Gulf.
Public Outreach (Optional)
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An opportunity to engage with the public at the Cedar Key Seafood Festival alongside the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station.
Mentorship
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Guidance from Drs. Enie Hensel and Laura Reynolds.
Program Expectations
This program will follow the University of Florida’s Fall 2025 academic calendar. Participants are expected to commit approximately 8–10 hours per week, starting the week of August 25, 2025, and continuing through December 3, 2025. The schedule will accommodate reduced hours during midterm examinations and official university holidays.
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Final Product: Students will choose between a two-page scientific summary of their project’s findings or a short scientific educational video, depending on the professional development goals established during the initial independent development plan meeting at the semester’s start.
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An experience reflection assessment (minimum 500 words).
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Attendance at weekly progress meetings with their mentor.
Minimum Qualifications
- Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate accountability and efficiency during independent work times.
- Background or strong interest in scientific research.
- Enthusiasm for coastal ecology, management, and conservation.
- Ability to work multiple hours on a computer (either personal or lab-owned) and visually distinguish color-marking differences on images of seagrass leaves.
- Punctuality and responsiveness in work-related communications.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research laboratory experience.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
- Positive attitude and eagerness to learn about the Gulf’s seagrass meadows, one of the largest in the world.
Program Eligibility
University of Florida undergraduate students from any major with an interest in learning about the Gulf’s seagrass ecosystems and contributing to current applied research toward coastal management are encouraged to apply.
Selected interns must be in good academic standing per University policies and enrolled full-time at UF. Interns must also comply with all University regulations, rules, and codes of conduct governing students on campus.
Application Deadline
Applications will be considered as they are received; however, the final deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Please apply online by visiting the following link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_blxDAqFY1MckxYq