reu — MissDelta

About REUs

Welcome to the Research Experiences for Undergraduates section. Here, you can explore the exciting opportunities available for undergraduate students to engage in hands-on research experiences. Our REUs offer a chance to work alongside experienced researchers, gain valuable skills, and contribute to meaningful projects. Whether you're interested in exploring the coastal environments of Louisiana or diving into marine science research, our programs provide a unique platform for academic and personal growth.

Click on the accordions below to learn more about each program!

MissDelta REUs

In MissDelta’s REU 10-week program (May 27-August 3, 2024) undergraduates will engage with LSU faculty involved in the MissDelta research project and develop skills through research-immersive learning experience. MissDelta REU students will have an opportunity for a 1-day research vessel trip along the Gulf Coast as well as participate with students in other LSU REU programs through REU scheduled events and activities throughout the program. As the culminating event on August 2nd, students can present their summer work and learn about what other students have done in the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) through LSU’S Discover Program.

Student Requirements:

Enrolled in an undergraduate program at a 2- or 4- year institution
Undergraduate who is a rising sophomore, junior, or senior

Student Support:

$600/student/week stipend
Up to $300/student travel funds
food allowances included
Housing included and will be on the LSU campus
Optional research vessel trip in the Gulf of Mexico/Louisiana coast
Participation in LSU Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF)
Summer conference opportunities

Contact:

Dominique Garello
Louisiana State University
Geology and Geophysics Department
E209 Howe-Russell Building
dgarello1@lsu.edu
(225) 578-5558

LUMCON REUs

LUMCON has run our Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program on Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Louisiana’s Changing Coastal Environments since 2011. This program has and/or is supported by a variety of sources including the National Science Foundation’s REU Site Program; federal, state, and other research grants awarded to research mentors; and direct support from LUMCON member institutions. A cohort of REU participants will spend ten weeks between early June and mid-August at LUMCON conducting independent research projects with guidance from scientific mentors/mentor teams (from a mentor pool of LUMCON faculty, post-doctoral associates, and/or visiting scientists) while interacting with peers participating in other aspects of LUMCON’s summer programs. Each student is paired with (a) scientific mentor(s) based on mutual research interests. The REU program is designed to give students a meaningful, hands-on research experience that takes advantage of state-of-the-art methods and technologies available at LUMCON.

Stipends and Other Financial Support:

A stipend of $6,000 for the 10-week program (paid every 2 weeks)
Free housing and meals at the DeFelice Marine Center
Funds to partially or fully cover travel costs to and from LUMCON from their home or university

Academic Credit:

Students participating in REU internships are often eligible to receive academic credit from their home institutions. Program participants may be interested in exploring this possibility. A number of LUMCON REU alumni have also continued building on their projects after returning to their home institutions with many of these efforts resulting in senior or honors theses.

Program Dates: June 3 – August 9, 2024

Application deadline March 1, 2024
For details, requirements and application go to: https://lumcon.edu/reu/

LUMCON STEM Prep

LUMCON’s STEM Prep program is a residential summer program to help freshmen and sophomore-level undergraduate students, especially those from populations that are underserved and underrepresented in the marine sciences, who are seeking an opportunity to gain work experience and learn skills to advance their academic and career goals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields within marine and/or environmental science. This program allows students to experience the responsibilities and culture of a working marine lab, interact with the Marine Center staff and community, directly contribute to vital marine/coastal science research programs, and create opportunities to broaden their knowledge of possible research fields and career opportunities.

Support & Academic Credit:

STEM Prep students pay no facility fees or tuition charges
Free housing and meals at the DeFelice Marine Center for the duration of the program (six weeks)
Four credit hours from the University of Louisiana @ Lafayette that can be transferred to a student’s home institution

Program Dates: May 26 – July 3, 2024

Application deadline March 15, 2024
For details, requirements and application go to: https://lumcon.edu/stem-prep/

REU Research Projects

List of Faculty and projects for REU Summer 2024:

Dr. Sam Bentley and Dr. Emily Wei

Title: “Geological study of submarine regions of the Lower Mississippi River Delta, downstream from New Orleans”

Project Description: The overall goal of this study is to collect and analyze sediment cores and SONAR maps from offshore regions of the Mississippi River Delta, in order to understand what processes are controlling the evolution of the Delta, and to predict the future of the Delta. Influences vary depending on location, but include impacts of river floods, hurricanes, submarine landslides, and human management of dams, river levees, and other factors that impact sediment input to the river and delta.

Research tasks: Students will analyze sediment cores and SONAR maps of the seabed. At present, students are conducting sedimentological and chronological analyses of sediment cores we have in hand. During the next year, we will begin collecting new cores and new SONAR maps with funding from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program. Core collection and SONAR mapping will involve multi-day trips offshore on research vessels, working with scientists and engineers from multiple federal agencies and universities.
Dr. Giulio Mariotti

Title: “Why is the water brown? Quantifying mud settling velocity as a function of clay mineralogy”

Project Description: Mud sized particles are the most abundant class in both riverine and deltaic settings. Mud settling velocity is a critical property, which strongly affects the fate of this sediment class. Based on previous morphological and sedimentological observations, it is hypothesized that mud settling velocity is larger in the Mississippi Delta (Gulf Coast) than in the south-east coast of the US (Atlantic Ocean). In turns, this is hypothesized to be caused by different clay mineralogy (more illite in the former than in the latter). To test this idea, we will perform laboratory experiments of settling velocity, paired with mineralogy characterization (X-ray diffraction).

Research tasks: The student will perform laboratory experiments using settling columns, using both mud collected in the field as well as artificial mud composed of pure clay minerals. This will require setting up the experiments and monitor them in the 1-2 days at regular intervals. Samples will be collected during the experiments and then analyzed in the lab (sediment concentration, X-ray diffraction). The student will be supervised by both Dr. Mariotti and his MS student, who is working on this topic.
Dr. Navid Jafari

Title: “Geotechnical Investigations of Sediment along the Mississippi River Delta Front Region”

Project Description: This project aims to collect sediment cores from the offshore region of the Mississippi River Delta Front to study how the sediment's geotechnical properties vary along the region. The objective is to understand the factors that control seafloor stability. The properties will vary depending on morphological facies and other factors influencing sediment properties.

Research tasks: Selected students will analyze sediment cores collected in the previous year. The focus will be on conducting geotechnical lab tests, including grain size analysis, index properties, and shear strength. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to participate in offshore field campaigns funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program.
Dr. Tracy Quirk

Title: “Wetland Plant Ecology LAB”

Project Description: This position is a part of the MissDELTA project funded by the National Academies of Sciences to assess the dynamics and fate of the active Mississippi River Delta. As part of a large collaborative effort, our lab will be using a combination of coastwide wetland monitoring data (elevation, vegetation, water level, salinity, soil) and field studies to examine the influence of sea-level rise on wetland plants and wetland plant dynamics in restoration sites.

Research tasks: To work on an independent research project focused on wetland plant and soil ecology focused on the Mississippi River Delta and assist in various aspects of the Wetland Plant Ecology lab and field work in marsh environments. Field data collection and laboratory and sample preparation of plants, water, and sediments for analysis of chemical and biological parameters will be a part of the position. Literature searches and reference database entry will also be a focus of the work. Job duty breakdown: Collect vegetation and soil samples and data from marsh study sites (30%), Processing vegetation and soil samples (40%), Data entry and analysis (20%), and Develop presentations (e.g., powerpoint, report) of research findings (10%).

Application Details

March 11, 2024 Application Deadline

Screening of applications will begin on March 11th and will continue until all spots are filled
Applications submitted on or before March 18th will be considered but subject to availability

Materials needed to apply:

Transcript(s) (unofficial is okay)
Complete online application with 500-word personal statement
Recommendation>Recommendation package (online form & letter)

Application materials should be uploaded online; however, if experiencing technical difficulties, they may be sent to Dominique Garello (dgarello1@lsu.edu) with email subject: MissDelta REU application