The impact of climate change on crop-pollinator interactions
This International Research Experiences for Students (iRES) program will provide undergraduate student eight-week of a virtual research experience working with mentors from Colombia and Peru. Projects will focus on studying how environmental factors impact plant-pollinator interactions in agricultural areas. Students will participate in interdisciplinary research guided by mentors representing entomology, ecology, engineering, and climate science. Students will receive $4,000 for their participation in the program.
Mentors participating in this program include 10 faculty from Penn State University (USA), Universidad Militar Nueva Granada (Colombia), and Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru):
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- Margarita López-Uribe (Molecular Ecology and Pollinator Biology)
- José D. Fuentes (Atmospheric Sciences)
- Julio Urbina (Remote Sensing)
- Alfonso Mejía (Ecohydrology)
- Luis Duque (Crop Physiology)
- José R. Cure (Population Ecology, Insect Diversity)
- Victor Ramos (Renewable Energies)
- Miguel Hadzicj (Renewable Energies)
Research topics include:
- Predicting bee foraging patterns trajectories of pollinators using radar data
- Understand mechanistic effects of drought and flooding events on crop-pollinator interactions
- Variation of pollinator thermal tolerance in tropical ecosystems
- Region climate downscaling to relevant microclimatic scales
Projects suitable for students majoring in:
- Biology or Ecology
- Entomology
- Engineering
- Climate science
Requirements:
- Enrollment in an undergraduate program (preference to juniors and seniors) in the United States.
- Courses in biology and calculus. Knowledge of computer programming is desirable but not necessary.
Application are due on March 1, 2021
Applicants must submit:
1. Resume or CV
2. A statement detailing relevant academic/professional experiences and interest in this program.
Please submit your application here.
Inquiries about the program or the application process can be submitted to Dr. Margarita M. López-Uribe (Email: mml64@psu.edu).
This NSF funded iRES program (OISE-1952470) is administered by the Department of Entomology, Penn State University.