Coral Health and Disease REU
Internship Mentor: Dr. Elise Keister
Mote’s Coral Health and Disease Program studies the susceptibility and resistance to major stressors within and among coral species to identify mechanisms that can be utilized to promote reef resilience NSF REU students in this program will be able to complete multidisciplinary projects involving physiology, organic chemistry, and/or molecular biology. Responsibilities could include: caring for Caribbean reef-building corals, determining coral skeletal density, quantifying coral energetics, measuring symbiotic dinoflagellate physiological parameters, and creating 3D coral models. Successful applicants should demonstrate an interest in learning additional laboratory techniques and if interested in energetics, should have completed coursework in organic chemistry. Though not required, prior experience working in a lab will be helpful. Depending on the project, research activities may be split between the Mote Aquaculture Park (MAP) and the main laboratory.
