Graduate
Research Opportunities

We have an active core of graduate students who take advantage of the well equipped research environment and proximity to different tropical ecosystems. Graduate students currently conduct research on a wide range of topics ranging from historical biogeography of wetland tree species to analysis of gene expression data on butterfly wings. Students interested in pursuing graduate research in our lab should contact Owen McMillan at wmcmilla@rrpac.upr.clu.edu.

Announcements | Upcoming events:

Two Graduate Student Fellowships (Ph.D. or M.S.) are available. Fellowships are sponsored by the Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CATEC). Potential projects include:

Evolutionary Genomics: The student will join an international research team focusing on the genetic and developmental basis of wing pattern variation in the Neotropical butterfly Heliconius erato. Heliconius erato has undergone a rapid and extensive adaptive radiation in wing patterns. The vivid wing patterns of this species are adaptations that warn potential predators of the butterfliesÕ unpalatability. Ongoing research is utilizing genomic technologies (high-resolution genetic mapping and gene expression data) to study the developmental and genetic architecture of this extraordinary evolutionary radiation.

Conservation and Population Biology: The student will join an active conservation genetics group that utilizes powerful molecular genetic techniques to address questions about the ecology of endangered or threatened tropical organisms. Ongoing projects include genetic and ecological research on i) reproductive and population biology of hawksbill turtles ii) territoriality and reproductive behavior of the Mona rock iguana, and iii) population persistence, reproductive success, and gene flow in a riparian orchid metapopulation. Student research is not restricted to ongoing projects and there are ample opportunities to develop independent projects, particularly relating to the management and conservation of coral reef organisms.

Support for research and travel:

Students are required to actively seek support for their research and to take advantage of opportunities at UPR-RP and competitive funding agencies. There are several excellent funding sources (see below) that provide support for graduate stipends and funds for reserach supplies and travel. These programs include:

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE-SUBE)

Crest-Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CREST)

Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network in Puerto Rico (PR-BRIN)

Graduate Department- UPR-RP

See also the searchable database avaliable online at Natural Science's website.