Summer Research Opportunities

~ Welcome to the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB)! OEB is focused on understanding the natural world in all of its dimensions. ~

Researchers in OEB study organisms that are drawn from every lineage of the tree of life at every level organization. We explore life’s diversity in an explicitly comparative context through the unifying lens of evolution. Our research areas include genetics, physiology, development, behavior, local to global ecosystems, and the use of empirical and theoretical frameworks.

OEB also encompasses a diverse group of affiliated institutions, including the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), Harvard University Herbarium (HUH), Harvard Forest (HF) and Arnold Arboretum (AA), which hold some of the finest and largest collections of natural history objects and living woody plants in the world. These collections offer unique and extraordinary opportunities for the discovery of biodiversity knowledge, from genomes to fossils, living organisms and ecosystems. Our faculty further participate in several centers and initiatives across the FAS, particularly the Harvard University Center for the Environment, Center for Brain Science, and Center for Systems Biology. The breadth of these affiliations gives you some sense of the incredible diversity of research in OEB.

At the same time, we are deeply invested in training the next generation of leaders in academia, health professions, life science industry, and environmental stewardship. Our PhD program offers roughly 100 students unparalleled opportunities for research and career development, while our undergraduate concentration, Integrative Biology, prepares students for a wide range of life science careers (with an impressive number of course fieldtrips!). Our scientists and staff are equally diverse, joining us from around the country and the world. To support this community, we are committed to creating an academically and professionally enriching climate that is based on inclusivity, access and equity.

Position Overview

• We are seeking rising sophomores, juniors and seniors majoring in the life sciences who would like to join a new Research Experience for Undergraduates program based in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
• Participants of the program will enjoy cutting edge research experiences within the context of a strong mentorship community made up of faculty, graduate students, and peers.
• In addition, members will participate in a professional development program that is aimed at preparing students for the graduate school application process, building confidence to succeed in graduate school, and exploring long-term career opportunities.
• These professional development activities will include attendance of the annual Leadership Alliance National Symposium (LANS) research and mentoring conference.
• The E3 REU is part of a larger umbrella program, hosted by the Harvard GSAS Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH).

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a Citizen or Permanent resident of the United States.
• Must be an undergraduates currently enrolled in a degree program and not graduated by the first day of the program.
• Must be 18 years of age before the first day of the program.

Additional Information

Program Details:

Why E3?

Life has evolved numerous solutions to complex problems posed by past and present environments. In the interrelated fields of evolution and ecology, we study how and why living systems have evolved into their current forms, and how they function in complex environments. This involves both a broad comparative approach that addresses the many different ways that organisms have been able to make a living on the planet, and an interest in deep time that addresses the processes that have shaped living systems as we see them today.

Scientists working in evolution and ecology have research interests spanning multiple levels of biological organization, from genetics and development to the functioning of whole organisms in complex ecological communities. This type of integrative biology is more relevant than ever, as we struggle to understand the actual range of biological diversity and how to preserve it. In particular, understanding and mitigating the effects of global climate change are among the most pressing modern concerns.

The E3 REU program is designed to build an inclusive and diverse community of science mentorship so that REU participants benefit from the skills and knowledge of their peers in the program, their PhD mentors, and program faculty. We aim to train highly motivated young scientists and to prepare them for successful careers in the broad fields of evolution, ecology, and environmental biology.

Program Elements:

• Multidisciplinary Research Projects.
• Weekly Professional Development Workshops.
• Networking & Social Activities.
• Supported Attendance of the Leadership Alliance National Symposium.
• End-of-Summer Harvard-wide Poster Session.

Program Information:

• The program is 10 weeks long and runs from June 10 to August 16, 2019.
• Students receive a weekly stipend of $575.
• Travel to and from the program is covered.
• Free on-campus housing provided.
• The program provides all research and course-related expenses.