The Challenge

Successful stewardship of natural ecosystems critically depends on understanding the ecological and evolutionary impacts of rapid, human-mediated habitat change, establishment of non-native species, overharvesting, contaminants, and climate change on individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

The next generation of environmental scientists must be equipped to study these phenomena, understand their effects on society, and communicate their findings to the general public, resource managers, and policymakers. And because rapidly changing environments can disproportionately affect minority communities, it is equally urgent that we train a diverse cadre of future leaders in ecological and evolutionary sciences to comprehensively address these challenges.

Our Response

In the Ecological and Evolutionary Response to Rapid Environmental Change (EERREC) REU, we will prepare cohorts of diverse undergraduates for advanced study and careers in environmental biology to address these problems.

The EERREC REU provides students with immersion into research and professional development in preparation for a career in ecology and evolutionary biology. 

• Students will conduct individual mentored research aimed at understanding ecological and evolutionary responses of organisms, communities, and ecosystems to rapid environmental change and will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. 
• Professional development includes a journal club, instruction in responsible conduct of research, scientific communication, and the scripting language R, discussion about careers in environmental biology, field trips to nearby research reserves, and post-program mentoring.
• EEREC REU students will stay in UC Davis residence halls. We provide meals, a bicycle for local transportation, and a stipend of $5,150 for the seven-week program.
• Anticipated program dates in 2023: 21 June 2023 -- 12 August 2023.

Explore the pages below to learn more about the EERREC program.