The Wood Lab at the University of Washington seeks to hire three undergraduates for a 9-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) internship to take place between June and August of 2025. We anticipate hiring one undergraduate from the University of Washington and two who attend other universities. The position is supported by a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for a project entitled, “Reconstructing parasite abundance in river ecosystems over the past half century.” The students hired into this position will have the opportunity to be at the forefront of a new sub-discipline: the historical ecology of parasitism.

Each student will:

• Conduct lab work as part of a large team (i.e., parasitological dissections conducted at the University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology in Albuquerque, New Mexico)
• Learn about aquatic ecosystems of the US Southwest region through two field trips
• Conduct an independent research project under the supervision of multiple research mentors
• Collaborate with an international group of senior parasite ecologists and ichthyologists
• Engage with local elementary-level STEM learners through a program designed to bring parasite biodiversity learning modules into Albuquerque-area schools
• Be among the first to publish using a novel, powerful tool for understanding why and how parasite communities shift in response to global change

The ideal candidate will:

• be enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Washington or another US university
• have taken courses in ecology
• be interested in the field of ecology and in conducting scientific research
• demonstrate curiosity
• adopt a rigorous and scholarly approach to science, with evidence of this from previous coursework
• be a respectful, professional, and generous team player
• have a positive attitude in the face of obstacles or setbacks
• have excellent time management skills; accomplish goals by creating realistic but ambitious plans and initiating open communication when plans need to be adjusted
• have the willingness and the courage to discuss issues openly (i.e., to give and receive feedback, to celebrate successes, and to discuss ways to overcome challenges)
• Bonus points for folks who have taken courses in statistics or parasitology (although these are by no means required).
• Note that no previous research experience is required!
• We are hiring on the basis of potential, not necessarily experience. We are especially interested in students who have had to overcome obstacles to pursue their professional goals. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences, including students who are persons of color, female, first-generation college students, veterans, LGBTQIA, and students with disabilities. We welcome applicants of any race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.

Eligibility restrictions:

• You may not be enrolled in online classes during the course of your internship, so please do not apply if you are planning to be enrolled in any online course between 15 June and 16 August 2025.
• You must be available for the entire duration of this internship in order to be eligible, so please do not apply if you have other commitments between 15 June and 16 August 2025.

Each intern will receive:

• Round-trip travel to Albuquerque, NM (if not already located in the area)
• A stipend of $7,000 (one half to be paid at the beginning of the internship, one half to be paid at the halfway point)
• Free lodging in Albuquerque for the period of the internship (15 June through 16 August 2025)
• Free meals for the period of the internship (15 June through 16 August 2025)
• Support to attend a scientific conference, where each intern will present results from their independent research project after the internship concludes

To apply for this position, please reach out to Dr. Chelsea Wood at chelwood@uw.edu. In your e-mail, please include:

• a letter of intent, including:

• • at least one paragraph on your professional goals and interests

• • at least one paragraph on why you are a good candidate for this position

• • name, phone number, and e-mail address for at least two individuals who can comment on your qualifications

• a CV or resume
• a transcript (unofficial transcript is fine)

From the individuals who reach out using the approach above, Dr. Wood will select a subset of candidates to move on to the next stage of consideration, which will be an interview (in person for UW applicants, via Zoom for other applicants). For full consideration, please submit your application before Friday, 21 February.