Beaufort Lagoon Ecosystems LTER is a new Long Term Ecological Research program along the northern Alaskan Arctic coastline in the Beaufort Sea. Lagoon systems encompass more than half of the Beaufort Sea coast, providing food and habitat for large populations of migratory fish and waterfowl that are essential to the culture of Inupiat communities of northern Alaska. We believe that the differential availability of seasonally distinct resources is critical for maintaining the high productivity of these ecosystems. BLE will use sampling, monitoring, and modeling to study these lagoons and their interactions with the surrounding environment to better understand how these ecosystems function and to predict how they will change in the coming decades.

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Alaska Ocean Acidification Network interviews BLE LTER scientist Arley Muth

Alaska Ocean Acidification Network recently interviewed Arley Muth, a BLE LTER scientist working on the Boulder Patch area east of Prudhoe Bay to study seasonal levels of pH among other ecological questions. Pictured, clockwise from top right: project manager Christina Bonsell, scientist Arley Muth, and principal investigator Ken Dunton, on a field mission to the Boulder Patch.

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Summer 2020 Undergraduate Research Experience opportunity

We are seeking an undergraduate researcher interested in aquatic coastal ecology, Arctic ecology, environmental science, biogeochemistry, or related topics, to join the Beaufort Lagoon Ecosystems project under the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Program information

• Location: the University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX) or the University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute (Port Aransas, TX).
• Duration: 11 weeks; tentative dates are from June 1st to August 14th 2020.
• Opportunity to travel to northern Alaska during this time with the BLE LTER team to conduct field work for 2-3 weeks.
• Complete a research project under mentorship from a BLE LTER scientist.
• $5,500 stipend.

Eligibility requirements

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Full time availability for the duration of the program
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Full time undergraduate student studying Biology, Environmental Science, or associated field
• Expected graduation date on or after December 2020

How to apply

For more information or to apply, email Dr. Vanessa Lougheed at vlougheed@utep.edu. Deadline to apply is February 15th, 2020.

The BLE LTER project actively participates in K-12 Programs in Kaktovik and Utqiagvik through formal connections and activities with school teachers and administrators of the North Slope Borough School District. These partnerships connect BLE LTER affiliated students with K-12 students living in North Slope villages through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Such partnerships benefit enormously from nurturing a culture of diversity. We encourage applications from potential REU students that are traditionally underrepresented in the range of disciplines represented by our research team.

Program Flyer (PDF)

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