UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1070

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Laurel Field
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: she, her, hers
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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): Lfield@bio.fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name: Sarah Lester
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: slester@fsu.edu
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Biological Science
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/19946/P6152621.JPG

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Evaluating the effects of climate change and disease on coral reefs in Bonaire, southern Caribbean
Project Keywords: Coral reef, ecology, coral bleaching, marine conservation, marine biology
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Environmental science, biological science, oceanography

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: {Empty}
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 6
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
This project seeks to understand the impacts of coral bleaching and disease to coral reefs in Bonaire, an island in the southern Caribbean. Photographic surveys of the reef at 19 sites from 80ft up to 15ft will be analyzed to determine the severity and prevalence of coral bleaching and disease by species, depth, and coral colony size. These changes over time will be compared to stressors like temperature, intensity of recreational use, and water quality to understand the drivers of coral reef health. The goal of this research is to identify where the reef is more and less healthy under increasingly stressful environmental conditions to help inform management actions and ongoing scientific monitoring programs.

Research Tasks:
Analysis of photos to identify coral to genus or species, size, and health. Working with large datasets, cleaning files and doing basic analyses in R.


Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Interest in learning to identify coral species, attention to detail, and good time management. 

Mentoring Philosophy:
I plan to introduce mentees to new skillsets, data types, and analysis methods with the goal of identifying what component of the research is most interesting to the student. I will encourage student ownership over components of this research, while providing support and guidance as needed. I will work to keep lines of communication open and to promote interactive learning in a safe space. Further, I will provide mentees with opportunities to learn about how scientific research can inform marine policy and management in the face of environmental change. I also plan to encourage students to consider their personal educational and professional goals and will provide advice about how to reach those goals.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://www.lenfestocean.org/en/research-projects/tools-to-assess-and-respond-to-climate-impacts-on-bonaire-national-marine-park
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: No
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes
Faculty Advisor Confirmation: Yes

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: No
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Year: 2025
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=knNwyrTcPahrsRgRELmxJFp1qGfU2tfunv1pxAS1dZQ