UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1317

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Dr. Lauren N Rice
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: She/her
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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): lnrice@fsu.edu
Position Title: Post Doc
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
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Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): Dr. Sandra Brooke
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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): sbrooke@fsu.edu

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Monitoring Apalachicola Bay oyster reproduction
Project Keywords: oysters, FWC, temperature, salinity, microscopy
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Biology, Environmental Science

Project Location:: 3618 Coastal Highway 98 St. Teresa, FL 32358-2702
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: Yes
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 5-10
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:
Wild oysters native to the Floridian coastline are known to reproduce throughout most of the year, although the reasons allowing populations to sustain this trend have never been looked at quantitatively. In Apalachicola Bay, the collapse of the oyster populations have led to continued and targeted efforts at restoration including the placement of material to try and rebuild the reefs. However, oysters are recovering in various rates across the bay, with some regions rebounding more strongly than others. My project seeks to monitor the health and reproductive investment of oysters from various bars within Apalachicola Bay, and determine the potential factors in the environment that might be impacting recovery (temperature, salinity, food availability, parasites, etc.). Additionally, I am trying to look at historical data collected by FWC to determine if patterns in oyster health have changed over time. 

Research Tasks:
I am looking to have a UROP student who is willing to help with:
- monthly sampling of  oysters from Apalachicola Bay (must be comfortable on boats)
- viewing and imaging microscope slides
- collection of data by analyzing images
- assisting in oyster dissections

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
- Proficient use in computers (required)
- Knowledge of Microsoft Excel (recommended)
- Organized notetaking (required)
- Microscopy (recommended)



Mentoring Philosophy:
I take a personal and growth-focused approach to mentorship and teaching. I seek to have open conversations with mentee's early on to determine individual and shared goals. To help promote mentee ownership of their work, we will start out with guidance and oversight and the project will become more self-driven as time progresses. I encourage curiosity driven inquiry, and am willing to share my personal experiences to aid in the growth and education of the mentee. 

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://marinelab.fsu.edu/people/faculty/rice/
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Wednesday, 3 September from 3:30 to 4:00 pm; https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92785232878
Friday, 5 September from 2:00 to 2:30 pm; https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99215889891


Roundtable Info:
- Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 2:00
  End Time: 2:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99215889891
- Day: Wednesday, September 3
  Start Time: 3:30
  End Time: 4:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92785232878

UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2025
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