Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Taylor Conklin
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Ms.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): tac22f@fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name: {Empty}
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: {Empty}
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/9051/IMG_0253.JPG

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Alyssa Atwood
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): aatwood@fsu.edu
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Reconstructing central tropical Pacific climate variability over the Last Millennium
Project Keywords: Fossil Coral Paleoclimate ENSO Isotopes
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Science, Physics

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?: 5-7
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:
My project focuses on reconstructing central tropical Pacific climate records over the last millennium with the use of Porites coral fossils from Kiritimati Island. Stable isotope measurements of coral powders from these samples can tell us valuable information about past climate conditions, such as sea surface temperature and precipitation patterns. Through analyzing various stable isotope measurements, such as d18O, Sr/Ca, and Sr-U, we can develop a robust reconstruction of climate conditions in the central tropical Pacific over the last 1,000 years. Through this reconstruction, we are hoping to gain a better idea of how both the El Niño - Southern Oscillation (or ENSO) and background climate varied throughout this time period.

Research Tasks:
Data collection and analysis, organization of fossil corals, acid washing & prep, geochemical instrument use (table saw, drill, ultrasonic bath, etc.)

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Required: a good attitude and willingness to learn!
Recommended: chemistry/acid handling and/or geology lab background

Mentoring Philosophy:
This is intended to be a learning process for everyone involved. I want to foster a safe, welcoming environment for learning and developing laboratory skills. I also want to emphasize that failure is an expected part of the learning process, as long as we communicate our mistakes and allow for the ability to learn from them together. I am willing to adjust my mentoring style to fit my mentee's needs!

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://artsandsciences.fsu.edu/article/field-fsu-researchers-travel-across-globe-unravel-mysteries-el-nino
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
Visit our lab website here for additional information/resources: https://alyssaatwood.weebly.com/


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: {Empty}

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: No
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Year: 2023
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=G8aSgUlNeVpqmn1XK69vOHbVGAHM6mSObjD1r3GF_DE