Research and Instruction for Undergraduates and Beyond

Our summer education program is centered on student research. Students are immersed in an active scientific community, with up to 160 scientists, postdocs, graduate students, undergraduates, staff, and family members living onsite. With this critical mass of ecologists in a single location, the scientific activity is on high speed all summer.

Descriptions of the two Education Tracks:  Advanced Research  and Independent Research with Short Course, as well as REU Awards are available here.

For a 2013 Coursework Flyer, click here.

    2011 Methods in Field Ecology Students.
    Photo courtesy of Amber Datta

General Information
The RMBL Education Program is an excellent way to decide if a career in field biology is right for you. Advanced Independent Research and Independent Research offer intensive mountain field work and emphasize individual research projects. You will interact with a variety of scientists and their research projects at RMBL. This program runs for 10 weeks, June 9- August16, 2013. Some students may be asked to arrive earlier or stay later if necessary for their particular research project. Students are expected to stay at RMBL for a full 10 weeks, regardless of starting date. There are a substantial number of full and partial scholarships, so financial need should not stop students from applying. Students will receive various levels of support, up to and including a stipend, depending upon the strength of the application, financial need, and ethnic background.

Students should have a sincere interest in a career in field biology research. Fieldwork is difficult, and often tedious. We are looking for students with the mental and intellectual maturity to commit to hard work. Accepted students have the option of turning their research into a Senior Thesis at their home institution. Contact the Science Director at RMBL for more information.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the multitude of scientific activities at RMBL, such as the annual bird count and faculty-led modules on plant identification, sampling techniques, and trapping, to name a few. We also hold a series of statistics and experimental design workshops at the beginning of the summer. We have a growing informal education program for visiting children and adults; these theme-based sessions are an opportunity to meet scientists and learn about their research and an opportunity to interact with the local community. Volunteering to help any number of professors, post docs, graduate students, or peer undergraduates is a great way to observe a variety of field projects.

Program Description
Students will work with a mentor to develop a testable hypothesis, gather field data, analyze it and produce metadata, as well as produce a written and oral report.  More information on the student-mentor relationship can be viewed here. 

Other Useful Links

RMBL provides equal opportunities in science and education without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual preference.