Student Research Assistant, Studying Toxic Red Tide, Moscoso EDAP

The primary goal of this project is to investigate how benthic filter-feeding invertebrates help maintain water quality in estuarine systems and how their associated microbiomes influence their resilience to environmental stressors such as red tide events.

• Participate in an orientation session covering lab safety, project goals, and experimental procedures; meet regularly with the professor regarding job duties, expectations, and progress.
• Assist faculty with primary research by maintaining marine invertebrates in recirculating aquaria at the Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center (PMBRC), collecting invertebrate tissue samples, preparing seawater for animal maintenance, feeding algal cultures, and assisting in algal culture husbandry.
• Be comfortable working in a laboratory environment that involves frequent observation, note-taking, and sample handling, with attention to detail in preparing experimental treatments, maintaining aquaria, and monitoring organism behavior and water quality.
• Be dependable, organized, and capable of following detailed experimental protocols.
• Have good communication and teamwork skills, as interns will work closely with research staff and other students.
• Be able to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs (e.g., seawater containers or lab equipment).
• Successfully complete an introductory course in biology, ecology, or environmental science (recommended but not required).

Students can receive course credit as an internship through the Office of Career and Engagement.