What are the responsibilities and job description for the Student Work Study NSF:OCE:RUI: Col Res Coral - 2 position at St. Olaf College?
Job Title: Physics Coral Skeletal Growth Research Assistant
Department Name: Physics/Gothmann Research Grant
Contact Person/Supervisor: Anne Gothmann
Description of the Position: (Purpose of the Position):
Interests in physics and environmental studies to study the mechanisms of coral skeleton growth. Specifically, we will ask the question: do coral skeletons trap pockets of seawater as they grow? If so, where are these pockets located in the coral skeleton and what implications do they have for the material properties (e.g. hardness) of coral reefs?
Duties and Responsibilities:
Research can involve running experiments with live corals to understand how they grow, preparing samples for mass spectrometry analysis and infrared spectroscopy analysis, and collaborating with scientists at different universities (including the University of Minnesota, Columbia University, and the Colorado School of Mines). Our questions will be motivated by a concern for environmental issues like climate change, but will involve a lot of materials science approaches.
Qualifications: (Education/Experience/Skills)
You do not need to have any research experience to apply. The most important qualities are enthusiasm for and dedication to research. Experience taking courses in physics, chemistry, biology, or environmental studies will be helpful.
