How plant ecophysiology shifts under differing fire severities

How plant ecophysiology shifts under differing fire severities

Mentor & Lab: Hugh Leonard – Pittermann Lab

Positions: 2 interns

Tentative dates: June 28 – September 13

Project Location: UCSC Coastal Campus

Project Background: Summer research will focus on functional trait analysis of woody plants recovering from fire. Microscopy images of stems and leaves will be analyzed to compare high and low fire severity effects on tissue development and functional traits. All work will take place in the Pittermann Lab under the guidance of the mentor.

Intern duties: Interns will be responsible for accurate analysis of anatomical trait measurements and maintaining a regular work schedule for the project. Weekly meetings with the mentor are required and are an opportunity to seek clarification on project details.

Intern qualifications: Image analysis can often seem tedious, so being comfortable with long periods of sitting while using a computer and attention to detail are a must.

Do you recommend the intern(s) volunteer in your lab during Spring quarter?
Yes, volunteering in the Spring will provide the best possibility to learn how to use the image analysis software and complete enough data analysis to present on.