REU Site: Understanding Coastal Ecosystems – From the Everglades to the Coral Reefs

Program Overview

The Research theme of the Coastal REU Site at Florida International University is the ecology of coastal ecosystems across gradients of human impact. Specifically, our research looks at coastal ecosystem ecology, water quality, and the connections among the Everglades wetlands, coastal mangrove forests, seagrass beds and shallow water coral reefs. Our goal is to understand the impacts of environmental stressors on these critically important and interconnected local ecosystems and to design innovative solutions to increase their resilience.

The summer research experience for undergraduates includes a stipend of $6000 plus a $1200 food allowance for successful completion of the full 10-week program, as well as roundtrip travel to Miami and campus housing. For summer 2026 program will include projects on BOTH FIU campuses, located in either North or West Miami.

Summer 2026 program runs from May 18, 2025 – July 24, 2026

Link to application portal on NSF ETAP site

Program Goals

The Coastal REU Site offers undergraduates hands-on research in coastal ecosystem ecology while building career skills. Students study human impacts across the Everglades, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs through:

• Research Experience: Design and carry out an independent project with guidance from faculty and a near-peer mentor.
• Mentoring: Regular meetings with mentors to set goals, track progress, and access resources.
• Professional Development: Workshops on writing, data analysis, presentations, resumes, and career pathways.
• Community: Field trips and cohort activities foster collaboration and professional networks.

Program Highlights

Research Projects: Students design and complete an independent project with faculty and graduate mentors, presenting their work at the REU Symposium.

Field Trips: Explore South Florida’s Everglades, mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs while learning from local experts.

Professional Development: Build skills through cohort sessions, practice presentations, and career panels with STEM professionals.

Apply

We encourage applications from students who are enthusiastic about participating in a collaborative and hands-on learning environment, experiencing the iconic coastal ecosystems of South Florida, attaining professional skills to prepare for multiple career pathways, and developing a network of researchers and peers from across the country. Significant past experience in ecological research is NOT required.

- Application window opens on December 2, 2025
- Application portal closes on February 3, 2026 @ 11:59pm (ET)
- Late/incomplete applications will not be accepted
- Link to Summer 2026 program application on NSF ETAP site
- Candidates will be notified of acceptances/rejections by mid-March 2026

Before You Apply

Eligibility
- Potential REU’s must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States
- Applicants must plan to attend the entire 10-week program (May 18, 2026 through July 24, 2026). No exceptions. All in-person attendance required.
- Applicants must plan to be full-time students enrolled in a college/university for at least one semester after the summer program (e.g., Fall 2026).
- Applicants should be undergraduate students in the discipline/major related to the Mentors project list that is chosen.
- Applicants should have completed at least two semesters of coursework in environment-related topics.
- Applicants cannot be enrolled in summer coursework while enrolled in the NSF Site REU program or work a part-time job.
- Applicants must attend and participate in the professional development workshops that occur 1x a week.
- Applicants must fulfill program objectives completely, to receive the full stipend (awarded in three (3) installments: beginning, middle, end).
Application portal: Open from 12/02/2025 until 02/03/2026 @11:59pm ET

If you have any questions, please email CoastalREU@fiu.edu.
Requirements
- Resume
- Transcripts
Additional questions
- Which Coastal Ecosystems research area most interests you? Please indicate if you have one preferred faculty research mentor and briefly explain your choice. (See below for mentor list.)
- Briefly describe your post-graduation career/education goals.
- Briefly explain how participation in the Coastal Ecosystems REU Site program would assist you in advancing toward your career goals.
- Briefly describe any previous research or other relevant experience that qualifies you to pursue this research fellowship opportunity.
Summer 2026 Calendar
Summer 2026 program runs from May 18, 2025 – July 24, 2026.
- Program runs May 18 – July 24, 2026 (10 weeks)
- Orientation is Monday May 18, 2026
- Poster Session is Wednesday, July 22, 2025
- Research Symposium is Thursday, July 23, 2025
- Sample calendar (2024)

Meet Your Mentors

Freshwater & Wetland Ecology

**Dr. Michael Ross**
Project:
Tree island management in the Everglades Restoration

**Dr. John Kominoski**
Project:
Comparing litterfall productivity and litterfall decomposition in mangrove forests

**Dr. Tiffany Troxler**
Project:
Litter decomposition in experimental mangrove wetlands: influence of water depth, phosphorus and sapling density

**Dr. Nathaniel Dorn**
Project:
Conducting lab experiments to analyze the behavioral interactions of native and non-native freshwater fish/invertebrates of the Everglades

**Dr. Jazmin Locke**
Project:
Evaluating the ecosystem services provided by Productive Floating Wetlands by tracking nutrient remediation, shifts in aquatic or pollinator act

Coastal Monitoring and Restoration

**Dr. Kevin Boswell**
Project:
Developing scattering models for analysis of micronekton spatial distributions in deep-pelagic Gulf of Mexico

**Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla**
Project:
Developing robotic algorithms and systems for low-cost monitoring of coastal environments.

**Dr. Shahin Vassigh**
Project:
Researching and 3D printing different materials for Living Shorelines project

Water and Environmental Chemistry

**Dr. Natalia Soares Quinete**
Project:
Fate and behavior of PFAS in the environment, Remediation of emerging contaminants

**Dr. Piero Gardinali**
Project: The role of sulfur in the geochemical cycles in Biscayne Bay sediments

**Dr. Michael Sukop**
Groundwater quality sampling and data analysis for saltwater intrusion monitoring along Miami’s urban coastline

Coral Reef and Marine Ecology

**Dr. Alain Duran**
Project:
Ecological roles of invertebrates herbivores on coral reefs

**Dr. Rolando Santos**
Project:
Analyzing coral community function and resilience in South Florida across environmental gradients using spectral traits

**Dr. Shen Jean Lim**
Project:
Investigating the microbial diversity in Florida's seagrass habitats in association with clam abundance, beneficial bacteria, nutrient composition, and seagrass health. Results will inform the development of a novel, scalable strategy and a best practices guide for seagrass-clam co-restoration.

Coastal Forest Ecology and Conservation

**Dr. Cara Rockwell**
Project:
Environmental factors influencing Bahamas parrot nesting sites in the pine forests of South Abaco Islande. Video analysis of camera traps from several nesting sites to asses bird behavior and presence of predators.

Have more questions?

Contact us at CoastalREU@fiu.edu

Student Publications

Our REU students go on to publish their work in renowned journals and present their research at conferences worldwide

Rodríguez-Casariego Javier A., Mercado-Molina Alex E., Garcia-Souto Daniel, Ortiz-Rivera Ivanna M., Lopes Christian, Baums Iliana B., Sabat Alberto M., Eirin-Lopez Jose M. (year) Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals a Conserved Epigenetic Response to Seasonal Environmental Variation in the Staghorn Coral Acropora cervicornis. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020, 7, 822. DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.560424
Chapman, J.G. The Impacts of Copper Contamination on Aquatic Predator-Prey Interactions: Hohonu Academic Journal, 2020, 18, 94-101.
Lemos Leila, Gantiva Laura, Kaylor Catherine, Sanchez Alessandra, Quinete Natalia. American oysters as bioindicators of emerging organic contaminants in Florida, United States. Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 835, 155316. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155316
Ogunbiyi Olutobi Daniel, Massenat Neumiah, Quinete Natalia. Dispersion and stratification of Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface and deep-water profiles: A case study of the Biscayne Bay area. Science of the Total Environment, 2024, 909, 168413. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168413
Rodemann Samuel, Gonzalez Derek, Ferreira Marilia. Fine-scale movement patterns of Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) in relation to environmental and biological factors. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2023, 193, 114650. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114650
Boehme-Terrana Linae, Roux-Osovitz Michelle, Goergen Erin, Mancke Harrison, Fisher Samantha, Gravinese Philip M. Habitat selection by post-settlement juvenile stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria) and predation risk in shallow near-shore habitats. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2022, 547, 151679. DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2021.151679.
Velasco S., Glasmann H. K., Boswell K. M. Using active acoustics to analyze the relationship between lunar phase and diel vertical migration. Poster presented at Ocean Sciences Meeting, New Orleans, LA, February 22, 2024.

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