Invasive Freshwater Mussel Field Sampling
Daniel Okamoto, Professor
Integrative Biology
Open. Apprentices needed for the fall semester. Enter your application online beginning August 21st. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 31st, 4pm.
This URAP opportunity in the Okamoto lab focuses on understanding the reproductive phenology of golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), a fast-spreading invasive species in the California river delta. Students participating in this URAP opportunity will conduct field work in the delta including mussel collections, collecting and deploying larval settlement plates, and collecting water samples for downstream analysis. Field work occurs every other week during the reproductive season (roughly until October), and then shifts to a monthly basis. If you are interested in this URAP opportunity, please include your full availability on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before 2:00pm, as these are likely to be our field days.
Role: Daily tasks will also include mussel dissections, and students will receive training in standard histological preservation techniques and microscopy. Students will have the opportunity to connect and meet with their graduate student supervisors (Ollie Ruffins [Fall] and Grace Westphal [Spring]) and the PI of the group (Dr. Okamoto) and various government and private stakeholders involved in the project.
Qualifications: Basic laboratory bench skills, familiarity with excel and google suite, enjoy working in teams, enthusiastic and ready to learn!
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Ollie Ruffins, Graduate Student
Hours: to be negotiated
Biological & Health Sciences Environmental Issues