Ecological Field Research in Kenya (Spring/Summer)
Details
The Coverdale Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences seeks 2-3 undergraduates interested in assisting with ecological research in summer 2025 at Mpala Research Centre, Kenya.
Research in the Coverdale Lab focuses on how plant communities respond to human impacts, with a particular focus on the effects of climate change, large mammal (e.g., elephant and giraffe) extinction, and habitat loss. Research in Kenya during Summer 2025 will focus on three projects, each of which is led by a senior member of the lab:
- How do climate change and large mammalian herbivores collectively shape the range boundaries and resilience of African savanna plants?
- How do wildlife extinction and rewilding affect plant and soil microbial communities?
- How do species-level differences in physiology affect tree resilience to climate change and herbivory?
Interested students should contact Dr. Coverdale (tcoverda@nd.edu) as soon as possible. Students will develop funding proposals during the spring semester (e.g., COS-SURF) with the assistance of Dr. Coverdale before spending 10 weeks assisting with fieldwork in Kenya. Students will receive one credit of research during the spring to develop proposals, and are welcome to also participate in ongoing research and scholarship in the lab. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable research experience, and to spend the summer in one of Africa's premiere research facilities. Mpala is home to some of the highest densities of wildlife on the continent, including some of the last populations of the critically endangered Grevy's zebra and African wild dog.
Prior research experience is preferred but not required. When contacting Dr. Coverdale, please include a brief CV or resume and an (unofficial) transcript.
The Coverdale Lab is a collaborative and dynamic group with shared interests in ecological resilience to human impacts. We are a supportive group interested in facilitating undergraduate participation in research; the lab prides itself on providing world-class research opportunities and strong mentoring that have launched numerous undergraduates into successful research careers.
Research in the lab addresses fundamental and timely questions surrounding the ability of ecosystems to survive the myriad human impacts they face. Our work focuses on developing predictive models of plant community responses to climate change, habitat loss, and herbivore extinction, among other impacts. We use a variety of tools, including traditional field experiments, cutting-edge drone-based remote-sensing, and mathematical modeling.