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Integrative Approaches to Investigate Invasive Species and Landscapes Winter Institute: Vines

September 6, 2024

December 7-14, 2024 | University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

**The application deadline for the 2024 institute has passed.**

The Winter Institute will be led by faculty from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras (Dr. Carla Restrepo), University of Tennessee at Knoxville (Dr. Mona Papes), University of Arkansas at Monticello (Dr. Elena Rubino), and University of Florida (Dr. S. Luke Flory). 

Program Overview

Global changes are reshaping species distributions and species interactions, community composition, and ecosystem functions at multiple scales. The extent and complexity of these changes makes it imperative to develop approaches that integrate environmental and socio-economic dimensions to address both the causes and consequences of these large-scale shifting distributions and also inform management strategies.

Through the Winter Institute, students will contribute to the development of this integrative approach through a focus on vines, a broad geographical region, and three goals. Vines are herbaceous climbing plants that are not only taxonomically and functionally diverse but also include numerous native and introduced proliferating species. The broad region encompasses dry to humid tropical biomes in the Caribbean to mesic and wet temperate biomes in the southeastern United States, a region known worldwide to be a hotspot of invasive vines. Here the spread of invasive vines may be driving large-scale ecosystem shifts, yet this possibility has been underexplored. The goals of the Winter Institute are to:

  • Integrate remote sensing (RS) and species distribution models (SDMs)
  • Develop and include social research into invasive species studies
  • Engage graduate students and faculty in a regional research program on proliferating species while fostering regional interactions and collaborations around shared histories and a shared problem.

Participants of the Winter Institute are expected to contribute to a regional research project through the integration of the work into databases and papers. At least one publication is expected and students will be included as authors. Additional opportunities for engagement include summer internships.

Program Dates

  • 10/08/24: Application deadline ** PASSED
  • 10/10/24: Interview with short-listed candidates
  • 10/14/24: Notification of application status
  • 10/16/24: Accepted students notify their decision

Program Eligibility

  • Open to graduate students (M.Sc. and Ph.D.), and exceptional fourth year undergraduate students
  • Must have good academic standing
  • Basic knowledge of R
  • Preference will be given to first and second-year graduate students and students at SE CASC consortium organizations
  • Students with research interests aligned with the major themes and/or approaches to be covered

Fluency in Spanish is desirable but not required.

Application Requirements

  • Brief statement (< 1 page) highlighting current research interests and how this experience will advance student’s interests.
  • CV/resume
  • Unofficial transcript

Program Costs and Availability

All expenses, including airfare, lodging (double-occupancy rooms), and meals, will be covered by a grant awarded by the USGS through the SE CASC Ideas initiative.

Questions: Carla Restrepo (crestre@hpcf.upr.edu)