biological invasions IGERT

information:
clhom@ucdavis.edu

training program

Biological invasions epitomize the rapidly growing array of environmental challenges that no single discipline, person, or constituency can solve individually. In the Biological Invasions IGERT, we have developed a model for training students from the life sciences, social sciences, engineering, physical sciences, and humanities to address the complex environmental challenges of the future. Our program stresses collaboration and mentorship among students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and the non-academic community.

Theresa Talley and Valley Elderberry

In addition to her research on the interactions between the threatened Valley Elderberry Longhorned beetle and invasive Argentine ants, Theresa Talley also does outreach to restoration nurseries to reduce the spread of Argentine ants in nursery stock.

Our program builds on the following premises:

Mere exposure to other disciplines does not necessarily produce interdisciplinary research; collaborative projects that generate scientifically and socially useful outcomes and products are pivotal.

"This IGERT brings me new interesting problems outside my primary area of research and teaching focus. As such, it forces me to begin with what is really fundamental about my disciplinary approach and how my approach might contribute to helping with biological invasions."
-- Professor Jay Lund

Collaborative research and training programs strengthen the connections among research groups, broadening the perspectives of the entire research community, including students, postdocs, and faculty.
The training of graduate students as future leaders in developing solutions to complex environmental challenges requires that they take on leadership roles early in their research careers.
The successful integration of science into public policy requires an understanding of the processes by which public policy is actually formulated and implemented.
Ethics and social values are essential for defining critical environmental problems, and for developing workable solutions to those problems.

To meet these goals, the Biological Invasions IGERT uses retreats and conferences; formal coursework -- our first-year foundation program; a collaborative project; internships; minicourses and workshops; and a mentoring network. All long-term trainees in the Biological Invasions IGERT must be admitted to a graduate or professional program at UC Davis; long-term trainees generally will join the IGERT at admission or during their first year of graduate or professional school.

An overview of IGERT training activities:

component* year

fall conference all years

spring workshop all years

foundation program year 1

collaborative project year 2

internship one quarter

workshops, mini-courses, and other courses as needed

mentoring all years

* several elements of the training program -- for example, internships and the collaborative project -- also satisfy degree requirements of some graduate groups.

UC Davis alumna Katy Zaremba (currently working in conservation for a non-profit organization), native Spartina foliosa (the short plants), invasive S. alterniflora (the tall plants), and the San Franciso skyline. Photo courtesy of Debra Ayres.

Detailed information about components of the training program:

conferences and workshops foundation program collaborative project

internships minicourses mentoring

In addition, for narrative information on the training in the Biological Invasions IGERT, you may use Adobe Acrobat Reader® to download an excerpt from the original NSF proposal.