An 8 week NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates. Join a field crew outside of Reno Nevada for 2.5 weeks to collect paleontological samples of threespine stickleback fish. 5.5 weeks before and after field work in the lab processing samples for fish morphology and paleoecology. Candidates must be available the entire 8 weeks of full time research. Duties and Responsibilities: The assistant will be responsible for (i) assisting in field-based paleontological excavation of Miocene diatomite fossils deposits with Dr. Stuart, project postdoc Dr. Jacopo Cerasoni and project collaborator Dr. Mike Bell; (ii) organizing and cataloguing the excavated fossil collection in the field and the lab; (iii) preparing, photographing, and collecting data from fossil specimens; (iv) preparing paleoecological samples and collecting data from those samples. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must be pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, paleobiology, paleontology, anthropology museum science, or a related field. Applicants should be comfortable and excited about working in and carrying out physical activities in extreme environmental conditions such as desert and/or high temperature environments. Preferred Qualifications: Experience excavating paleontological or archaeological contexts is welcome. Possession of the fine motor coordination, judgement, and patience needed to excavate and process a large number of fossils is needed. We will cover travel to and from the field site, to and from Loyola University Chicago, dinners and lodging in the field, and partially support subsistence in Chicago. Students from underrepresented groups in sciences, from small colleges, and first generation college students are encouraged to apply. We believe in safe and equitable research experiences in both lab and field. Application deadline: April 1, 2024 Please email ystuart@luc.edu with your application, with your name, and "Nevada Fossil REU" in the email subject line. Include with the email: copies of unofficial transcripts contact information for two academic references CV/resume a one page statement that describes your interest in the REU position, academic goals, and any previous research experience Questions about the program and/or application process should be addressed to the project PI, Dr. Yoel Stuart, at ystuart@luc.edu "Stuart, Yoel" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)