REU site: novel interdisciplinary training in life and applied coastal science prepares next generation workforce: nola- next GEN

The National Science Foundation Division of Biological Infrastructure awarded $372,396 to the University of New Orleans on July 1, 2026, to support the REU Site: Novel Interdisciplinary Training in Life and Applied Coastal Science Prepares Next Generation Workforce (NOLA-NEXT GEN), funded under CFDA 47.074, Biological Sciences.

The award funds an eight-week summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program operating during summers 2027 through 2029, training a total of 30 undergraduate students in coastal science research and professional development. Participants will engage in field experiences observing coastal habitats and organisms in the greater New Orleans region, work with faculty mentors, and interact with professionals in academia, industry, government, and nonprofits addressing coastal science challenges. Students will learn research methodology and present findings at scientific conferences. The program prioritizes first- or second-year undergraduates without prior research experience, including those from community colleges. Training aligns with NSF priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology. Program assessment occurs through mid-program and post-program surveys of students and mentors. Work is performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a period of performance through June 30, 2029.

Abstract

This REU site award to the louisiana state university new orleans (lsuno), located in new orleans, LA will support the training of a total of 30 students for 8 weeks during the summers of 2027- 2029. The greater new orleans region and its wildlife face environmental challenges from coastal flooding, land loss from erosion and subsidence, and oil spills. Consequently, IT is one of the most highly engineered areas on earth. Channelization and diversion of waterways for habitat restoration or navigation alter salinity, and pollutants carried into coastal systems and can lead to stressful environments for marine life. In turn, these altered environments can negatively impact human health and local economies. Solutions for these coastal challenges require interdisciplinary actions and an educated workforce for problem-solving. REU participants will have an opportunity to witness coastal habitats, organisms, and engineering feats, while engaging with faculty mentors and others in academia, industry, government, and non-profits focused on coastal science solutions. Students will learn how research is conducted, and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. Assessment of this program will be done through surveying REU students and mentors mid-way and after the conclusion of the summer program. Students should apply to the REU site using NSF etap: https://etap.NSF.GOV/award/8488/opportunity/11917 . The training students will receive is aligned with NSF priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The goal of this nola-next GEN REU program is to give first- or second- year undergraduate students a positive research and professional development experience while introducing them to careers in coastal sciences. Students who do not have any previous research experience and who might be attending community colleges or a primarily undergraduate institution are especially invited to apply. Students will participate in research projects with mentors in the departments of biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, earth and environmental sciences, mechanical engineering and physics. REU participants will work on research projects in academic laboratories, and students will interact with coastal scientists working in government, non-profits and private industry as part of the professional development activities. Field trips to coastal sites to gain appreciation for the complex environmental challenges and actions being done to deal with these challenges are a part of this program (e.g. hatcheries, diversions, etc.). Research projects will be interdisciplinary and focus on life and applied coastal sciences. The impact on REU students will be achieved through involvement in research, career pathway training, professional development, participation in safety and ethics seminars, and a series of working lunches with coastal science professionals. The coastal urban region surrounding lsuuno, combined with the collaborative research focus of the faculty, provides an unprecedented opportunity for this REU program to foster an educated workforce in coastal environmental solutions with a focus on projects that are ongoing in the gulf coast region. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.