SAFS Undergraduate Recruitment: What We Do

We work in all aquatic systems in locations throughout the world	Understanding the linkages between marine, freshwater and estuaries with our terrestrial and atmospheric environments provides us with a broad perspective on factors that shape aquatic biodiversity. We study a variety of large-scale processes; for example, how climate affects aquatic systems, how nutrients flow between living organisms and their environment, how human structures affect water availability.
We characterize and study the biodiversity of aquatic organisms	We use a wide variety of tools to describe the world’s aquatic biodiversity, from microbes to mammals, so that we can study their complexity and preserve our natural heritage. As examples, we classify and catalogue aquatic species in a museum collection accesible to researchers worldwide. We employ genetic tools to identify species and to describe diversity between invertebrate, fish, bird and mammal populations.
We investigate the ecological interactions between organisms and their aquatic environments	Understanding the factors that influence population abundance and distribution provides use with the scientific foundation for the conservation of species and the areas they inhabit. Our ecological studies range from behavioral studies, to population ecology to community interactions and to ecosystems. We study how individuals and species interact with each other, why populations change over time, how aquatic food webs are structured. As examples, we tackle issues in restoration, study the effects of invasive species, examine large-scale migratory patterns and evaluate factors affecting water and habitat quality.
We examine how individual organisms are influenced by, and modify, their environment	We implement a sophisticated range of approaches to study physiological and genetic processes in aquatic organisms, so that we can anticipate how they might respond to natural and human effects. As examples, we investigate how diseases spread through populations, how growth and reproduction is influenced by different environments, and how organisms might adapt to changes in their environment.
We develop effective approaches to the sustainable management and conservation of aquatic resources	We use innovative approaches to integrate research disciplines. These approaches allow us to advance solutions to a wide range of issues in the aquatic environment. We use quantitative methods to study changes in individuals, populations, species, ecosystems and human behaviors. We use this information to define population units and conservation areas, sustainably manage fisheries and aquaculture, and to understand and reduce human impacts on aquatic systems.

We work in all aquatic systems in locations throughout the world

Understanding the linkages between marine, freshwater and estuaries with our terrestrial and atmospheric environments provides us with a broad perspective on factors that shape aquatic biodiversity.

We study a variety of large-scale processes; for example, how climate affects aquatic systems, how nutrients flow between living organisms and their environment, how human structures affect water availability.

We characterize and study the biodiversity of aquatic organisms

We use a wide variety of tools to describe the world’s aquatic biodiversity, from microbes to mammals, so that we can study their complexity and preserve our natural heritage.

As examples, we classify and catalogue aquatic species in a museum collection accesible to researchers worldwide. We employ genetic tools to identify species and to describe diversity between invertebrate, fish, bird and mammal populations.

We investigate the ecological interactions between organisms and their aquatic environments

Understanding the factors that influence population abundance and distribution provides use with the scientific foundation for the conservation of species and the areas they inhabit.

Our ecological studies range from behavioral studies, to population ecology to community interactions and to ecosystems. We study how individuals and species interact with each other, why populations change over time, how aquatic food webs are structured. As examples, we tackle issues in restoration, study the effects of invasive species, examine large-scale migratory patterns and evaluate factors affecting water and habitat quality.

We examine how individual organisms are influenced by, and modify, their environment

We implement a sophisticated range of approaches to study physiological and genetic processes in aquatic organisms, so that we can anticipate how they might respond to natural and human effects.

As examples, we investigate how diseases spread through populations, how growth and reproduction is influenced by different environments, and how organisms might adapt to changes in their environment.

We develop effective approaches to the sustainable management and conservation of aquatic resources

We use innovative approaches to integrate research disciplines. These approaches allow us to advance solutions to a wide range of issues in the aquatic environment.

We use quantitative methods to study changes in individuals, populations, species, ecosystems and human behaviors. We use this information to define population units and conservation areas, sustainably manage fisheries and aquaculture, and to understand and reduce human impacts on aquatic systems.

What we do