This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2005. The goal of the fellowship is to increase the participation of minority scientists at the postdoctoral level and to prepare them for positions of scientific leadership in US science. To attain this goal, the fellowship provides opportunities for postdoctoral training and research of the highest quality to recent doctoral recipients. It is expected that Fellows supported through these fellowships will play important roles in training of the future workforce.
The research and training plan is entitled "Metapopulation genetics of the South American freshwater turtle Podocnemis unifilis." This research examines the genetic structure of an endangered South American turtle; such information will be useful for formulating sound recommendations for the turtle's conservation. Genetic diversity is being documented by testing for bottlenecks and anthropogenic effects, examining migratory behavior and gene flow, and determining the causes of life history variation.
The Fellow's training goals are to learn molecular techniques and develop molecular tools, complementing her ecological and conservation knowledge.
