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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Naomi Fraga [mailto:<a href="mailto:nfraga@calbg.org">nfraga@calbg.org</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 7, 2024 10:22 AM<br><b>Subject:</b> Opportunity: Rare Plant RaMP (Research & Mentoring for Post-baccalaureates in Biological Sciences)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Dear Colleagues,</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Applications are open for the second year of the NSF funded<b> Rare Plant RaMP (Research & Mentoring for Post-baccalaureates in Biological Sciences) network</b>. The program consists of yearlong immersive opportunities to work alongside science teams at participating botanic gardens. It is specifically intended for first-generation college students, individuals from low-income households, and those from groups historically excluded from STEM.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We will hire a total of eight mentees to work on a number of projects focused on plant conservation, botanical surveying, seed banking dynamics, ecology, genetics, and more to help safeguard rare and endangered plants against threats like habitat destruction and climate change. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Examples of mentorship project opportunities at each institution include:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">●</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;line-height:115%"> </span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Atlanta Botanic Garden: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Assessing species boundaries in the North American carnivorous plant group, with a focus on the sweet pitcher plant (<i>Sarracenia rubra). </i></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">●</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;line-height:115%"> </span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">California Botanic Garden</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">: Conducting a population genetic study to develop tools that aid in the protection of succulent plants currently being targeted by poachers.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">●</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;line-height:115%"> </span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">San Diego Botanic Garden: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Analyzing rare medicinal plants such as yerba santa (<i>Eriodictyon) </i>for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and <i>Artemisia </i>for antimalarial compounds. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">●</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;line-height:115%"> </span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The Morton Arboretum</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">: Assisting in the creation of conservation groves for threatened oaks in the Southeastern U.S.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">In addition to first-hand research experience, RaMP mentees participate in activities to foster professional development and networking opportunities, including bi-weekly meetings with peers from participating gardens; exchange visits and workshops at other academic, government or industry labs; and attendance at the annual Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) conference to present research alongside their peers. A yearly stipend with benefits, including travel expenses to attend conferences and workshops, is provided. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Applications are now open through<b> March 15, 2024</b>. Participants must have completed a bachelor’s degree before participating in the program (applicants must apply to the program before or within four years of graduation, with extensions allowed for family, medical leave, or military service). Individuals cannot be currently enrolled or accepted into a graduate program and must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For more information about the program and a link to the application site, visit the website </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://atlantabg.org/conservation-research/outreach-education-and-training/ramp-post-baccalaureate-training-and-research-program-in-rare-plant-science-and-conservation/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563c1">here</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563c1">.</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Naomi</span></p><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">_____________________________________________________<br>Naomi S. Fraga, Ph.D. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Director of Conservation Programs, California Botanic Garden</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Research Assistant Professor, Claremont Graduate University</p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:nfraga@calbg.org" target="_blank">nfraga@calbg.org</a></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">(626) 674-6746 (cell)</p></div><p class="MsoNormal">1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711<br><a href="https://www.calbg.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155cc">https://www.calbg.org/</span></a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>