11/09/2023

The course on quantitative ecology is now open for enrollment.

Turma do Programa de Formação em Ecologia Quantitativa 2023 na Amazônia. Foto: Bela Baderna/Instituto Serrapilheira

The Serrapilheira Institute is now accepting applications for its Quantitative Ecology Training Program. The course introduces calculus concepts and programming tools for creating mathematical models that help address ecological issues. The institute is seeking undergraduate and graduate students from any field of study, such as biology, mathematics, physics, computer science, and engineering, interested in the various subfields of ecology. Applications are open until September 22nd. To apply, visit the website .

The interdisciplinary program seeks to promote cooperation between different areas of knowledge to address the major questions of ecology – from equations to the field. The goal is for students to have a well-rounded scientific education.

The theoretical course will be held in person in Rio de Janeiro. Candidates must be available to stay in the city for two months, from January 8th to March 8th, 2024. The Serrapilheira Institute will provide accommodation, and those selected will also receive a stipend totaling R$ 3,000 to cover transportation and food expenses. The program will cover round-trip airfare for students from other cities in Brazil to Rio de Janeiro.

Individuals currently pursuing or having completed a master's degree in any field of study, provided it was obtained from a higher education institution in Brazil, are eligible to apply for one of the 30 program slots. Those currently pursuing or who have already completed an undergraduate degree are also eligible.

At the end of the two-month theoretical module, students will be invited to enroll in the second stage of the training, the empirical module. Of the 30 students, 16 will be selected for this phase of the field course, which will last three to four weeks. The immersion will take place in two different biomes: the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon.

In the 2023 edition of the program, students learned, over 20 days in the Atlantic Forest and Amazon, how fieldwork is conducted and understood how to write an academic report of this practical experience, using quantitative tools to test developed models or create models based on phenomena observed directly in nature.

The institute emphasizes that proficiency in English is essential. Furthermore, candidates must have knowledge of differential and integral calculus. For more information, please see the official announcement .