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This posting is for a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the U.S. NSF Engineering Research Center, Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (TARDISS; tardiss.org). The candidate will work on the project mentioned below and attend other center-wide research and professional development opportunities. There is a $4000 stipend, for the 8-week REU. The broad transdisciplinary team of experts from five core universities (The Ohio State University (OSU), North Carolina State University (NCSU), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Texas Tech University (TTU), and University of California Merced (UCM). This opportunity is at Texas Tech University and local students will be prioritized based on limited housing opportunities.

Title: Growing Guayule: Greenhouse to Field Experiences 

Senior Investigator: Catherine Simpson 

Project Description: Guayule is a desert shrub native to the Chihuahuan Desert that produces a commercially viable form of natural latex and rubber. While it has been grown in the U.S. for over 100 years, establishing guayule in Texas has been a challenge. There is much to learn about successfully producing guayule for latex production, and we are on a mission to optimize this production. Participants will learn about guayule plant management, physiology, and processing in both greenhouse and field experiments, ultimately helping us further this mission and understand the best management practices for guayule production in Texas.

Suggested Background/Interests: Agriculture, horticulture, irrigation, plant processing, biostimulants, and plant production