<div><br clear="all"><br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Jason (Jay) Sexton</span></font></div><div><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">(he/him/his)<br></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Associate Professor</span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span></font></span></font></span></font></div><div><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span></font></div><div><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Chair, UC Merced Greenhouses Committee<br></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Department of Life and Environmental Sciences<br></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span></font></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">University of California, Merced<br></span></font></div><div><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">231 Science and Engineering Building 1<br></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jsexton2@ucmerced.edu" target="_blank" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">jsexton2@ucmerced.edu</a><br><a href="http://sextonlab.ucmerced.edu/" target="_blank" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">http://sextonlab.ucmerced.edu/</a><br></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><br><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">
</span></font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br><font size="2" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">
</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span></font></p>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Naomi Fraga</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:nfraga@calbg.org">nfraga@calbg.org</a>></span><br>Date: Wed, Feb 7, 2024 at 10:22 AM<br>Subject: Opportunity: Rare Plant RaMP (Research & Mentoring for Post-baccalaureates in Biological Sciences)<br>To: <br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt">Dear Colleagues,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt">Applications are open for the second year of the NSF funded<b style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> 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 </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">first-generation college students,
individuals from low-income households, and those from groups historically
excluded from STEM.</span><br></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt">Examples of mentorship project opportunities at
each institution include:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">●<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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 style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Sarracenia rubra). </i><b style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">●<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">●<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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 style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Eriodictyon) </i>for treatment of
neurodegenerative diseases and <i style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Artemisia </i>for
antimalarial compounds. <b style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">●<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Applications are now open through<b style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> 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. <b style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><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><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" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193)"><b style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">here</b>.</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Naomi</span><br></p><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>_____________________________________________________<br>Naomi S. Fraga, Ph.D. </div><div>Director of Conservation Programs, California Botanic Garden</div><div>Research Assistant Professor, Claremont Graduate University</div><div><div><a href="mailto:nfraga@calbg.org" target="_blank">nfraga@calbg.org</a></div><div>(626) 674-6746 (cell)</div><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1500+N.+College+Avenue,+Claremont,+CA+91711?entry=gmail&source=g">1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711</a><br><a href="https://www.calbg.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">https://www.calbg.org/</a><br></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</div></div>