Travel to Costa Rica for Research with NAPIRE

Every summer for the past four years, the University of Guam has sent students to Costa Rica as part of the Native American and Pacific Islander Research Experience (NAPIRE). With the application deadline of Friday, February 28 fast approaching, all Tritons are encouraged to apply.

The NAPIRE program immerses students in eight weeks of intense ecological research and cultural exchange. Under the guidance of a research mentor, students design and carry out an original scientific research project in Costa Rica’s tropical rain forest.

As a member of the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program (LSAMP), University of Guam students have a strong advantage in the application process. “The reason the NAPIRE program actually exists is to level the playing field for students in Micronesia and Native Americans in the U.S. Mainland who may not otherwise have this type of experience,” said Dr. Ross Miller, UOG Professor of Entomology and NAPIRE Program Mentor.

According to Miller, prospective applicants must simply identify as Pacific Islanders. Thus, for example, a Filipino student who was born and raised on Guam still qualifies as one who identifies with Pacific Island culture.

As a fourth-year biology major at UOG, Justin Legaspi was eager to kick start his scientific career. During the 2013 NAPIRE program, he designed a study that explored what attracted hummingbirds to certain flower patches.
“There aren’t any hummingbirds here, and when I saw my first hummingbird in Costa Rica, I was like, ‘Man, I gotta do a project on this,” Legaspi said.

The NAPIRE program is based at the Las Cruces Biological Station near the border between Panama and Costa Rica. “It’s a biological hotspot, which means it’s one of about 18 sites in the world that are abounding in diversity,” Miller said.

Students selected for the NAPIRE program receive an all-expenses-paid summer internship. This includes a round-trip ticket to Costa Rica, food and lodging for the entire stay, and a generous stipend of $4000 for the summer.

Program Dates: June 9 to August 4, 2014

Application Deadline: February 28, 2014

APPLY ONLINE

DOWNLOAD NAPIRE INFORMATION PACKET