Mlbs

Mountain Lake Biological Station is a full-service residential field station located atop Salt Pond Mountain in southwestern Virginia. It hosts summer field courses, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, faculty-driven research projects, and scientific meetings. The station sits on a remote wooded ridge at an elevation of 1,160m, precisely on the divide between the Atlantic and Mississippi drainage basins.

The station is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, research faculty from around the world, and family members. An average high-season day hosts 50-100 people who work, eat, and live together to integrate research and mentorship. Programs include summer field courses, REUs, and outreach activities.

To begin, individuals can apply for the REU program or join the mailing list for updates. The station offers various programs including summer seminars and faculty-driven research projects. Visiting scientists are encouraged to consider Mountain Lake as a home for their research.

The station is located at 240 Salt Pond Circle in Pembroke, Virginia, with a campus office at 485 McCormick Road in Charlottesville. It operates year-round and is surrounded by sharp ecological gradients ideal for studying ecology and evolution.

Mountain Lake Biological Station has been operating for decades, as indicated by the 2026 copyright on its website. It holds a renewable 50-year lease on a 259ha forested reserve from the University of Virginia.

Reviewers consistently praise the station's intuitive and user-friendly website, top-notch services, and helpful customer support team. Many users highlight the professionalism and attention to detail provided by the staff.

The station features a live cloud cam, NEON ground and tower cams, and a live lightning map. It also provides fire and smoke maps and operations status updates for visitors.

The REU program stipend is awarded by the University of Virginia and is considered a 'fellowship' or 'true fellowship' by the IRS. Researchers will not receive a W-2 tax form from the University, and nothing is withheld from the fellowship award.

The station is situated on the eastern continental divide, surrounded by strong elevational and environmental gradients. This unique location provides abundant opportunities for observational and experimental studies on scales relevant to ecology and evolution.

The station consists of a forested reserve of 259ha on which UVA holds a renewable 50-year lease. Adjoining the station is the Jefferson National Forest, where over 40,470ha of woodland are available for study.

The station offers a wide range of habitats including mixed deciduous forests, mountain streams, successional meadows, a large natural lake, and sphagnum bogs. These habitats are within walking distance of the station.

The station is remote but accessible, and is surrounded by sharp ecological gradients and fine-scale changes in habitat. This environment is ideal for studying plant and animal population biology and behavioral ecology.

The station is currently hiring for an Associate Director position. It also offers a newsletter called 'Echoes' and has upcoming events listed on its website.

You can reach Mlbs by phone at 5406267196.

The official website of Mlbs is mlbs.org.