Professor Steven D. Allison, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is the head of the Ridge to Reef (R2R) program at UCI. The R2R program is part of a new National Science Foundation research traineeship designed to fund innovative approaches to train graduates in interdisciplinary science. It was designed for UCI Environmental Science graduate students interested in careers in the environmental management of terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and urban ecosystems from the mountains to the coastal ocean. The 5-year program will form partnerships with local businesses and non-profits to promote better interdisciplinary training, and provide students with innovative problem-based seminars and internships.