EES Undergraduate Pages: Opportunities for Undergraduate Internships & Study Abroad

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Opportunities for Undergraduate Internships & Study Abroad

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Research at Penn

Internships

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About Internships and Study Abroad

Environmental Studies Majors are required to participate in a "Curriculum Related Practical Experience." This requirement may be satisfied by performing an Environmental Community Service, volunteering for an Environmental project, participating in an Environmental Internship or job experience, or Study Abroad.

Geology majors are encouraged and Honors Geology majors are required to attend a geology field camp. The Department of Earth & Environmental Science hosts a field camp in Red Lodge, Montana each summer. Many other field camps are available. Check with Dr Bordeaux for the most current information on field camps.

There are many internship opportunities available to Penn students. In addition to the resources listed here, check the table and bulletin boards on the 3rd floor of Hayden Hall for the most current available information.

The most current information about Study Abroad Opportunities can be obtained from the Office of International Programs (OIP) at http://www.upenn.edu/oip/sa/index.html

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Undergraduate Research Opportunities in the EES Department at Penn

Below is a list of some of the research opportunities for EES undergrads. The best way to find out about these opportunities and others is to talk to individual faculty members. For a summary of all the research conducted in the EES department, see the research website.

Climate Change from Icehouse to Greenhouse Conditions

Prof. Pfefferkorn studies the greenhouse to icehouse and icehouse to greenhouse transitions in the Carboniferous and Permian (358 to 251 million years ago) as a model for the changes that might occur in the future because this was the last time Earth experienced climate conditions similar to today. He uses fossil plants as a proxy for climate and studies these along a baseline from the Appalachians to Poland, in Peru, and in northern China. He offers two possibilities:

(1) Summer work study positions for photographer, graphic artist, and lab technician in lab and collection. Senior thesis a possibility if the course GEOL 415 Paleobotany has been taken.

(2) Summer field research in China in 2009 in connection with a senior thesis is a possibility for students who write their senior thesis in the field. Prerequisite: GEOL 415 and planning of the thesis by the end of Fall semester 2008.

Soil Carbon Biochemistry

Currently seeking an undergraduate research assistant in soil carbon biogeochemistry. Our research team seeks to characterize the quantity, quality and function of organic matter in surface soils from various ecosystems to understand the mechanisms of carbon sequestration in soils, which is of wide interest to earth, environmental and climate sciences. A committed and motivated research assistant is sought to assist in a range of tasks in the laboratory, including (but not limited to) sample preparation and analysis, literature research, data analysis, and general laboratory maintenance. Work is collaborative with the Stroud Water Research Center and requires travel to Avondale PA. Requirements: valid driver’s license, student must have a keen interest in environment science, good organizational skills, self-motivation and a willingness to work independently. Work load is flexible and ranges 10-40 hours per week. Please contact Alain F. Plante for more information.

Marmarth Research Foundation during the summers out in the badlands of North Dakota

Prospecting and excavating in the Hell Creek Formation for dinosaurs and other vertebrates. For

more information see: www.mrfdigs.com

Field study: Effects of climate change on the geomorphology of Arctic Rivers, Northwest Alaska with Douglas Jerolmack

Dates: The field campaign will most likely take place August 7-22, 2008.

Jerolmack, a graduate student and an undergraduate student will fly to Kotzebue Alaska to meet up with a team from Idaho State University.

Duties: This will be an intense but fun research trip. The team will travel by boat, plane and helicopter to two river sites. Detailed channel surveying using laser total station and GPS, and channel bed grain size characterization will be performed. Also, river rocks will be selected from the streams and tagged with radio frequency identifiers. The movement of these rocks will be tracked using radio receivers. Experience in any of these techniques of desirable but not required. Data analysis will take place into the fall, so it is essential that the undergraduate will maintain interest after return from the trip.

Goals: Assess changes in river channel geometry and sediment transport as a result of melting permafrost on channel banks and hillslopes.

Action: Please contact Douglas Jerolmack if you are interested. Given the nature of the field campaign, compatibility of personality and work ethic is essential - therefore, Jerolmack will conduct informal interviews with interested students. Ideally, this would become a senior research or independent study topic following the summer.

Cost: None. All travel, lodging, food expenses and come camping equipment will be covered by a grant from the University Research Fund, UPENN.

Global water and sanitation with Stan Lanskowski

Global Water and Sanitation: lack of access to clean drinking water and inadequate sanitation results in one of the biggest health crises in the world.
Every 15 seconds someone, usually a child, dies of a water-related problem. The United Nations has established a Millennium Development Goal of halving, be the year 2015, the percent of the world's population who do not have access to clean water and basic sanitation. Working closely with the UN and other organizations, a list of research questions have been developed. Stan Laskowski, lecturer/advisor in the MES program will gladly be the advisor for any student who wants to work on these issues.

Relatedly, the University of Pennsylvania and many other organizations have founded the Philadelphia Global Water Initiative to address these issues. PGWI was founded in Novenber 2006 and needs help to continue its growth to date. If you are interested in helping grow this new NGO, please contact Stan Laskowski.

Lastly, there is a annual Conference in Stockholm, Sweden each year to discuss these water issues. This year it will be held August 17-23.
Stan Laskowski and some students will be attending the Conference this year.
Students must pay for registration, travel, hotel and meals. If you are interested in this opportunity to learn from world experts and to network with many professionals and students interested in water/sanitation, please contact Stan Laskowski

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Internships

SCA (Student Conservation Association, Charleston, NH): SCA places college students and graduates in internship positions in national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, and in various state and county park facilities. All student expenses, including travel and adequate subsistence, are met by a combination of SCA and host-agency funds. Many students have been able to convert an SCA internship into a paid park-service job in subsequent years. While SCA internships are available year-round, most of our students have participated during the summers. No academic credit is offered for SCA participation, but many Penn students have developed senior thesis exercises from internship assignments. Over 100 Penn students have participated in SCA internships. Information and application materials are available; for more information contact the department or SCA at www.theSCA.org

SEA (Sea Education Association): SEA offers undergraduate students a semester overseas that challenges them intellectually and physically by combining study of the deep ocean with the sailing adventure of a lifetime. Students participating in this program apply to SEA. Once they get into the program, they should contact Dr Bordeaux and let her know when they will attend. Dr Bordeaux will register the student for 4 c.u.'s of ENVS 295. For more information, please contact Dr. Dmochowski or 215-898-6517.

Hawk Mountain Internships: Each year, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary offers 12-14 competitive Conservation Science internships to applicants from around the globe.

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Study Abroad

SFS (School for Field Studies): Penn students have participated in a variety of field exercises sponsored by SFS in South and Central America, Africa, and Australia-New Zealand. Both summer and term-time programs are offered. The focus of most SFS programs is field ecology; Penn students receive transfer credit toward a biology concentration or free credit in Environmental Studies. Students who plan ahead for an SFS experience have been able to receive up to 4 c.u.'s of transfer credit. This program is administered through Penn's Study Abroad Program. Information and application materials are available; for more information contact the department or SFS at 1-800-989-4418.

SIT (School for International Training): SIT operates a variety of programs around the world, most of which focus on the economics of emerging countries and/or various other social-science aspects of environmental issues in developing nations. The SIT programs take place throughout the year. Penn students have attended programs in South and Central America, Africa, Australia-New Zealand, North Vietnam, and other emerging economies in Southeast Asia, and, in recent years, the former Soviet Republics. Students who plan ahead for an SIT experience have been able to receive up to 4 c.u.'s of transfer credit. This program is not administered through Penn's Study Abroad Program so you must petition to attend. Information and application materials are available; for more information contact the department or the Office of International Programs (OIP) directly.

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