The Multi-Media Services Labs in DRL provides access to ArcGIS 10, SpSS,
JMP and more! Go check it out.
Undergraduate Resources
Research, Educational & Funding Opportunities:
Environmental Studies Majors are required to participate in a "Curriculum Related Practical Experience." This requirement may be satisfied by performing Environmental Community Service, conducting research, 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. Many field camps are available. Check with the Associate Director or the Undergraduate chair for the most current information on field camps.
Below is a partial list of some of the research and educational opportunities available to students, from sources both outside and within the department.
The following is a partial list of potential sources of funds for research and/or funded research projects:
Additional research funding opportunities can be found at:
Energy Service Corps is a joint project of the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) andAmeriCorps that works to improve energy efficiency in New Jersey and elsewhere. We’ve now actually expanded to Wisconsin, Colorado, and California. This year we are hiring graduating college students to join our program and work to tackle one of the most pressing environmental issues in the country: energy efficiency. We organize service projects that bring together the community, educate local youth in classrooms and in youth groups about the importance of environmental stewardship, and provide our community members with energy assessments and home weatherization.
We are currently hiring for full-time 9 month positions to start in September. Commit to a minimum of 1700 hours and receive $11,800 living stipend, $5,350 education award, basic healthcare, loan forbearance and 2 weeks vacation.
This summer join the OurEarth.org community and become an intern in OurEarth.org's 2011 Environmental Leadership Program. This is a rare opportunity for you to develop as a leader and learn many of the skills that are necessary if you want to create significant environmental
changes in the future. In addition to leadership training, you will work
on a number of diverse environmental projects that will help the
OurEarth.org organization and website expand, be in a team with students
from other colleges, earn course credit, connect with OurEarth.org's
large network of environmental professionals, and because OurEarth.org
is still a young organization this is an opportunity to join on the
ground floor of many up-and-coming initiatives. Lastly, for added
flexibility, all work is done remotely so you can work from your home,
campus, or anywhere else, yet you will still have very frequent contact
with the OurEarth.org management and other interns via conference calls,
email, webinars, and other electronic mediums.
This internship is open to college freshman and sophomores. Research interns work at the Preserve's Daniel Smiley Research Center to conduct field studies and collect natural science data utilizing GIS/GPS technology, and develop and carry out a research projects of their own in conjunction with Preserve staff.
June to mid-August
$3200 stipend
Housing is available based on need and space
This internship is open to college juniors and seniors. The intern will help with design of trailhead structures; assist in maintaining the Preserve's boundaries; and support visitor safety and enjoyment. Computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting skills, and access to a CAD program are required for this internship.
The selected intern will be responsible for developing a set of computer-aided design (CAD) shop drawings of standard trailside facilities. The intern will be responsible for a written report summarizing his or her work.
June to mid-August
$3200 stipend
Housing is available based on need and space
The SCEP Program provides students with valuable work experience under the guidance and direction of a university. Students complete at least 640 hours of career-related work. They are paid for their services (salary commensurate with applicant’s education) and receive a number of employee benefits, annual and sick leave, to cite two. Please note that the position does not include a housing stipend or relocation costs. Upon completion of the program and graduation, the student may be offered a full-time position at the NWS on a non-competitive basis.
The Evolving Earth Foundation has launched its 2011 student research grant program in the earth sciences. A total of ten grants are available annually, for amounts of up to $3000 per grant. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers at accredited U.S. colleges and universities or research institutions are eligible and encouraged to apply for grants.
Each summer, Mote Marine Laboratory hosts a 10-week program focused on providing research experiences in estuarine science to 10 advanced undergraduate students. Students are paired with Mote scientists and develop and complete an independent research project related to their mentor's research interests. Students gain experience in science communication by presenting the results of their independent project in a manuscript-style research paper and orally at a laboratory-wide poster session. Students attend research seminars and workshops on career skills in science, Students also have the opportunity to present their research findings at professional conferences.
Undergraduate students interested in planetary science are encouraged to apply for 10-week summer 2011 research internships with the JHU Applied Physics Lab's Planetary Exploration Group. Interns will have the opportunity to work with APL staff scientists on projects using data from planetary spacecraft, including the current in-flight missions MESSENGER (Mercury) and Dawn (asteroid Vesta). The NASA/APL internship program provides a stipend and housing.
Students may also direct questions to Dr. David Blewett (david.blewett@jhuapl.edu,
443-778-9678) or Dr. Nancy Chabot (nancy.chabot@jhuapl.edu , 443-778-5558).
Each year, we place 75-100 biologists and graduates from universities across the country in five-month paid CLM internships to assist professional staff at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other federal agencies. Internships are primarily located in one of the thirteen western states, including Alaska.
Benefits of the CLM Internship Program are numerous. As a CLM intern, you will receive a stipend paid every two weeks totaling $11,000 over 5 months and will attend an all expenses-paid week- long training workshop at the Grand Canyon National Park. In addition, the CLM Internship Program provides opportunities to make connections in various governmental and non-profit organizations, to learn what it's like to work at a federal agency, to explore your career goals and expand your resume.
A unique service-learning and summer study abroad program in Bolivia, India, Nicaragua, South Africa*, and Uganda. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in gaining training in international community development, work experience at community-based non-profit organizations, and firsthand knowledge about education, livelihood development, global health, and other development sectors.
The Penn Green Fund welcomes ideas from the Penn community about ways to improve Penn’s environmental performance and reduce carbon emissions. The Penn Green Fund is an initiative of Penn’s Green Campus Partnership and funded by the Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services and the Office of the Provost. Each award will be funded as a one-time grant to members of the Penn Community. The maximum allocation is $50,000. A web link for the application and further information is on the Green Campus Partnership website.
The College Alumni Society Research Grants provide up to $1000 for costs of research projects during the summer or following academic year. Eligibility is limited to freshmen, sophomores or juniors in the College.
The Nassau Fund (up to $1000 per student) administered by CURF. The Nassau Fund Award provides funds for students pursuing an independent scholarly project during the academic year. Funds can be used for costs of materials and supplies, toward travel costs, or for costs of the project. Open to all undergraduates at Penn.
The stipends will give the students the opportunity to work over the summer with a professor at Penn or another institution, in the lab, a museum, or in the field. The stipends are intended by the donor to encourage undergraduate and graduate students in the study of paleontology. The maximum award is $5,000.
The Rose Award is a prize of up to $1000 for completed independent scholarly projects. This can include senior theses or any other independent project, whether funded by other Penn grants or not.
NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.
The EPA is making available 30 grants of $46,500 each, to enhance and support quality education for undergraduates. The fellowships are meant to defray costs associated with undergraduate study leading towards a bachelor's degree. Fellowships are funded in the following areas: natural and life sciences, environmental science and interdisciplinary, engineering, social sciences and decision making, physical sciences, and mathematics and computer science. Students must be enrolled at an accredited college or university.
RISE is a summer internship program for undergraduate students from the United States, Canada and the UK in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences and engineering. It offers unique opportunities for undergraduate students to work with research groups at universities and top research institutions across Germany for a period of 1.5 to 3 months during the summer.
The Keck Geology Consortium is a multi-college collaboration focused on enriching undergraduate education through development of high-quality research experiences. Now in its 22nd year, the Consortium has been a fundamental component of the undergraduate-research landscape since its inaugural projects in 1987. In 116 sponsored projects to date, the Consortium has supported 970 undergraduate students from 90 schools across the nation. Programs have involved over 115 faculty representing 50 different colleges, universities, governmental agencies, and businesses (329 faculty positions overall, with many faculty as repeat participants).
The Penn Program on Democracy, Citizenship, and Constitutionalism will award up to 10 undergraduate research fellowships that begin over the summer. Students may receive grants of up to $2500. Each student application must be endorsed by a School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Research Advisor who will supervise the project throughout the 2009-2010 academic year. Political, sociological, historical, philosophical, anthropological, and literary projects exploring empirical and normative issues of democracy, citizenship, and constitutionalism in any part of the world are eligible.
A paid summer internship program for students interested in research careers in environmental health sciences. Students will conduct independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor and work with Penn investigators on environmental health and science projects. One year of coursework in biology or other sciences is required.
Students will conduct research projects at partner instructions including; the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Undergraduates will work with a project investigator on a research project in the field of biorefining and biofuels.
The NNEMS program is a comprehensive fellowship program that provides students an opportunity to participate in a fellowship project that is directly related to their field of study. Each year, the NNEMS program offers approximately 30 - 40 fellowships, developed and sponsored by EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and in EPA's 10 regional offices and laboratories throughout the United States. The research projects are organized among four key areas: environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law; Environmental Management and Administration, Environmental Science, and Public Relations and Communications. Students complete the fellowship while working full-time at EPA during the summer or part-time during the school year.
Students will participate in a comprehensive research project of field mapping and sampling to contribute to a new geologic map of the basement rocks of Yellowstone National Park. Students will be trained in analytical techniques such as sample preparation, and petrologic, geochemical and geochronological instrumentation. The group will present their work at the Rocky Mountain Section meeting of the GSA, and participate in a group reunion to contribute to a peer-reviewed journal article. Program dates are June 27 - July 25, 2010. Students with an interest in igneous and metamorphic petrology, sedimentology, geochemistry, geochronology and structural geology and tectonics are encouraged to apply. Students who have taken most of their geology core courses and have had field experience will be preferred.
SURF is a fellowship program where you will participate in the on-going research of a particular lab housed at CalTech. Check the SURF website for opportunities and application information.
Through the GeoCorps America Program, GSA places all levels of geoscientists; college students, professionals, and retirees in temporary summer positions with the National Parks Service, BLM, and the USDA Forest Service. The need for geoscience expertise on America's National Parks, National Forests, and BLM lands is great. Geoscience is not adequately addressed in education, resource management, geological hazards mitigation, and research. The Geological Society of America, through the GeoCorps program, strives to increase the number of geoscientists on-the-ground assisting with public land management and protection of geologic resources.
Participants receive a living stipend and on-site housing (or housing allowance) during their geoscience project assignment.
The Yosemite Research Training in Environmental Science offers undergraduates a unique opportunity to actively experience field research in Environmental Science in Yosemite National Park. Student individual research projects span a broad range of areas in Environmental Science (eg. Ecology, Conservation, Biodiversity, Geosciences, and Hydrology) and include an intensive field component taking place in Yosemite National Park. The student stipend is $4,500 for nine weeks, housing is covered by the program. Minority students are strongly encouraged to apply.
The International Development Summer Institute – Africa Program (IDSI-AP) provides students with the opportunity to have an applied learning and cultural experience abroad. The program consists of 5-weeks of pre-program preparation at Penn and a 4-week long training program on the campus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.
Selected students will pay $5,800 which includes tuition, international airfare, lodging and meals, program-related transportation, and all organized excursions. Note: For those currently receiving Penn financial aid, there is a possibility that aid will be extended to cover a portion of this fee, depending on the student’s aid package details.
· Full Tuition – to any accredited U.S. University
· A very generous stipend while in school
- $25,000 for undergraduates
- $33,000 for masters candidates
- $33,000 to $41,800 for doctoral candidates
· Book allowance – $1,000
· Health Insurance
· Paid Summer internships
· All required student fees
· Travel fees for internships
Summer internships at the facility/laboratory are required. In return for fully funding their education, students are required work as a civilian employee at a Service (Army, Navy, Air Force) or DoD Agency (NSA, DIA, DARPA, etc.) laboratory, or similar activity, for a period equal to the time the program paid for their school. Students must be U.S. Citizens, able to obtain a DoD Security Clearance, and be willing to work in a defense facility/laboratory upon graduation.
Application Deadline: December for the following academic year
Each year, as part of this highly competitive program, a small number of high-achieving college sophomores interested in a career with NGA will be offered tuition assistance to accredited colleges or universities, provided challenging summer work, and guaranteed a position in their field of study upon graduation. Minorities, women, the disabled, and those needing financial assistance to complete their undergraduate education are strongly encouraged to apply.
·Tuition and required fees (limited to $18,000 per year) toward a four-year degree program at an accredited college or university selected by the student and endorsed by the agency
·An annual salary (paid bi-weekly) to cover room and board and other personal expenses
·Full-time employment in a job related to their academic major during summer vacation while in college
·Full benefits including health insurance, life insurance, and retirement
·A position at NGA after graduation appropriate to their skills and abilities
October each year
Only students in their first semester of college should apply
The Greg and Susan Walker Endowment was established in 2006 to provide resources to enable students in programs of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania to pursue independent research projects as part of their undergraduate and graduate curricula.
Funds may be requested to cover the cost of travel to research sites; subsistence while at research sites; equipment and materials to support research at those sites, or in laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania; and/or other requirements of the proposed research. Proposals may be submitted by research groups of 2 or more students. Most awards will be in the range of $500-$1500. Proposals outside that range will be considered.
Portland State University is seeking prospective PhD applicants for our first incoming class in Fall 2011. The substantive focus of this program is on *ecosystem services* (terrestrial and marine) to support urbanizing regions (ESUR IGERT). We aim to recruit up to 6 PhD students for our first cohort. Of particular interest are underrepresented candidates who are permanent residents or US Citizens. For information about this IGERT program, including the
application process, community partners, and participating departments, please see our recently launched website.
Participants in the IGERT PhD program will receive multiple benefits. Aside from alleviating many of the financial woes of graduate school (three year traineeship with annual stipend of $30K, tuition remission, $10,500 in research funding, national and international conference travel, etc.), the IGERT program offers extensive opportunities for PhD
trainees to engage faculty from a broad array of disciplines, community partners in local, national, and international organizations and agencies, and involvement in team-based research in an emerging area of scholarship.
Each summer, the Maryland Sea Grant Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program offers fourteen students the opportunity to conduct marine research on the Chesapeake Bay — the program is especially designed for students majoring in such fields as biology, chemistry, ecology, environmental science, engineering, physics, marine science and mathematics. The Maryland Sea Grant Program, with support from the National Science Foundation provides each fellow with a stipend of $4,200, dormitory costs and round-trip travel expenses.
A fellowship opportunity is open to an LTER graduate student to join the Florida Coastal Everglades LTER for the Summer or Fall 2011. The
candidate will collaborate on a project to investigate the
biogeochemical effects of saltwater intrusion on Everglades peat. The
primary objective of the project is to conduct seasonal peat core
incubation experiments using peats from various coastal areas to
quantify the effects of water source and inundation on nitrogen,
phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon export and soil respiration.
The candidate will also participate in belowground decomposition
experiments and modeling efforts.
The experiments will be conducted at a
mesocosm facility in Key Largo, FL. Ideally, the student would reside in
Key Largo for three months to conduct their research. The student would be expected to present their findings at the FCE LTER All Scientists
Meeting in January 2012 and lead at least one publication resulting from
the work. The fellowship provides generous funds for compensation,
travel, tuition and research. Send a brief statement of interest (2
paragraphs), CV and contact information for two references to Tiffany
Troxler, troxlert@fiu.edu.
Travel Funds for Summer Internships in India This year we are offering volunteer internships at four NGOs this summer in several key areas: Rural Development, International Health Care Delivery, International Development Consulting, and Urban Development. We also provide travel funds for students who wish to conduct research in India during the summer. We will be hosting an Open House on Thursday, January 20th, from 4:30 to 6:30 for students who are interested in learning more about the competition.
Travel Funds for Summer Research in India CASI also offers summer travel funds to Penn students (preferably juniors and doctoral students) who wish to conduct research in India for senior honor thesis work or graduate projects.
The Asian Pacific Community Fund partners with Verizon to financially assist students in their pursuit of higher education as they face the challenge of significantly rising costs of obtaining a college degree. These awards will support those who excel academically, are leaders amongst their peers and are making a positive impact in their communities.
The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT)
program at the University of Puerto-Río Piedras (UPR-RP) aims to train
Ph.D. students in interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to environmental problems in urbanizing, tropical landscapes. The program is
based in the natural sciences, but students receive interdisciplinary
training in social science perspectives on environmental issues and apply
these to real-world problems. The common element for dissertation research is how human and natural systems interact. Research may cover
climate, water, food security, renewable energy, waste management,
biodiversity, or urban system services, among other topics. Research topics are developed in collaboration with a government agency, non-profit
organization, or community group. Projects can be based in Puerto Rico or
elsewhere in the tropics. Puerto Rico has had a dynamic environmental history, with nearly complete deforestation followed by forest recovery,
and then urban sprawl as the economy modernized. The environmental
problems caused by these shifts, overlaid by changes in climate and
vulnerability to catastrophic storms, make Puerto Rico an ideal place to conduct integrative research. This program is funded by the National
Science Foundation.
This IGERT is based in the UPR-RP Environmental Science Graduate Program,
but students in other UPR-RP graduate programs may apply. The deadline
for application to UPR-RP graduate programs is January 20, 2012. The deadline for application for these IGERT fellowships is February 27, 2012.
Applicants must contact the IGERT program and a prospective advisor
before applying. See the website and email addresses below.
Benefits: $30,000/year for two years; $2,000 for travel and education
materials; office, computer and software usage; reserved space in all
special courses and workshops
The Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies is accepting applications
for the Summer 2012 internship in Tropical Ecology and Evolution at El
Verde Field Station, Puerto Rico. The internship will run from May 28
to August 3, 2012.
The program will offer students the opportunity to have hands-on
experience fields such as:
- Plant-animal interactions, Plant population biology
- Aquatic Insect Ecology
- Stream acidification effects on aquatic insects
Students will receive a stipend of $5,000 for the ten weeks duration
of the program. Round-trip plane ticket from home institution to
Puerto Rico will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of $600. The program
will cover housing at El Verde Field Station. The National Science
Foundation and the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, fund
the program.
The program is limited to undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor
degree at a college or university during summer 2012 that are US
citizen or permanent resident.
Student projects are available in space science and engineering, including
planetary geology, heliophysics, Earth's magnetosphere, and spacecraft
hardware and software.
Interns receive a stipend, travel funds, housing, and meals.
Penn’s Climate Action Plan aims to keep Penn at the forefront of addressing global climate change by supporting undergraduate research in any academic field related to sustainability. Projects that lead to environmentally sustainable programs and policies, contribute to scientific innovations related to sustainability, or deepen our understanding of the social, cultural, artistic, and humanistic aspects of sustainability are encouraged, provided the research is conducted under the direction of a Penn faculty member. Projects in other related fields that support the goals outlined in Penn’s Climate Action Plan are also welcome.
These grants will support students during the summer to conduct independent research under the guidance of a Penn faculty member. Students may be engaged in this work at Penn or elsewhere, and grants will typically range from $2,500 or $5,000, depending on the needs of the project.
Association of Alumnae Scholars Rosemary D. Mazzatenta Award provides up to $1000 either for costs of research or to support a student while performing an unpaid internship. Eligibility is limited to sophomore or junior women in the College.
To encourage women to pursue careers in the environmental field; to mentor students with environmentally-related majors; and provide students connections to SWEP's membership for future internships/careers in the environmental field.
AWIS-PHL will award three travel grants for 2010, in the amount of $500.00 each, to support the attendance of female students at national meetings of the scientific societies appropriate for their disciplines at which they will be presenting their own research. The awards are to be applied to the costs of transportation, registration, housing and meals. Recipients will present AWIS-PHL with a published or final abstract of the work.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding scholarship and encourages independent graduate level research -- particularly by female and minority students -- in oceanography, marine biology and maritime archaeology. Must be US Citizens with a 3.0 GPA and studying a NOAA science.
Summer funding for students' independent scholar projects. This can include funds for research costs and supplies, travel, or living stipend. Limited to Benjamin Franklin Scholars.
Funding is limited to University Scholars. Funds can be requested for summer living stipends, research costs and materials, travel costs, or other needs. Recipients are required to present at a University Scholars lunch.
Scholarships are given to assist students with college education costs and to promote student participation in the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). Up to four scholarships will be awarded to declared undergraduate geological sciences majors who are at least sophomores.
Scholarship awards in the amount of $1,000.00 each will be made to eligible students attending a college or university in the U.S. Scholarships are to be used to support tuition and/or room and board.
Scholarships are eligible to any student who is majoring in geology (or earth science), is at least a sophomore, and is attending a four-year accredited college or university in the U.S. can apply. Also, the student must be either a
student member of AIPG or must have applied for student membership at the time
the application for the scholarship is submitted.
Each student who is awarded a scholarship agrees, by accepting the scholarship,
to prepare a 600 to 800 word article for publication in The Professional
Geologist. The subject of the article must be related to a timely professional
issue.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering, and to foster excellence in these fields. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to $7,500 annually. Sophomores and juniors are eligible. U.S. citizens, permanent residents or nationals only.
Grants of $16,000 for tuition during senior year. Applicants should be undergraduate juniors. The grant is for study in any discipline at any university in the U.S. Students in the humanities are especially encouraged to apply.
For sophomores and juniors who are interested in careers in environmental public policy, or for Native American or Alaska Native students who are interested in health care or tribal policy. The award covers tuition and fees for one year. U.S. citizens or nationals only.
The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to a maximum of $8,000 per year) for full-time study during the 9-month academic year; a 10-week, full-time internship position ($650/week) during the summer at a NOAA facility; and, if reappointed, academic assistance (up to a maximum of $8,000) for full-time study during a second 9-month academic year. Must be US Citizens with a 3.0 GPA and studying a NOAA science.
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association is pleased to announce the availability of their 2011 scholarships. For more information, contact Marjorie Fitzpatrick at mfitzpatrick@iesengineers.com.
Scholarships are available for tuition, books, or other expenses (award amounts in the$500- $2000 range will be determined based on the quality of the applications received) AND
One grant-in aid award of approximately $1,000 to reimburse a student for registration fees and travel costs to the annual A&WMA meeting in June 2011 in Orlando, Florida.
The National Physical Science Consortium is a partnership between government agencies and laboratories, industry, and higher education. NPSC's goal is to increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool including women and minorities.
The NPSC Graduate Fellowship is unique in being: open to all American citizens; lasting for up to six years; providing a $20,000 annual stipend; covering tuition; including one or two paid summer internships with a government agency; providing a mentor and the opportunity for a lasting relationship with the sponsor.
The Churchill Scholarship provides one year of graduate study in engineering, mathematics or science tenable at Churchill College, Cambridge University, England. The scholarship includes tuition and fees, plus living allowance. U.S. citizenship required, applicants must be between 19 and 26 years old upon beginning the fellowship.
Merit-based scholarships in any discipline for graduate study or research at University of Cambridge. The scholarships are for one to three years, with a possible extension to a fourth year. No citizenship requirement.
Two years of study towards a degree in Great Britain. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and have graduated after April, 2001. Stipend covers transportation, maintenance, possible marriage allowance. Fields are unrestricted but candidates must enroll in a degree program. A 3.7 GPA (after freshman year) is required. Candidates are well advised to show interest in universities other than Oxford, Cambridge and London.
One academic year of post-graduate study at any institution of higher learning in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Named in honor of Senator George Mitchell's contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, the scholarships are awarded to U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 who have shown academic distinction, leadership, and commitment to service. There are no restrictions as to the academic field of study. Covers tuition, living allowance, and travel.
Three year fellowship to support graduate study in science and technology in the U.S. or abroad. Seniors and first year graduate students are eligible. Other grants available to women, minorities. U.S. citizens, permanent resident or US nationals only.
Two or three years of study toward a degree at University of Oxford, England. Tuition and fees plus living allowance. Applicants must not have passed their 24th birthday on October 1 in the year of application. The scholarship includes tuition, fees, and a living allowance.
One or two years of study at any British university. Restricted to Penn graduating seniors and recent Penn graduates. U.S. citizenship is required. Travel, fees, and a stipend are included in the award. Applicants must apply separately for admission to British universities.
The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, awards qualified research-minded graduate students with a $40,500 fellowship ($30,000 stipend + $10,500 towards tuition) to work in middle schools for two days each week. As part of the program, graduate students participate in training activities, research projects, and field trips (just to name a few components) while they pursue a master's degree at Montclair State University
The PBF Program is for recent college graduates with strong quantitative skills to train with faculty and senior researchers on a variety of global heath projects.
Rocky Mountain Field Institute Earth Corps Program
Earth Corps is a selective field-based program that offers motivated, environmentally conscious students the opportunity to live and learn in the incredible natural classroom of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. The program integrates key lessons in environmental studies with the completion of a critical environmental restoration project. Run by the Rocky Mountain Field Institute in partnership with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Earth Corps attracts exceptional students from across the nation and the world to participate in this unique service learning opportunity.
July - Aug in Como Lake Basin at an elevation of approximately 11,500 feet Click here for more information
Chilean Undergraduate Hydrological Field Methods Course
This is an opportunity for undergraduates to get in-the-field experience hydrological measurement methods, as well as a fun and rewarding cross-cultural experience. This will take place in Central Chile (the vicinity of Chillan) January 2-14, 2011 (Chilean summer). This is part of an NSF project, and is at a site where the US/Chilean team has worked since 1998. The program will be approximately 50% Chilean students, and 50% US/international students.
All students will be housed with a local family. No Spanish language skills are required, but they will be helpful, and lots of fun! Every attempt will be made for non-Spanish speakers to be housed with families with at least rudimentary English language skills. Three OSU credits will be available for students if interested. Space is very limited.
Applications due Oct 15.
To receive further information and to apply, please visit our webpage or email us at hydro.training@oregonstate.edu
YBRA
The geology field camp that was run by our department up until 2007 and is now housed at the University of Houston is the UH-YBRA (YELLOWSTONE BIGHORN RESEARCH ASSOCIATION). The camp itself is located a few miles south of Red Lodge, Montana. They are holding three sessions this summer (2 geology; 1 geophysics).
There are many field camps and courses available to Penn students. In addition to the resources listed here, check the bulletin boards on the 3rd floor of Hayden Hall for the most current available information.
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 Associate Director or Undergraduate Chair and let her know when they will attend. For more information, please contact the Associate Director or Undergraduate Chair.
Field Geology in the Wind River Mountains
Every summer since 1911, the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Missouri, Columbia has run our geology field camp at the site of the Branson Field Laboratory in the Wind River Range near Lander, Wyoming.
Our 6-credit, 6-week course teaches a broad array of field methods ranging from geologic mapping and structural analysis, to sedimentary facies analysis, surface and groundwater hydrogeologic analysis, and shallow geophysical techniques. During the last week of the course we offer more advance intructional projects in hydrogeology, geophysics and structural analysis.
Geology.com offers a fairly comprehensive field camp listing, organized by sponsor school.
Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE). SAGE is sponsored by the Los Alamos branch of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP). It is a three-week graduate and advanced undergraduate course of instruction and research in exploration geophysics, and runs from late June through early July. Students completing their Junior year or graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Join an ongoing field research program of international volunteer crew working with professional staff to conduct survey, geoarchaeological prospecting, mapping, and excavations at the Lubbock Lake Landmark, Roland Springs Pleistocene fauna locality, and Post archaeological survey and testing research program.
At the Lubbock Lake Landmark, the investigation focuses on uncovering stratified Paleoindian bison kill/butchering locales that date between 10,800-8,600 BP. The locales are at the edges of ponds within Yellowhouse Draw, an ancient valley in the upper Brazos River basin. Fauna recovered at the Roland Springs locality near Snyder, Texas has provided insights into paleoenvironments dating to perhaps as old as 1.8mya, and summer 2010 excavation focuses on geologic exploration and continuing to uncover extinct species that no longer exist on the Southern Plains.
At Post, survey, mapping, and excavation of features will uncover further evidence of hunter-gatherer adaptations along the eastern escarpment edge of the Southern High Plains. The rugged eastern escarpment edge of the Southern High Plains attracted past hunter-gatherer groups due to its combination of shelter, flora, fauna, lithic, and water resources located in the area.
Volunteers for the Lubbock Lake Landmark regional research program gain practical experience in field methodologies using the latest in field recording technology, proper field conservation of materials, and laboratory experience in processing materials from the field. A landscape approach forms the theoretical framework in which the regional research is conducted and places all sites within that regional context.
IMPORTANT NOTES: The Landmark's research program is NOT a field school, but a regional research program using volunteers in the field. There is no charge to volunteer at the Landmark, although you may have travel and personal expenses. Due to the research schedule, we cannot accomodate early arrivals.
Department of Energy (DOE) Scholars
Are your students interested in participating in the most recent
scientific research and development? Would they like to gain experience
in discovering solutions to power and securing America’s future,
specifically in energy security, nuclear security, scientific discovery
and innovation, environmental responsibility and management xcellence?
The Department of Energy Scholars Program offers summer internships with
stipends of up to $650 per week depending on academic status to
undergraduates, graduate students and post graduates at accredited
institutes of higher education. Majors accepted include: engineering;
physical sciences; environmental sciences; computer science and
information technology; physics; program management; math; statistics;
safety and health; accounting and finance; law; and other related
discipline areas.
Requirements include: U.S. Citizenship; 18 years of age or older; and a
cumulative GPA of 2.90/4.00.
Internships provide participants with the opportunity to conduct
hands-on research while showcasing their education, talent and skills.
Interns will also have a unique opportunity to explore the options for
federal careers with DOE.
The American Geological Institute’s Government Affairs Program seeks outstanding
geosciences students (masters or undergraduate) with a strong interest in
federal science policy for fall, spring, and summer internships. Interns will
gain a first-hand understanding of the legislative process and the operation of
executive branch agencies. They will also hone their writing and web publishing
skills.
Interns receive a stipend through the generous support of the American
Geological Institute and the American Institute of Professional Geologists
Foundation or the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Apply by October 15 for the spring internship, March 15 for Summer and April 15 for Fall. Click here for more information.
EPA Student Volunteer Positions
Volunteer, non-paid opportunities are available for the upcoming spring/ summer period. Student volunteer service can enrich your future. Some of the benefits include:
Career exploration early in your academic studies.
Exposure to new emerging occupations and professions.
Work experience which will enhance your ability to obtain paying jobs in the future.
Opportunities are available in a variety of technical and administrative areas. Student volunteer work schedules are flexible. Hours are available during the summer and/or during the school year. See our webpage for application info.
SCA places college students and graduates in internship positions in national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, and in various state and county park facilities. They also have a Community Program here in Philadelphia (comowunmi@thesca.org). All student expenses, including travel and adequate subsistence, are met by a combination of SCA and host-agency funds. There are also AmeriCorps awards available after many internships (http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/benefits_ed_award.asp).
Many students have been able to convert an SCA internship into a paid park-service job or other conservation job in subsequent years. While SCA internships are available year-round, most of our students have participated during the summers (most are 12 weeks- 1 year long). No academic credit is offered for SCA participation, but you do fulfill your "curriculum-related practical experience" requirement by doing the internship, and many Penn students have developed senior thesis exercises from internship assignments. Over 100 Penn students have participated in SCA internships.
Typically new internships for the summer go on their website in December-January, and they start looking at applications in February. Information and application materials are available; for more information contact Beth McCarthy (bmccarthy@theSCA.org), who is our campus recruiter, or visit the SCA
The Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies is accepting applications for the Summer 2010 internship in Tropical Ecology and Evolution at El Verde Field Station, Puerto Rico. The internship will run from May 30 - August 7th.
Application deadline: 28 February 2010 The program will offer students the opportunity to have hands-on experience fields such as:
- Plant Systematics and Population Biology
- Plant Community Dynamics and Forest Ecology
- Plant eco-physiology
- Terrestrial Arthropod Ecology
- Aquatic Insect Ecology
Students will receive a stipend of $4,000.00 for the ten weeks duration of the program. Roundtrip plane ticket from home institution to Puerto Rico will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of $600.00. The program will cover housing at the University of Puerto Rico and El Verde Field Station. The National Science Foundation and the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, fund the program. The program is limited to undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor degree at a college or university during summer 2010 and to US citizen
or permanent resident. Application materials and further information can be found at http://ites.upr.edu/REU/
Hawk Mountain Internships
Each year, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary offers 12-14 competitive Conservation Science internships to applicants from around the globe.
Collegiate Leaders in Environmental Health
CDC invites qualified applicants to apply for a ten week summer program in Environmental Public Health at the National Center for Environmental Health /Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a full time summer opportunity for rising juniors and seniors to get real-world experience in Environmental Public Health activities at the federal level. Students will participate in individual projects and will be paired with mentors in order to gain valuable experience in the fascinating field of Environmental Public Health. Students that are majoring in environmental fields are encouraged to visit our website at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/cleh/ to learn more about the internship, environmental health, and previous intern projects. The deadline for application is February 2, 2011. Program dates are June through August, 2011.
The U.S. State Department is now accepting applications for it's Spring, Summer and Fall 2011 Student Internship Program. Participants may work in Washington D.C. or at various overseas embassies. Students must be a U.S. citizen, a student, and either a full or part time university junior, senior, or graduate student. Opportunities are available in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Offices in the Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Bureau, Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Scientific Affairs, as well as others. See the Student Internship Information Brochure for more information.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Student Technical Positions The USDA is offering year round or winter break internships in the office of Natural Resources Conservation Service. The internships are an excellent opportunity to gain experience in agriculture and natural resources, and are within the NRCS Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative or other USDA programs. Applicants should provide a resume that includes a full description of agriculture and natural resource experience and a copy of transcripts. USDA Service Center locations should be listed on application in order of placement preference. Interns will receive a minimum pay of $9.57 per hour and are expected to work 40 hours a week or on a part time schedule. Applications and questions should be directed to: Lorraine Beinhaur: 717-237-2155; lorraine.beinhaur(at)pa.usda.gov
United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for North America
UNEP is looking for undergraduate and graduate-level students interested in an internship with its Regional Office for North America (RONA) located in Washington, D.C.
UNEP RONA has three types of internships available: communications, government affairs, and environment research. Interns work on a range of diverse topics, interact closely with core staff members, and are given responsibilities based on their experience and skills. Everyone is expected to pitch in to assist on any project or activity in need of immediate attention. Excellent written and spoken English is a requirement.
Full-time interns are preferred, but part-time interns will be considered during the fall and spring academic semesters.
The North Americann Tunza Youth Network, with the Unite Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
UNEP recognizes education as a key part of understanding and mitigating climate change. This network helps to empower and educate youth and the general public on ways to conserve resources. In collaboration with UNEP, representatives of the youth network play an active role in spreading this educational effort around the country.
UNEP’s goal with the North American Tunza Youth Network is to set in motion an ongoing effort by university students to educate their communities about methods of conservation in a world where natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce. As the network grows, representatives will create a self-sustaining network of youth leaders around the country.
Sixteen to 20 youth from around the U.S. and Canada will be selected for the 2010-2011 school year. The aim of this nation-wide network is to increase awareness of resource conservation, and will be led by university and high school students who will use educational events to reach out to their communities. Three audiences will be specifically targeted: children ages 8-14, youth ages 14-22, and the general community. University and high school students will engage these audiences in events such as a resource conservation fair at an elementary school or handing out eco-friendly bulbs to homeowners around a university campus.
USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF): Summer field Assistants for Ecosystem Change in the Artic Project
Summer field work positions are available to undergraduates to work with a project that is part of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) that is looking at the response of Artic vegetation to changes in climate.
The field assistants will work with a graduate student to continue with long term measurements by sampling vegetation composition in natural and experimentally modified plots at the Toolik Lake Long Term Ecological Research site in Northern Alaska. The goal of the study is to determine real and potential responses of artic tundra to climate in order to further our understanding of ecosystem response to climate change and to better our response to these changes in terms of land management. The students will work with Dr. William Gold (US Forest Service) as well as researchers from Florida International University.
Candidates should have the following skills: educational background in ecology, botany, environmental studies, or a related discipline; proficiency and experience in identifying and keying plant species; motivation to work independently and the ability to work from a remote field station for the summer. The field season will run from July to mid-August.
Applicants should submit the following to William Gould at wgould(at)fs.fed.us: A cover letter summarizing research interests and academic and professional background; a resume/CV; copies of transcripts (unofficial transcripts acceptable); names and contact information for three references (no letters needed).
City Hall Fellows
City Hall Fellows is a non-partisan nonprofit training the next generation of leaders for America's cities. The 12-month, paid, post-college Fellowship integrates hands-on experience working within the highest levels of local government with intensive training in how cities work. For our next class, we will be placing cohorts of Fellows
in 3 cities: Houston, Texas; San Francisco, California; Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Fellowship is open to students of ALL majors.
A detailed overview of the Fellowship, as well as application materials
and instructions, are on City Hall Fellow's website, www.cityhallfellows.org
Applications for our next Fellowship Class are due March. The Fellowship year begins August 2011 and runs through late July 2012. Our staff, Fellows and alumni will be visiting campuses around the
country over the next two months. We also will be hosting several free, live webinars for students we are unable to meet in person. All of these are posted on our schedule of events <http://www.cityhallfellows.org/Application_Calendar.html> (which is frequently updated).
World Wildlife Foundation Summer Internships
WWF-US is offering several internships for the summer at its office in
Washington, DC. Please note that application deadlines vary, as do the requirements for each position. They are appropriate for advanced undergraduates. Projects can be undertaken over the summer (with extensions, as necessary, into the fall semester).
Most projects could also be extended over the course of one or two semesters as part of a student's course work or thesis requirements; advance arrangements would be necessary with faculty advisors. Internships are typically unpaid unless otherwise noted, but facilities, library resources, and computers at WWF headquarters are available. Hours are flexible. To qualify for an unpaid internship, the student must provide documentation that they are receiving credit from their university, or that the work they will be performing is consistent with a course requirement.
In general, our interns need solid data management and writing skills, self-motivation, an ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Specific skills (required or preferred) are listed with each project, along with the primary contact person. For more information on WWF's Conservation Science Program.
Friends of the Wissahickon
Field and Volunteer Programs Intern
Apply by: March
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated undergraduate or graduate student with interest in environment, parks management, forestry, non-profit, or volunteer services.
Schedule: 5 to 10 hours per week (mostly Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings) for a total of 50 hours by the first week in may. Internship starts the second week of March and goes thru the first week of May, with the possibility of an extension through the summer. Internship is unpaid.
Responsibilities: Intern will assist the friends of the Wissahickon Volunteer Coordinator. In the office, Intern will assist with administrative tasks that support the volunteer program. Intern will be responsible for data entry of volunteer information into our Raiser's Edge database. Raiser's Edge is the premier data tracking tool for non-profits. In the park, Intern will assist with volunteer projects - preparation before the project and/or support during the project. This includes: assisting Volunteer Coordinator in planning trail projects, tree/shrub planting, clean ups, etc.; carrying/setting up of tools, tables and other supplies; picking up refreshments and other supplies for volunteers, etc. Intern will also have the option to attend restoration meetings and park walkthroughs involving highly reputable restoration and park professionals. A great learning opportunity.
Send resume to: Kevin Groves
Volunteer Coordinator
groves(at)fow.org, 215.247.0417, ext 105
Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Paid Student Internships
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), a federal-interstate water resources agency, is currently seeking student applicants in science and engineering for paid Internships (Summer and year-round) in the DRBC’s Water Resources Program. Duties include involvement in one or more of the following projects:
1. Collection of water, sediment, air, and biological samples in the Delaware River and its tributaries.
2. Compilation and assessment of data on water quality parameters collected under the DRBC’s monitoring programs.
3. Sorting and analysis of macroinvertebrate samples from the freshwater portions of the Delaware River.
4. Data analysis and preparation of input files for hydrodynamic and water quality models, and conducting model simulations for toxic pollutants.
5. Operation and maintenance of the DRBC water quality laboratory.
6. Research and compilation of data on permitted discharges to the Delaware River and its tributaries.
7. Other selected assignments in DRBC water quality and water supply programs.
The Commission’s office is located at 25 State Police Drive in West Trenton, N.J., convenient to I-95 and NJ Route 29.
Interested applicants should send or email résumé to:
Richard C. Gore, Chief Administrative Officer, Delaware River Basin Commission, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628
The Third Millennium Alliance is establishing an ecological reserve in the rainforest of Ecuador. The Alliance has also built a research station and is developing a living laboratory of sustainable resource management. Their goal is 100% food self-sufficiency within 10 years. With the nearby community, we are experimenting with reforestation of ex-cattle pasture and eco-tourism alternatives.
The Third Millennium Alliance is offering a two month summer internship program. The first month will be spent familiarizing yourself with the tropical climate, the research station, production system, the forest, and the community. An introductory course to permaculture and tropical agroforestry will be given by a trio of instructors. You will assist in the harvesting of semi-wild oranges and bananas in the cloudforest, tending to the seedlings in the nursery, preparing soil, etc. Once you have a feel for the system, you will need to choose your Primary Project. For your Primary Project you will design something, construct it, and write an operating manual for it. Of, if it is a forestry or biology project, you will design the protocol and find and record the data and publish a report. Past projects include a slow sand water filtration system, butterfly inventory, rocket stove, tree nursery, renewable energy feasibility analysis, worm compost system, terraced ornamental garden, and a short film documentary, among others.
Local Internship at "Save Some Green"
We are an all-green retail store, making a concerted effort to carry products which are also affordably priced. Our philosophy is that in a free market, this is the best way to make a significant impact on the economy, and therefore the environment. All of our products are better for the environment in some or multiple ways: Recycled, Recyclable, Biodegradable, Compostable, Reusable, Organic, Sustainable, Low-energy, All-Natural, Less-wasteful, Local; – or a combination.
About the Internship:
Conduct research for competitive green products and services.
Create signage for in-store merchandise and outdoor advertising.
Employ various marketing techniques to encourage shoppers into the store.
Organize and stock shelves.
Communicate with local residents and businesses to publicize our establishment as part of the community.
Great learning experience with the possibility of some paid projects and opportunities.Flexible hours, dates, and times.
Learn more at www.savesomegreen.org
GoEco: Volunteer for Ecological and Humanitarian Projects
GoEco is proud to be working with over 100 important ecological and
social projects from helping various ethnic groups in Israel to
rehabilitating wildlife in Africa to helping orphans in South East Asia.
Your assistance will help our efforts of sustaining and developing many
projects across the globe, and we also hope that you and your student
colleagues (of all ages) will enjoy a unique opportunity to volunteer
while experiencing diverse cultural and natural environments.
* Over 140 programs in approximately 50 countries
* Financial aid applies
* Engineering, Wharton and Nursing options available
* Earn credit towards degree, major, and/or minor
* Meet past participants, exchange students and program representatives
*International Opportunities Fair*
* Over 30 international organizations, both for- and non-profit
* Meet international employers
* Volunteer or intern abroad
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 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.
The Washington Semester Program (WSP) offers Penn students an opportunity to learn from first-hand experience in political and governmental processes while taking courses taught by Penn faculty in the nation's capital. Although designed primarily to fit the needs of social science majors, the WSP may be suitable also for science and humanities majors with a serious interest in public policy, politics, and government. The program features four course units of study (including a research project) and a work assignment (internship) in an organization or agency related to the student's career and research interests.
GESI is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on teaching students about community development in a global context. The program focuses in part on Asset-based Community Development a framework for harnessing the resources of individuals and communities to ensure local ownership and sustainability of development efforts. The GESI program features four components:
Pre-departure Training and Preparation
A rigorous seven-day pre-departure training program in Chicago in which you take two courses — one in international development theory and one in community consulting practice — taught by Northwestern faculty.
In-Country Immersion An eight-week internship with a community-based organization in Uganda, India, Bolivia or NIcaragua, where you and your teammates work with local leaders to design and implement a sustainable development project. Living in home-stays with community members, the students will be supported by the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD), an international development organization based in San Francisco and working in these locations.
Final Summit
A three-day Final Summit back in Chicago to reflect on your immersion, share and compare geographical experiences, explore ways to transform your summer experience into a lifestyle of global engagement, and network with other international development professionals.
Alumni Network
As the program closes, the CGE will transition into the role of alumni support.
Move your college educational experience in new ways with a study abroad trip.
The most current information about Study Abroad Opportunities, as well as application materials, can be obtained from the Office of International Programs (OIP)
Undergraduate Research Opportunities in the EES Department at Penn
Below is a list of some of the research opportunities for EES undergraduates. 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.
Penn Cosmogenic Isotope Lab - Undergraduate Research Opportunities
There are opportunities to conduct laboratory research associated with the Penn Cosmogenic Isotope Lab (Hayden Hall Rm 166-168) on a variety of topics. Many of these could be suitable for senior theses. These topics include:
(1) residence times of water in agricultural landscapes using stable isotope techniques
(2) weathering rates of Spanish and Antarctic granitic rock minerals (joint with Omar)
(3) the genesis (and age) of East Coast 'legacy' sediments (prereq - GEOL422)
(4) Sleuthing Chesapeake Bay fine sediment sources over time with cosmogenic nuclides
(5) Contaminant metals in Philadelphia urban gardens (Freshman, Sophomore opportunity)
I am also looking for an interim lab assistant for the Fall 2011 semester. Work study preferred.
Please contact Dr. Jane Willenbring (erosion@sas.upenn.edu) for more information about these opportunities.
Cenozoic Tectonic and Topographic Evolution of Blacktail-Ruby area of Southwest Montana
Dr. Peter Muller has the following research opportunities. Contact him directly to discuss projects.
The Blacktail and Ruby ranges and the adjacent fault-controlled sedimentary basins experienced a complex structural, magmatic, and topographic evolution from the latest Cretaceous to the present. The present landscape is dominated by fault-block Precambrian basement uplifts and adjacent sedimentary basins. Sedimentary and volcanic deposits provide clues as to the spatial pattern and temporal sequence of deformation, uplift, and subsidence. Brittle faults provide evidence of the kinematics of recurring compressional and extensional deformation.
The Price Creek Formation is a clastic redbed unit exposed in the southern Blacktail and Ruby range of southwest Montana. Price Creek lithologies range from coarse polymictic breccias to highly siliceous mudstones (>80 wt% SiO2). The unit rests unconformably on Archean basement and is overlain by pebbly conglomerates, sandstones and mudstones of the Paleogene Teddy Creek and Renova Formations. The basal, basement-clast bearing breccias of the Price Creek Fm indicate exposure of the Precambrian surface during deposition which is overlain unconformably by at least several kilometers of Paleozoic section in the northern end of both the Blacktail and Ruby ranges. These relationships suggest very rapid unroofing of the Blacktail and Ruby ranges during the latest Cretaceous-Paleocene followed by localized subsidence and accumulation of coarse clastics and localized volcanics.
The Jake Canyon fault is a low-moderately dipping fault that occurs along the northeast front of central and southern Blacktail range. The fault has been interpreted as both thrust and normal, with movement ending in either the mid-Eocene or mid-Miocene. It is highly intruded with quartz bodies and may have acted as a conduit for siliceous hot springs as well.
Student research possibilities include:
Stratigraphic and geochemical analysis of the Price Creek Fm; a suite of samples have been collected, but additional summer field study is still needed. Required background: sed/strat, mineralogy, geochemistry; desirable background: geologic field experience, structural geology
Structural and petrologic analysis of the range-bounding faults of the Blacktail and Ruby Ranges; summer field work required. Required background: structural geology, mineralogy, ign/met petrology; desirable background: geologic field experience, geomorphology
Landslides in the upper Ruby Valley, southwest Montana
Late Cenozoic sedimentary deposits along the west-facing front of the Snowcrest Range have been strongly incised during regional Quaternary uplift associated with the Yellowstone hotspot. This young incision has been enhanced by extensive landsliding in the poorly consolidated Miocene-Quaternary deposits. Some of these landslides exhibit barely degraded surfaces with numerous characteristic features (multiple scarps, springs and sag ponds) and may still be active.
Student Research possibilities include:
Map and document details of a large (@ 1km wide) landslide west of the Snowcrest gap. Summer field work required. Required background: intro geology; desirable background: geomorphology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geologic field experience.
Summer Research Stipends in Paleontology 2011
Application date: March 4, 2011.
Announcement of Annual Student Competition
Summer stipends are available for student research in Paleontology for the Summer of 2011. These stipends will be awarded on a competitive basis. Undergraduates and Graduate Students at the University of Pennsylvania are encouraged to apply. Undergraduate applications will be evaluated separately from those of graduate students.
The stipends will give the students the opportunity to work over the summer with a professor at the University of Pennsylvania or another institution on research, in the lab, a museum, or in the field. The stipends are intended by the donor to encourage undergraduate and graduate students in the study of paleontology. The amount of the stipends will be determined by the evaluation committee based on the merit of the proposal, the requirements of the project, and need. Awards can be requested to supplement other resources. The maximum award is $5,000. The proposed budget should include details as to how the funds will be spent, rank the priority of proposed expenditures, and any and all sources of other funding.
Students who are interested are encouraged to consult early with the professor of their choice or with Professor Pfefferkorn to discuss possible research topics. The student should then write a one to two-page essay, with other pages for title, references, and figures. In addition, the proposal should contain a budget with explanation, a list of available or possible other funding, a current transcript, and local, home, and electronic addresses. The professor under whose supervision the work will be done should independently send a letter evaluating the student and the project, and comment on the availability of additional funding.
The deadline for submission of proposals is in late March. The decision will be made by a committee of professors.
Please hand-deliver proposals to the mail box of Professor Hermann Pfefferkorn, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, 255 Hayden Hall / 6316 or send a complete PDF-file to: hpfeffer@sas.upenn.edu
Soil Carbon Biogeochemistry
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. Requirements: 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 5 - 20 hours per week. Please contact Alain F. Plante for more information.
Field Ecology in Mongolia, Summer 2011
Application due 16 January 2011
Approximately 4 weeks of field work in northern Mongolia at an International Long-Term Ecological Research site investigating aspects of climate change. Project is funded by the NSF and led by Penn Biology professors. Students will conduct field research alongside Penn and National University of Mongolia faculty. The project is in a field camp with primitive conditions. Applications are open to Penn undergraduates, freshmen through juniors, from any school and in any discipline. Learn more at:
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
Fluid flow and river bed response to floods in a coastal watershed
Field opportunity for undergraduate research in southern North Carolina.
Dates: Summer 2011
Description: A wide range of river flows occur in response to precipitation events. These flows sculpt and evolve the shape of a river; river topography then effects how future flows are routed through the river. In addition, significant quantities of stream water are exchanged with the river bed and banks, displacing ground water which returns to the stream - this subsurface exchange has important implications for contaminant transport and ecology. We will conduct several weeks of field work examining erosion and deposition patterns in a small, sandy stream in response to floods of different magnitudes. In addition, we will conduct tracer studies to see how water is exchanged between the stream and the surrounding environment. Research includes surveying and GPS mapping, grain size analysis, imaging, water quality sampling, and other tasks. These skills can be acquired either before or during the field campaign so no prior experience is necessary. The most important consideration is that the student is dedicated to the project, is enthusiastic, and can work well in a group. We will stay in a motel near the field site.
Cost: None. All travel, lodging, and food expenses will be covered by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Women and under-represented minorities are encouraged to apply.
Penn Sediment Dynamics Lab - Undergraduate Research Opportunity
There are opportunities to conduct laboratory research at the Penn Sediment Dynamics Lab (Basement of Hayden Hall) on a variety of topics including: river delta and alluvial fan dynamics; transport of coarse grains in steep channels; and various other topics.
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.
Additionally, the University of Pennsylvania and many other organizations have founded the Philadelphia Global Water Initiative to address these issues. PGWI was founded in November 2006 and needs help to continue its growth to date. If you are interested in helping grow this new NGO, please contact Stan Laskowski.
Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory, Puerto Rico: Undergraduate Research Opportunities
The Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory (LCZO) is located in Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico. The multi-disciplinary team of geoscientists working at the site are addressing a set of specific hypotheses that are related to the following overarching questions: How do critical zone processes and the flow and transformations of material differ in landscapes with contrasting bedrock but similar climates, land use, and geologic histories? What are the implications of these differences for the long term sustainability of water and soil resources?
Specifically, the observatory is quantifying and comparing critical zone (CZ) processes in landforms and watersheds underlain by three different rock types, granodiorites, volcaniclastics, and their associated contact metamorphic rocks.
The Geology Major prepares students for a wide variety of careers in academic and professional settings. Students will find careers in the private and public sectors as well as academia.
The following is a list of resources and opportunities from the Geological Society of America
1. GSA Membership
GSA Student and Recent Graduate Memberships are incredible values. If you are not already a member of GSA, join right away in order to take advantage of benefits outlined in this message. Join online to get extended membership through December 2012. Also save US $5 by using Promotion Code: JoinGSA12. Membership dues are only US $25 with this offer. Offer is valid through 31 December.
If you’re already a GSA member, renew your membership for 2012 before 15 December and save US $5.
2. GSA Journals
Student and Recent Graduate members get FREE online access to GSA’s premier journals included with their membership—GSA Bulletin, Geology, Geosphere, Lithosphere, and the Journal of the Geological Society (of London) — over US $190 annual value.
3. GSA Student Research Grant Programs
GSA Student members have several ways to obtain funding to support their research:
Currently enrolled graduate students may apply for up to US $2,500 through the GSA Graduate Student Research Grants Program. This program provides partial support of master’s and doctoral thesis research in the geological sciences for GSA graduate student members (GSA Recent Graduates are not eligible). Applications are being accepted early December through 1 February 2012.
Looking for funding to support your desert studies? The Farouk El-Baz Student Research Award in Desert Studies may be your resource. Applicants must be either in their senior year of their undergraduate studies or at the Masters or Ph.D. level. Applications are being accepted now through 1 February 2012.
The Gladys W. Cole Memorial Research Award supports research in geomorphology of semiarid and arid terrains in the United States and Mexico. The W. Storrs Cole Memorial Research Award supports research in invertebrate micropaleontology. Both awards will be given each year to GSA Members or Fellows between 30 and 65 years of age who have published one or more significant papers in geomorphology or invertebrate micropaleontology, respectively.
Did you know that several GSA Divisions offer grants for outstanding research? Now’s the time to make sure you’re a member of the Divisions that align with your geological interests.
4. GeoCorps™ America
The GeoCorps™ America program—offering some 90 positions annually—is a great way to gain real-world geoscience experience! The program places GSA members in short-term, paid positions across the U.S. to assist the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management with geoscience projects. May–September 2012 positions will be posted 1 December 2011, and applications will be accepted through 1 February 2012.
5. 2012 GSA Section Meetings / Mentor Programs Start planning now to participate in the GSA’s regional Section meetings, March–May 2012. Section meetings offer the perfect venue to present your research, consult with mentors, and connect with geoscientists in both your geographic and geological areas.
Take advantage of a GSA travel grant to attend your regional Section meeting. See the flyer for a special travel opportunity to the upcoming IGC. The Northeastern GSA meeting is to be held in Hartford, CT March 18-20, 2012 and there is an interesting Themed Session titled "The Legacy of Humans and Glaciation in Northeastern Rivers" that many of you may be interested in.
Submit an abstract (oral or poster)—Some Sections’ abstract deadlines are in early December.
6. GeoVentures – Explore Hawaiian Volcanoes Join an exciting and enthusiastic group of students and teachers as they learn first-hand the wonders of active volcanism on the Big Island of Hawaii between 25 July – 1 August 2012. For more information visit www.geoventures.org and follow the links for students.
7.2012 GSA Annual Meeting—Charlotte, North Carolina
