Paid Summer On-Campus Internships with JCET

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:24:14 -0500

Multiple paid summer research internships are available now in UMBCworks with the UMBC Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology.

Check out opportunities like:

Climate Change Research
With climate change on the forefront of political and economic debates, it is up to scientists to fill in the gaps in our collective understanding of climate and to be able to effectively communicate those findings to a public audience. Such research supports the factual elements in the ongoing debate. One key area of interest (and uncertainty) is the measurement of precipitation using satellite remote sensing techniques. Precipitation, especially snowfall, is notoriously difficult to measure on a global basis using space-based instruments. The summer student would be actively involved in examining microwave remote sensing data obtained during snowfall events, both recent and historic. The basic task for the student will be to get a handle on how well our remote sensing methods are working towards improving the general knowledge of falling snow estimation. There will be a data analysis aspect to this work and a communications aspect to it as well.

Vegetation Spectral Bio-Indicators of Photosynthetic Efficiency
Current ecosystem carbon exchange models are limited by a lack of quantitative information on the spatial and temporal variability in photosynthetic uptake, an important physiological and ecological function. To use remote sensing to measure photosynthetic rates we need to develop connections between leaf physiological responses and spectral optical properties. In the proposed research the student will process field measurements of both spectral reflectance and photosynthesis of leaves and plants, examining how both vary diurnally and seasonally, as well as the effects of incident light levels (sun versus shade). During the summer of 2013 measurements will be collected at field sites in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center located near Goddard Space Flight Center. Students will spend their time working in our laboratory, and also making limited further spectral measurements. Students will be responsible for processing the data and developing relationships between the leaf spectral characteristics and rates of photosynthesis. They would need to have their own transportation. Students will need to be able to work methodically and independently, processing leaf samples for chemical analysis and using MATLAB and/or statistics packages for data organization and analysis.

Evaluation of the operational precipitation products using independent rain gauges
This internship intends to evaluate the operational precipitation products using independent rain gauges in mid-Atlantic region. there are 17 rain gauges in the Southern Delmarva Peninsula. The internship will include the analysis of the data, creating the rainfall products, running rainfall statistics. The computer programming skills are required for the completion of the program.
Expected outcomes: Both oral and poster presentations are expected. The intern should report daily progress and expect to work 8 hours per working day.
Computer Skills: FORTRAN or C++ and/or IDL is recommended. The student may do all the calculations using Matlab.

STEM Education Intern and Spanish Translation of STEM Education materials
An insufficient number of American students are choosing careers in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) to fill the available jobs. One approach to encourage more students to participate in STEM activities is to provide the curriculum in Spanish. Students interested in working with JCET faculty on STEM materials for educators and students and/or translating English curriculum into Spanish should apply. The most important qualifications are motivation, organization and punctuality.

All positions are available on UMBCworks: Apply by March 31, 2013 for best consideration.