CEE Professors Jessica Lundquist and Rebecca Neumann are currently recruiting undergraduate students for a few water-related research opportunities taking place this summer & fall.
Exciting research positions in UW Civil and Environmental Engineering: Mountain Hydrology and Wetland Biogeochemistry
We are planning to fill the following positions (up to 8 people between two research groups), to start work on June 20, 2016. Pay rate $13 to $15 per hour, dependent on experience. Please apply by June 8, 2016 at 5 pm. Students early in their undergraduate careers (current freshman, sophomores, and juniors) are encouraged to apply.
To Apply:
If you are interested in any of these positions, please fill out the Web Survey before 5 pm on June 8, 2016.
We will be contacting highly-ranked individuals for interviews beginning June 9th . Specific questions may be directed to Jessica Lundquist at jdlund@uw.edu and Rebecca Neumann atrbneum@uw.edu .
Applications are due by June 8th.
Position Details:
Summer-only field technicians:
1 or 2 people are needed to retrieve digital cameras and measurement poles in remote regions of Olympic National Park. The cameras have been taking photographs of snow accumulating on the poles throughout the winter to quantify spatial patterns of snow in these mountains for the OLYMPEX field campaign (http://olympex.atmos.washington.edu). Applicants must have an interest in snow and mountains and an ability to hike long distances over uneven terrain while carrying heavy and potentially odd-shaped objects (e.g., sections of PVC pipe and solar panels). Applicants must be available for training in late June, and in July, August, and early September for deployments. (Note: Fieldwork will not conflict with regular UW classes.) In between trips, hired applicants will also help process image data obtained by the cameras (noting how deep the now is, as measured by the poles).
1 to 2 people are needed to assist with water sampling and other chemical measurements in a wetland bog located outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. Data will contribute to a project investigating methane production and methane oxidation in a thermokarst bog; methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential 20-times larger than that of carbon dioxide (seehttp://faculty.washington.edu/rbneum/research.html for more information). Applicants must have an interest in climate change science, an attention to detail, and an ability to hike ~2 miles carrying heavy objects. Applicants must be available for training in late June and be willing to spend the remainder of the summer living up in Fairbanks in a dry cabin shared with roommates. (Note: Fieldwork will not conflict with regular UW classes.)
The following skills/experiences are desired for both positions (though applicants with most but not all of these will be considered): 1) ability to fix things relying only on supplies you carry (e.g., experience with circuits, fixing cars, construction, home repair), 2) ability to work well with others in potentially harsh weather conditions, 3) good communication skills, 4) good organizational skills (e.g., experience with organizing/leading outdoor trips and/or with teaching/instruction/management), 5) ability to think quickly on one’s feet and innovate (e.g., solve problems not seen before).
Long-term undergraduate research aides:
Mountain Hydrology: 1 to 2 people are needed to work up to full time in the summer and part time through the academic year to 1) help maintain instrumentation at Snoqualmie Pass (seehttp://depts.washington.edu/mtnhydr/research/intermitsnow.shtml), 2) maintain web presentation and archiving of data collected (see http://depts.washington.edu/mtnhydr/cgi/plot.cgi) , 3) process field data from various data sites across the western United States, 4) procure field equipment as needed, 5) copy and scan material as needed, 6) attend group meetings and 7) provide progress reports and updates to supervisor on a weekly basis. Past students in this position have won Mary Gates Undergraduate Research scholarships, and many have gone on to graduate school. Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel and Matlab (or other similar programming language) required. Experience with GIS, circuits, and web(html)-programming desired. Must be hard-working, organized and reliable.
Wetland Biogeochemistry: 1 to 2 people are needed to work up to full time in the summer and part time through the academic year to 1) analyze field collected water samples on various analytical instruments, 2) process field collected images in Matlab , 3) procure field equipment as needed, 4) generate plots of data, 5) copy and scan material as needed, 6) attend group meetings and 7) provide progress reports and updates to supervisor on a weekly basis. Past students in this position have won Mary Gates Undergraduate Research scholarships, and many have gone on to graduate school. Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel and Matlab (or other similar programming language) required. Experience with laboratory chemistry and analysis of water samples desired. Must be hard-working, organized and reliable.
Potential combined positions:
Students interested in both fieldwork and longer term research are particularly desirable. Please specify if you would like to be considered for a long-term position participating in both of these activities.