2016Great Lakes Summer Student Fellows Program
Visitthe CILERwebsitetoapply
TheCooperativeInstituteforLimnologyandEcosystemsResearch(CILER),locatedattheUniversity of Michigan,announcesthe2016GreatLakesSummerStudentFellowsProgram.Thisprogramissponsored bytheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sGreatLakesEnvironmentalResearchLab (GLERL). TheGreatLakesSummerStudentsFellowsProgramexposesstudentstoabroadrangeoffields andprovidesanexciting opportunityforstudentstoconductresearchintheGreatLakesregionunder thementorshipof aresearcheror workingprofessional.
Description:
− Weareofferingeight(8)full-timetwelve-weekpositions.Allofthesepositionsarelocatedatthe
GLERLlabinAnnArbor,MI.
−Positionswilllastfortwelveweeks fromthestartdate.Startdatesforeachpositionwillbeflexible basedonthementor’sandselectedcandidate’sschedule,althoughthestartdateisusuallyeitherin earlyMayor earlyJune.
−Weareseekingadiversegroupofstudents;thus,weencourageapplicationsfromstudentscurrently underrepresentedin theaquaticsciencesdisciplineandworkforce.
Clickhere forSummer FellowsPositionDescriptions(or seebelow)
Stipend
−Thereisastipendof$6,500forthetwelve-weekperiod,paidintwoinstallmentsof$3,250each:For Maystart dates,thefirstinstallmentwillbeinthe2ndweek ofMayandthesecondinstallmentwill beinthe2ndweek ofJune. ForJunestartdatesthefirstinstallmentwillbeinthe2ndweekofJune and thesecondinstallmentwilloccurinthe2ndweekof July.
Deadline:
−Applicationsmust besubmittedby26February2016at11:59pm(EasternTime).
Eligibility:
−TheFellowsProgramislimitedtocurrentlyenrolledundergraduate(juniorsandseniorspreferred) andgraduatestudents.Wewillalsoconsiderpost-baccalaureateorpost-mastersstudentswhohave graduated withinthe past12months(ofyourfellow positionstart date) ifthe positionfitsdirectly withinastudent’scareergoals.
−YoumustbeeitheraU.S.CitizenoraforeignnationalwhoisresidingintheU.S.onacurrentStudent
Visa.
−ImmediaterelativesofanyCILERorNOAA-GLERLemployeesarenoteligibletoparticipateinthis program,consistentwithNOAA guidelines.
OtherRequirements
−Fellowsarerequiredtogive a15-minuteoralpresentation attheendof their fellowshipperiod.
−Fellowsareresponsibleforcoveringthecostoftheirhousingforthedurationofthefellowship,as wellastheir transportationcoststoandfrom thepositionlocation.Anytraveloraccommodations requiredwhileperforming thedutiesoftheposition,i.e.fieldwork,etc.,willbecovered bythe program.
−TheGLERLlabislocatedat 4840SouthStateRoad,AnnArbor,MI48108,about4milessouthof the UMCentralCampus.Thereisnopublictransportation availablebetweenGLERLandUMCentral Campus,sohavingyourowntransportationisrecommended.Manystudentsandstaffdoregularly bike toworkat thislocation.
APPLICATIONPROCESS:
−Wehaveanonlineelectronicapplicationsubmissionprocess.Transcripts(officialorunofficial),a coverletter,andarésuméarerequiredelementsoftheelectronic submission.Applicantswillbe asked toidentifyand rankthree(3) projectsto whichtheywouldlike toapply.
−Alongwiththeelectronicapplication,werequireoneletterofrecommendationthatmustbesent directlyfromthewriter,viaemail,fax,orregularmail.Therecommendationlettershouldbesentto theattentionofMaryOgdahl(seecontactinformationbelow). Alllettersmustbereceivedby26
February2016.
−Scientistswillreviewtheapplicationsoncetheyaresubmitted. Afteraninitialreview,theproject mentorwillset-upphoneinterviews withthetopcandidatestodiscusstheprojectinmoredetail and ensureappropriatenessmatchin interestand skills.
−Forspecificquestionsabouteachopportunity,contacttheindividualmentors.Emailaddressesare providedwiththeposition descriptions.
−Applicants willbenotifiedoftheirstatusby 31March2016.
Clickheretoapply
ContactInformation:
MaryOgdahl
CILERProgramManager
Universityof Michigan
440ChurchStreet,G110Dana Building
Ann Arbor,MI48109-1041
Ph:734-763-3010
Email:
TheUniversityofMichiganis anequalopportunity/affirmativeactionemployer
2016Great Lakes Summer Fellow Positions
1. Spatialanalysisofdreissenidmusselpopulations
Mentors:AshleyBaldridge(NOAA-GLERL;), MarkRowe(UM- CILER; )
ProjectDescription:Thisproject willadvanceourunderstandingof dreissenid musselspatial distribution,population growth,and ecosystemimpacts.Thefellowwillworkwith mentorsto updateNOAAdreisseniddensityand biomassmapsfor LakeMichigan(andotherGreatLakes, if timepermits).Itisclearthatquaggamusseldensities intheGreatLakeshaveundergonedynamic changesin thepastdecade,butless isknownabout howdepth,substrate,and lake-specificfactors areinfluencingthe observedtrajectories.Thestudent willinvestigatearesearchquestionof interestthataddressesthese changes.Activitieswillinclude,butarenotlimited to:(1)organizing andsummarizinglong-termdata sets; (2)analyzing ecologicaldatausingadvancedspatial analysis techniques;and(3)assistingwithotherfieldand labprojectsin theBenthicEcologyLab asdesired tobroadenexposure.Overthecourseof thisproject,thefellowwillalsohavetheopportunityto
interactwith otherNOAAecologistsandmodelersat GLERL inAnnArborand the NOAA-GLERLLake MichiganField Station.Strongcandidateswillhaveprior scientificprogramming,dataanalysis(R preferred,alsoMatlab,Python,IDL), and/orexperiencewith geographicinformationsystems(GIS); beorganizedandconscientious;and have an interestinGreatLakesecology.
2. Great LakesicedataArcGISscripting
Mentors:JiaWang(NOAA-GLERL; ), AnneClites(NOAA- GLERL )
ProjectDescription:NOAA-GLERLarchivesdataonGreatLakesicecoverfromthe NationalIce Centereachyear. Thisprojectprovides thebasicdatausedtoprovide informationtoabroad audience of users and decision makersfor searchand rescueoperations,navigation(commercial shipping),andrecreationalice fishingduringthewinterseason.Thisimportantdataset isalso usedforresearchonimprovingthepredictionof ice coverin responsetoa changing climateon seasonal, interannual,anddecadaltimescales.Inadditiontostoring theoriginalasci gridfiles, GLERLalsoimportsthedataintoArcGIS,savingshapefilesandjpegsassociatedwitheachasci grid file.Thesearearchivedonour websiteandmadeavailable tothepublic
here: currentmethodforimportingdata intoArcGISisinneed of automating.Weareseekingagood Pythonscripterwhohasatleastsome familiaritywithArcGIStoautomateour currentprocessingprocedures.Inaddition,weintendto conduct in-depth researchlinkingtoArcticclimate teleconnectionpatternstoGreatLakesclimate andicecover.Theprojectispart ofthepredictionof ice coverin responsetoa changing climateon seasonal, interannual,anddecadaltimescales, which enablesustoprovideinformationtoa broaderuserbaseinsearchandrescue operations,navigation(commercialshipping),and recreationalicefishingduringthe winterseason.Theseforecastsprovidedecisionmakerswith
toolstoaid in protectingtheGreatLakesand thepublic. Qualificationsincludeprogrammingin
Fortran,and/orotherprogrammingskillsareplussuchasC, GIS,Matlab,R,and scripts.Data analysesandstatisticsbackgroundisdesired.
3. Usingan ecosystem-basedmodel to studythe impactsofremediationonthefoodwebs Mentors:DoranMason(NOAA-GLERL;), EdRutherford(NOAA- GLERL;),and HongyanZhang(UM-CILER; )
ProjectDescription:Ourresearchteamis using ecosystem-basedmodelstostudyhowtheGreat Lakesecosystemsrespond tothenaturalandanthropogenicstressors,andprovidescientific supportforlakeand fisheriesmanagement.Thisfellowwill workcloselywith theteamtocalibrate andapplyan ecosystem-basedmodel(the Atlantis ecosystemmodel)tostudythetemporaland spatialimpactsof remediationactions(e.g.,invasive species,habitat restoration,ornutrient reduction)on foodwebdynamics in LakeErie.Activitiesmayinclude,butare notlimitedto:1) calibratingthemodel with observationaldata;2)scenario simulations,result analyses and discussion. Candidatesshould have astronginterestorbackgroundin oneor moreof thefollowing areas:programming,GreatLakesecosystems,ecosystemmodeling,and fishecologyand fisheries.
4. Safetyandenvironmentalmanagementsystem
Mentor:Kim Kulpanowski(NOAA-GLERL; )
ProjectDescription:Thisfellowwillbring afreshset ofeyestoGLERL’ssafetyand environmental complianceprogramand worktodevelopand implementanynumberofprogrammanagement enhancementsbasedontheirinterestsand abilities.Thisfellowwillbeorientedtothecurrent programmanagementapproach,thenhonein onopportunities for improvementand develop themtoadvancetheoverallsuccessfulmanagementof theprogram.Projectideas includebutare notlimitedto:
•incorporation ofthelatesttechnologytoolsandconceptsin trainingprograms
•chemicalinventorymanagementsystemimprovement/redesign
•safetyinspectionreportingsystemredesign
•universaland/or hazardouswastemanagement/minimization
•safetyand environmentalprogramplanning/managementsystemdesign
Candidatesshould haveastronginterestorbackground inoneor moreofthefollowingareas: informationtechnology,industrialhygiene,safety,hazardouswasteand/or universalwaste management,continualimprovementquality concepts,projectplanning.Regulatoryfamiliarity with OSHA safetyand health standardsandEPA and MDEQenvironmentalregulationswould be helpfulforsomeof theprojects.
5. Meteorologicaldataanalysis
Mentors:AyumiManome(UM-CILER; ),EricAnderson(NOAA- GLERL; )
ProjectDescription:Thefellowwillsupportthe GLERLiceandhydrodynamicmodelingteamby improvingthehistoricalmeteorologicaldatasetoverthe GreatLakes.Specifically,the fellowwill workonincorporatingmeteorologicalreportsfromshipsoperatingacrosstheGreatLakesintothe existing griddeddatasetsbasedondatafromtheNationalData BuoyCenterand theCoastal MarineAutomatedNetwork.Specialfocus willbegiven towinter,whenbuoydataareusually not available.Tasks willinclude 1)excludingerroneousdatabasedonsystematiccriteria,2)tabulating thequalitystatisticsforeach shipID,3) createanewgriddeddatasetthat includesquality- controlledship reports,4)inter-comparisonwithatmosphericre-analysis(e.g.,NorthAmerican
RegionalReanalysis,ClimateForecastSystemReanalysis).Thecandidateshould have knowledgeof
basicmeteorology,includingthatof thesurface layer(theconstantflux layer).Preferencewillbe given tocandidatesthathave experiencewithatmosphericdata analysis,Fortran,aLinux/Unix computingenvironment.
6. Hydroclimatologicalmodeling
Mentors:Chuliang Xiao(UM-CILER; ), Brent Lofgren(NOAA- GLERL; ).
ProjectDescription:Thisprojectwillinvolveusing the WeatherResearchandForecasting(WRF) modeltostudythehydroclimatein theGreatLakesregion.CoupledModelIntercomparisonProject Phase5(CMIP5)providesprojectionsof futureclimate changein differentfutureemission
scenarios inaglobalperspective.BasedonCMIP5outputs, astate-of-the-artregionalclimate model,WRFcoupled with asophisticatedlake model,isimplementedtoconductdynamic downscalingprojectionsinthe GreatLakesregion.Activitiesmayinclude,but arenotlimitedto:1) gaining an understandingof theconcept ofdynamicdownscaling;2) comparingthefutureclimate projections (e.g.,temperature,precipitation,evaporation)betweentwoscenarios(highand moderateemissions);3)calibrating aroutingmodeltoprojectthewaterlevelchange inthefuture. Candidatesshould haveknowledgeof basicmeteorology,and experiencewith dataanalysis (e.g., Fotran, GrADS,NCL, R).
7. GLANSIS(Great LakesAquaticNonindigenousSpeciesInformationSystem) Mentors:RochelleSturtevant(NOAA-GLERL;), EdRutherford(NOAA-GLERL;)
ProjectDescription:Thesummerfellowwill workwith an onlinedatabaseservinginformation relating tononindigenousspeciesin theGreatLakesregion ( leadershipforaspecific,definedresearchprojectcomponentofGLANSIS,suchasupdatingthe range expansionlistand developingfactsheetsfor theaddedspecies.Tasks willincludereviewing scientificliteraturetodevelopor updatespeciesfact sheets,reviewingthesystemfor consistency andimprovingcontent,dataentry,workingwithexternalscientiststoidentifyandevaluatenew speciesforpossibleadditiontothe database,andupdating ofoutreachmaterials.Thereisalsoa possibility ofmakingpresentationsat publicevents.Candidatesmusthaveexcellentwritten communicationskills (technicaland non-technicalwriting).Familiaritywith databaseprograms and/or invasion biologya plus,but not essential.
8. Invasivespecies,fisheriesandfoodwebdynamics
Mentor:Ed Rutherford(NOAA-GLERL; )
ProjectDescription:Thisfellowwill participateinanongoingstudyofinvasive speciesimpactson GreatLakesfisheriesand foodwebs. Inparticular,the fellowwillassist with intensivediel surveys inLakeMichiganand usenewsamplingtechnology(MOCNESSsampling system)todescribethe physical structureof thewatercolumnin nearshoreandoffshorewaters,anditseffect on fine spatialdistributionsand densitiesofchlorophyll,nativezooplanktonspecies,thepredatory
cladoceranBythotrephes,and fishlarvaedensities,growthandsurvival.Thefellowwillbe expected
toconduct agearefficiencystudy comparingtraditionalplanktonsamplinggearswiththemore modernMOCNESSsamplingsystem.Candidatesshould have astrongbackground inGreatLakesor marinescienceand be experiencedworkingon boatsinvariable weatherconditions.