Earth Intern Program for Columbia and Barnard Students

Sponsored by the Earth Institute, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Barnard College, and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University

Program Dates: June 2nd-August 11th, 2009

The Earth Intern Program offers the chance to experience scientific research as an undergraduate. The program is open to all Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, Columbia General Studies, and Barnard students who have completed their junior or sophomore year in college with majors (or anticipated majors) in earth science, environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, engineering or political science. Exceptional first-year students will also be considered. Graduating seniors are not eligible. Applicants should have an interest in conducting research in the Earth, atmospheric, or ocean sciences. Completion of at least two courses in Earth, atmospheric or ocean sciences is desirable. All students are required to have at least one year of calculus. Students undertaking research in geochemistry and chemical oceanography are required to have at least two semesters of college-level chemistry. Students undertaking research in marine biology are required to have at least two semesters of college-level biology. Students undertaking research in geophysics should have at least three semesters of college-level physics. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

STIPEND: Students will receive a stipend of $4000 for this 10-week program.  In addition, the student will receive free, air-conditioned housing in dorms across the street from the Columbia campus. (Local students who are accepted to the program and who prefer to live at home will receive an additional $1000.) Students will also receive free bus transportation between the Columbia campus and Lamont. Students who are traveling to Lamont from more than 200 miles away will be reimbursed for a round-trip supersaver fare.

The following members of the Earth Institute and the LDEO staff will act as research mentors:

Kevin Griffin. Expertise: Terrestrial Ecology, Scaling, Plant Physiology, Carbon Cycling. Current Research: Impacts of the Urban Environment of New York City on Plant Function and Carbon Uptake in Red Oak.

Nick Christie-Blick, Byrdie Renik, and Sidney Hemming. Expertise: Sedimentary Geology, Tectonics, Sedimentary Geochemistry, Geochronology, and Structural Geology. Current Research: Thermochronological Test of the Rolling Hinge Model for Extension across Death Valley, California.

Steven Chillrud and James Ross. Expertise: Urban Environmental Geochemistry, Contaminant Behavior.  Current Research: Urban Lake Cores as Indicators of Atmospheric Deposition and Phosphate Additions to Drinking Water in New York City.

Brent Goehring. Expertise: Geochemistry, Geochronology. Current Research: Did Climate-Induced Changes of Holocene Groundwater Levels in Death Valley Trigger Hydrovolcanic Eruptions?

Sidney Hemming. Expertise; Sedimentary Geochemistry, Geochronology. Current Research: Geological Record of Climate Change in and around Mono Basin, Eastern California.

Beizhan Yan and Steven Chillrud. Expertise: Environmental Geochemistry, Atmospheric Science.  Current Research: Using Optical Absorption Techniques to Estimate Contaminant Sources in New York City Air.

Brian Mailloux and Greg O’Mullen.  Expertise: Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Science.  Current Research:  Characterization of Microbial Organisms in Arsenic Contaminated Aquifers and Wells in Bangladesh.

Marc Levy. Expertise: Environmental Security, Environmental Governance, Sustainable Development. Current Research: Socioeconomic Scenarios for Climate Impact Assessments.

Sean Smukler. Expertise: Agroecology, Ecosystem Service Modeling, Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration. Current Research: Modeling Landscape Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for three Millennium Village Project Sites in Eastern Africa. Modeling Carbon Dynamics in three Millennium Village Project Sites in Eastern Africa. Developing a Vegetation Classification Methodology for Remote Sensing Data from three Millennium Village Project Sites in Eastern Africa.

Adi Torfstien and Gisela Winckler. Expertise: Paleoclimate, Paleooceanography, Paleolimnology, Geochemistry. Current Research: Helium Isotopes in Marine, Lacustrine, and Eolian Environments. Global Distribution Patterns of Interplanetary Dust Particles.

Xiaojun Yuan. Expertise: Physical Oceanography, Air-Sea-Ice Interactions, Climate Studies.  Current Research: Impact of Southern Ocean Cyclones on Antarctic Sea Ice and the Polar Ocean.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: must be received by March 15, 2009.

To apply, fill out the on line application form at this location:                                                    

http://webapp.ldeo.columbia.edu/interns

The online application form will ask for a statement of interest, a resume and two letters of recommendation   These are part of the on-line application form and do not need to be sent by regular mail.

In addition send by regular mail (NOT email):

Official college transcript(s);

Columbia and Barnard students who also want their application considered for the Lamont Summer intern program sponsored by NSF Ocean Sciences should select 3 research projects each for both programs on the online application form. It is not necessary to send separate applications and transcripts when applying to both programs.

 For more information about the program, look at this link:

 http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/education/programs/summer-internship/intern-program-faqs

Send transcripts to: Dr. Dallas Abbott, Columbia Earth Intern Program, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964, email: dallas@ldeo.columbia.edu

Decisions for all but the waiting list will be made on or before April 15, 2009. Every year the research projects and advisors change. Please look for the yearly posting of new projects on the first of February.