Dynamic Urban Environmental Systems Research Experience

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:15:05 -0500

Title: Dynamic Urban Environmental Systems and Sustainability (DUESS)

An REU Site at Rutgers University-Newark that provides students with hands-on research experiences in dynamic urban environmental systems. The site takes advantage of a vigorous multidisciplinary effort that involves near surface geophysics, urban geochemistry and urban ecology in northern New Jersey and especially, the New Jersey Meadowlands. Each scholar will choose one area of specialization but the research and support activities will be integrated to show students:

1. how their research experience relates to the whole urban research project,

2. how their research affects real-life issues that affect them and their families and

3. how they can pursue research careers stemming from this experience.

Research Areas (see the website for full project descriptions):

Near Surface Geophysics

The Near Surface Geophysics Group (NSGG) at Rutgers is engaged in research to develop emerging geophysical technologies for minimally invasive characterization and monitoring of urban environments.

Urban Geochemistry/Biogeochemistry

REU students will pursue research projects in the field of urban geochemistry/biogeochemistry in the polluted urban environment. One area of research focuses on the geochemical processes that control the fate of pollutants such as arsenic and chromium in soils and sediments including advanced spectroscopic tools to assess the mechanisms involved.

Function and Sustainability of Urban Biodiversity

This research concentrates on the structure and function of urban nature. REU teams will investigate whether the proposed causal linkage between biodiversity-ecosystem functioning- ecosystem services –human well-being is applicable to urban systems.

Polar Research

The primary goal of this project is to quantify atmospheric iron properties in the marine atmospheric boundary layer over the Western Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates:

The program will run from June 5 - July 28, 2017

The deadline for the program is February 20

Benefits include:

DUESS REU fellows will receive a $4,000 stipend and free housing at Rutgers University-Newark for the 8-week program (6/5-7/28/17).

Suggested majors include (but are not limited to):

Earth Science,

Geography and Environmental Sciences,

Mechanical Engineering,

Chemistry, Biochemistry

Biological Sciences

Click on the link below to read more about this opportunity and see if you are eligible to apply. For help with applying, please contact Dr. April Householder, Director of Undergraduate Research and Nationally Competitive Scholarships at aprilh@umbc.edu.