GLIN==> Great Lakes Student Summer Fellowships

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA), Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), and the Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER) administered by the University of Michigan, announce a Great Lakes Summer Student Fellowship Program.

We seek to fill seventeen (17), full time, three-month positions. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled in the 2003-2004 academic year. Preference will be given to current undergraduate students or undergraduate students who received their degree during the 2003-04 academic year, although applications from graduate students will receive consideration. The starting date will be between May 15 and June 15, 2004. Successful applicants will receive a stipend of $5,000 for the three-month fellowship. The fellow will be expected to provide a written project report at the completion of the work. University credit for the experience may be arranged either through the University of Michigan or through your home institution. Details for obtaining university credit will be provided with acceptance letters.

All fellows will be guest students of the University of Michigan. Each fellow will gain experience by working at an environmental research laboratory under the mentorship of a scientist or professional. Most fellows will be located at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan but there are several opportunities located elsewhere. The location of each position is noted in the individual job description.

Summer fellowships are available in a broad range of fields, GIS operator, data analyst, computer programmer, biochemist, benthic invertebrate biologist, aquatic ecologist, aquatic biologist, food web modeler, remote sensing technician, bathymetry cartographer, electronics engineer, maritime historian and communications and outreach specialist. A description of each of the available fellowships and information about GLERL may be found on the GLERL web site at http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/pr/ssfp/. Information about CILER may be found on the CILER web site at http://www.ciler.org.

Applications must be received by March 1, 2004. Successful candidates will be notified by April 1, 2004. Application packages must contain a resume, transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable), one academic letter of recommendation, and a cover letter specifically stating which opportunity (ies) you are interested in. Submit all documentation to:

1. Aquatic Biologist - Mentor: Thomas Nalepa Thomas.Nalepa@noaa.gov,
The fellow will be involved in a study to examine the abundance and distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate organisms in Lakes Michigan and Huron. Duties will include sorting and counting collected organisms, preparing organisms for taxonomic identification, tabulating data, and creating spreadsheets. Of primary concern is the abundance of the benthic amphipod Diporeia, which is rapidly declining in both lakes. Other duties include determining length-weights, and assisting with laboratory experiments. The incumbent will be expected to do some field sampling. The position is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The fellow will assist in supporting GLERL communications and outreach activities including: 1) Developing and writing short summaries of GLERL research activities for distribution to a diverse constituent audience; 2) Working with GLERL scientists and support staff in responding to constituent requests for GLERL products, services, and expertise; 3) Supporting GLERL outreach events such as laboratory open houses, tours and related activities. The incumbent should have a strong background in Great Lakes or marine science and demonstrated training or experience in journalism and/or communications. Position is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan

3. Aquatic Ecologist - Mentor: (Scott Peacor Scott.Peacor@noaa.gov
The fellow will be involved in a project examining the behavior and ecology of Great Lakes zooplankton. In particular, we will examine how invasive cladocerans affect the behavior and growth of their prey.. Sample collection and laboratory experiments will compose the bulk of the responsibilities. Experience spending time on boats is highly desirable. This position will be based at the Lake Michigan Field Station in Muskegon, Michigan

4. Aquatic Biologist or Ecologist - Mentors: Hank Vanderploeg henry.vanderploeg@noaa.gov and Radka Pichlova radka.pichlova@noaa.gov

The summer fellow will be involved in examining impact of invasive predatory zooplankton species, Cercopagis pengoi and Bythotrephes cederstroemi, to the plankton community of Lake Michigan. Tasks will include microscope elaboration of preserved samples (counting and measuring), help with keeping cultures of prey animals, and help with field experimental work (collection of live animals, their sorting and counting). From mid July through August, the work will include frequent traveling from Ann Arbor to the Muskegon field station, where the experiments will be run over a few days. (Travel expenses will be paid by GLERL). Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Acquire, process, and analyze multiple databases of topography, land use, soil, and hydrography, and derive input parameters for a hydrological simulation model. Strong background in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (ArcView and Arc/Info) and statistics is required. The work is to be conducted in the Department of Geography at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Develop, test, and refine an interface between Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and GLERL's 2-D Large Basin Runoff Model (2-D LBRM) to Automate the extraction of multiple input parameters to the model from databases of topography, land use, soil, and hydrography. Proficiency in computer programming and GIS is required. The work is to be conducted in the Department of Geography at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The fellow will assist in developing an individually based model of interacting species using the SWARM platform. The objective of the project is to use "virtual ecosystems" to gain insight into adaptive behavior and species invasions. Each individual organism will have an underlying evolutionary algorithm (e.g., a genetic algorithm) that dictates behavior that is context dependent. Programming skills are required. Please see <http://www.msu.edu/~peacor/>http://www.msu.edu/~peacor/ for a brief description of this project and list of collaborators. Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The fellow will assist in supporting remote sensing/image processing research activities involving computer work but with the possibility of some field data collection on the Great Lakes. The main activity will involve processing and cataloging retrospective digital satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of ice cover on the Great Lakes to create an online archive. The incumbent should have a strong background in computer programming and web design on PC and UNIX machines. It is desirable that the incumbent has a working knowledge of the IDL programming language. Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The fellow will provide technical assistance to an ongoing effort to synthesize six years of hydro acoustics and habitat data from the Chesapeake Bay. These data ultimately will be used to help management agencies understand and predict fish (e.g., bay anchovy, striped bass) distributional and growth patterns in Chesapeake Bay. The incumbent will be encouraged to pursue independent analyses, using the large body of data collected. Responsibilities: Specific duties will primarily involve processing hydro acoustics data on fish distributions in Chesapeake Bay, and secondarily involve generation of graphical presentations of the data (typically using Sigma Plot and Excel). The possibility of assisting other researchers in aquatic ecology research and field endeavors also exists. Qualifications: Candidates with strong academic records are encouraged to apply. Experience with Microsoft Excel, data analysis, graphics generation, and/or computer programming is highly desired, but not essential. No experience with hydro acoustics is required. Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

10. Aquatic Biologist or Ecologist - Mentor: David Reid David.Reid@noaa.gov
This fellowship provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of a relational database of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes. The Fellow will work independently under the broad guidance of one or more GLERL scientists to gather information for the Great Lakes Nonindigenous Species Database, an on-line invasive species information resource being developed by the NOAA National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species. The Fellow will use literature and Internet searches to obtain, interpret, verify, and add biological and ecological information to the database on a species-by-species basis. The required information covers invasion history, population biology (including life-history characteristics and abundance), community ecology (e.g., habitat utilization, environmental tolerances, ecological interactions), and economic impacts. This work is suitable for an upper division undergraduate biological science student, or a graduate biological science student, who has completed course work in invertebrate biology, fishes, and aquatic ecology, limnology, or oceanography. See (http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Programs/invasive/) Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

This fellowship provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of new, detailed bathymetry for Lake Superior. The Fellow will work independently, with broad guidance from the project scientist, to create new bathymetric map sections for Lake Superior by interpreting and contouring sounding field sheets obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center and/or the Canadian Hydrographic Service. This work is suitable for an upper division undergraduate, or a graduate student, who has completed coursework in basic geological principals, including stratigraphy and geomorphology. Additional coursework related to bathymetry, mapping or cartography would be useful but not mandatory. A general description of the project may be found at (http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/ppreid01-1.html). Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

12. Data Analyst - Mentor: Nathan Hawley Nathan.Hawley@noaa.gov
The fellow will assist with the interpretation of physical data collected to determine how sediment is transported by waves and current action in the Great Lakes. Any statistical background, especially familiarity with time series techniques, will be helpful. The intern must have programming experience in at least one high level language. Position is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

13. Data Analyst - Mentor: Stephen Lozano Stephen.Lozano@noaa.gov
The fellow will assist in a project to model the distribution and biomass of zebra and quaga mussels in western Lake Erie. It has been estimated that in 1990, the mussel population removed 26% of the primary production from western Lake Erie. Field samples, video and acoustic mapping will be used to create a GIS model of dreissenid biomass and environmental parameters that structure their distribution. The primary responsibilities of the fellow will be to assist in data entry, video and map interpretation, and data analysis, however some fieldwork will be required. The fellow should have experience with programming; familiarity with GIS computer software would be helpful. Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

gmeadows@engin.umich.edu
The fellow will assist project staff in the development and testing of a wireless and continuous monitoring buoy to collect real-time observation of chemical, physical, and biological parameters in the Great Lakes. Data are received and distributed via the Internet. Buoys will also be used as part of sensor evaluation project and the incumbent may be required to assist in field deployments and sampling efforts as part of these evaluations. Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan

15. Electronics Engineer - Mentor: Harvey Bootsma, University Wisconsin-Milwaukee

hbootsma@uwm.edu
We are searching for a field technician to assist with the development, deployment and maintenance of a water quality buoy network in Lake Michigan, which is a collaborative effort between the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER Institute, the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and the University of Michigan. The selected fellow will assist in the assembly of a buoy platform equipped with wireless telemetry hardware and software, the deployment of mooring systems in Lake Michigan, and the maintenance of water quality monitoring sensors. Applicants should have some level of experience in one or more of the following areas: electronics, wireless communication (802.11b [Wi-Fi] wireless LAN technology), and water chemistry. Experience with SCUBA diving or small boat operation is also an asset, but not essential. The position will be housed at the Water Institute of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

16. Electronics, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineer - Mentor: Steve Ruberg Steve.Ruberg@noaa.gov
Assist technical staff in scientific instrumentation preparation for field deployments, participate in field deployments aboard laboratory research vessels and assist engineering staff in instrument development. Must be able and willing to work aboard a research vessel operating in the Great Lakes. Position will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The fellow will have an opportunity to participate in many aspects of maritime history, underwater archaeology, and submerged cultural resource management at NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve (TBNMS/UP) in Alpena, Michigan. Opportunities for this summer's fellowship include the following: (1) TBNMS/UP recently acquired an extensive maritime history research collection that requires cataloguing and archiving. Historic research will also be conducted using the collection, and information on shipwrecks within the Sanctuary will be entered into a comprehensive database; and (2) recent expeditions in the Sanctuary have recorded more than 80 hours of high definition video and side-scan sonar imagery that must be reviewed and correlated. Archaeological fieldwork may include documentation of shallow water and beach wreckage, as well as terrestrial features such as docks and piers. The position will be located in Alpena, Michigan.