internships

Announcing our 2017 summer research interns

lgoldman — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 22:05:01 +0000

Announcing our 2017 summer research interns

April 19, 2017

lgoldman Wed, 04/19/2017 - 16:05

It’s hard to believe that we are entering our fifth year of the NEON undergraduate internship program. This unique, cross-disciplinary program exposes undergraduate students to the challenges and opportunities of working on a complex project like NEON. We are excited to be welcoming six undergraduates this summer for the 11-week hands-on program. They will get to work with staff mentors on a wide variety of NEON-related research projects ranging from assisting in the finalization of NEON construction to using the public data provided by the NEON project. Get to know this year’s cohort!

Emily Wallis �� Emily comes to NEON during her final year as an environmental studies major at East Stroudsburg University. She will be working with the Domain 10/13 field staff to create photographic identification materials for the great diversity of Coleoptera (ground beetles) that are found in these field sites.

Charlotte Roiger �� Charlotte, a Mathematics major with a statistics minor, comes to NEON after her Junior year at St. Olaf College. Charlotte’s statistics and analytics background will enable her to work with NEON data to better understand patterns in mosquito communities across the US.

Amanda Roberts �� Amanda comes to NEON after her sophomore year at Virginia Tech where she studies Environmental Informatics with a minor in Watershed Management, Forestry, GIS, & Sustainable Natural Environments. Amanda will work closely with the Airborne Observation Platform team to better understand uncertainty in remote sensing measurements.

Spencer Phillips �� A fisheries & aquatic biology major, Spencer comes to NEON after his sophomore year at Murray State University. Spencer will work with aquatic scientists to build habitat maps of lakes and rivers at NEON field sites.

Jasmine Warren �� Jasmine comes to NEON from St. Leo University in Florida after her junior year where she studies Biology and Health Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. Jasmine with work on comparisons between ground-based and remotely sensed foliar chemistry measurements.

Wendy Barrios �� An ecological engineering major, Wendy comes to NEON from Oregon State University where she is finishing up her junior year. Wendy will be working with our Science Support team to survey final instrument installations at and create maps of NEON field sites.

2017 Undergraduate Internship Program

mjones01 — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 19:39:12 +0000

2017 Undergraduate Internship Program

May 22-Aug 4, 2017

mjones01 Thu, 12/01/2016 - 12:39

Boulder, CO
United States

During this 11-week program NEON hosts undergraduate interns who work on projects from helping design sensor assemblies to testing sampling protocols to analyzing data. Interns work alongside staff mentors; and explore career options in weekly professional development seminars and networking events with interns from other scientific programs based in Boulder, CO.

Key 2017 Dates

Applications Due: 10 February 2017
Intern Selections Announced: mid-March
Internship Program Starts: 22 May 2017
Regional Internship/REU Programs Poster Symposium: 3 August 2017
Internship Program Ends: 4 August 2017

Language Not specified

Learn More

internships

Another summer of interns has come and gone

taoti — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:29:52 +0000

Another summer of interns has come and gone

September 27, 2016

taoti Tue, 09/27/2016 - 13:29

Earlier this summer, we bid farewell to six dynamic and brilliant undergraduate interns who worked at NEON for eleven weeks on a variety of cross-disciplinary projects that ranged from data visualization to analysis of different soil sampling methods.

In addition to doing their own research projects, each intern participated in a series of communications and networking workshops. They also worked one-on-one with NEON mentors, and their time at NEON culminated in poster and presentations of their work. Next up, we will be posting new internship opportunities for summer 2017 in late October or early November, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, take some time to watch the 2016 interns share their experiences of working at NEON (you can look at their posters here).

Ariel Kaluzhny

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:02:13 +0000

Ariel Kaluzhny Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/24/2014 - 12:02

CyberInfrastructure Intern

Junior at Wesleyan University

Project: Implementation, visualization, and output analysis of time series algorithms of NEON tower sensors

Mentors:

Project:

François Pradeau, Jim Arnow

Writing & communication:

Liz Goehring

Community:

Dee Dahanayake

Ariel Kaluzhny, CyberInfrastructure Intern

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Ariel

Ariel Kaluzhny is a junior at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She is majoring in computer science and economics.

Read Ariel's blog post, written with fellow intern Madeleine Ball, So what do YOU do? An explanation of NEON's Airborne Observation Platform and Cyber Infrastructure through new eyes.

AKaluzhnyPoster.pdf (825.72 KB)

Rose Petersky

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:54:17 +0000

Rose Petersky Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/24/2014 - 11:54

Aquatic Ecology Intern

Senior, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry

Project: Determining the optimal spatial resolution of measurements for mapping stream geomorphology using land surveying

Mentors:

Project:

Ryan Utz, Michael Fitzgerald

Writing & communication:

Ryan Utz

Community:

Dustin Whittemore

Rose Petersky, Aquatic Ecology Intern

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Rose

Rose is a Senior at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. She is majoring in Environmental Science. Rose grew up in Washington state.

For a taste of what an aquatics intern at NEON does for the summer, read Rose's blog post - From the University to the Field.

RPeterskyPoster.pdf (894.9 KB)

Kevin Sacca

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:53:15 +0000

Kevin Sacca Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/24/2014 - 11:53

Terrestrial Ecology, Instrumentation Intern

Junior, Rochester Institute of Technology

Project: Determining snow depth using an automated image processing algorithm

Mentors:

Project:

Michael SanClements, Sarah Elmendorf

Writing & communication:

Michael SanClements, Sarah Elmendorf

Community:

Matt Ventimiglia

Kevin Sacca, Terrestrial Ecology, Instrumentation Intern

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Kevin

Kevin is a Junior at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. He's a NY native. Kevin is studying Imaging Science. Read his blog post - What's an imaging science student doing at NEON? (see Related Content below).

KSaccaPoster.pdf (1.04 MB)

Adrienne Rodriguez

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:43:30 +0000

Adrienne Rodriguez Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/24/2014 - 11:43

Aquatic Ecology Intern

2014, North Carolina State University

Project: Revealing lake ecosystem function from bathymetric, hydrologic, and land use modeling in ArcGIS

Adrienne's Mentors: Charlotte Roehm, Melissa Slater, Jennifer Everhart

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Adrienne

Adrienne Rodriguez graduated in 2014 from North Carolina State University, with a major in environmental technology and management, and a certificate in GIS. with a passion for the environment and just about anything concerning water, Adrienne spent her summer internship at NEON learning about limnology and developing her GIS skills. For her, “NEON has been really great, and has helped me grow all-around as a person and a professional.��

Q&A

Before NEON, did you have a background in Ecology?

Not really. But now that I have looked at NEON I realize that in order to really understand the environment you need to know the components of ecology and how everything connects.

How did you first become interested in the sciences in general?

I always liked understanding how things work with cause and effect relationships. When I was young, my father helped me realize that appreciating the environment is really important because it provides everything we need to live. So I was always a nature-lover, but it wasn’t until college that I realized I actually wanted to study science and the environment.

Do you want to pursue a career in STEM?

Yes, but probably not as a research scientist. I am more interested in science technology and environmental technology. Looking at ways to help build our understanding of the world.

Did this internship influence your STEM career path?

It refined my idea of what I want to do career-wise in the sciences. Plus, it bettered me as a person, both on a personal and professional level. I really grew professionally because the environment here at NEON is one of mutual respect and ongoing improvement.

What was the best part of this internship for you?

This might sound cheesy, but the relationships I have built with the other interns have been one of the best parts for me. We are all here together learning from each other. Also, the relationships with my mentors have been really beneficial.

What was the most challenging aspect of this internship for you?

I learned something that was really new to me this summer. Integrating the language of limnology into my overall understanding of environmental science has definitely been a challenge. Just learning to be comfortable with talking about a new topic that I a not quite a master of yet.

Would you encourage others to apply for this internship?

Yeah, definitely. What other organization is studying what NEON does on this kind of scale? The fact that NEON is trying to better our society and world is a really cool purpose. For people who are interested in the environment or in ecology, I would definitely encourage you to apply.

AdrienneRodriguez_FinalPoster.pdf (3 MB)

Abigail Oakes

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:42:12 +0000

Abigail Oakes Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/24/2014 - 11:42

Communications Intern

2016, New College of Florida

Project: Inclusive Environments: Developing outreach for Latino communities

Abby's Mentors: Jennifer Walton, Sandra Chung, Liz Goehring, Claire Lunch

Abigail Oakes, Communications Intern

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Abby

Abby Oakes was a sophomore at New College of Florida, studying the natural sciences, when she joined NEON's internship program. She had never studied ecology before, but came to NEON with interests in both science and writing. Spending the summer learning about the interdisciplinary work of NEON and how ecology relates to the general public, Abby says NEON is “a really neat place where you can learn about a lot of different things all at once.�� Check out Abby's blog post A field day for interns (see Related Content below).

Note: After her NEON internship, Abby was awarded a Udall Scholarship (one of 50 nationwide) for college sophomores and juniors committed to careers related to the environment. Congrats, Abby!

Q&A

How did you find out about the NEON internship program?

My friend sent me a link to the NEON website because they had met someone who worked there. They said they thought I might be interested in NEON’s communications program, and they were right!

How did you first become interested in the sciences in general?

I can remember being a really little kid and enjoying science. I loved space and nature, and always enjoyed science classes in school. I got to college and honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I just started taking science classes because I remembered liking them as a kid.

Do you want to pursue a career in STEM?

If I do end up in STEM, it will be on the edges. I don’t see myself in academia as a researcher or out in the field collecting data. I like working with people, which is why science writing has made sense to me. I have been exposed to a ton of different STEM careers I didn’t really even know existed until now. It has opened my eyes to how many different things you can do and be considered a part of STEM.

What was the best part of this internship for you?

The best part for me was all of the professional experience I gained. I had never really worked in an office before, so even just that was valuable. I also met a lot of interesting people who helped me think about my future.

What was the most challenging aspect of this internship for you?

The hardest part for me was learning something completely new. I came to NEON with an interest in educational outreach, but really no experience. I did a lot of reading and had a kind of crash-course at first.

What would you tell future NEON interns?

I would tell future NEON interns that networking is one of the most valuable things you can do here. Everyone at NEON is really interesting and it’s definitely worth picking their brains. Also, they sometimes buy you lunch!

AbbyOakes_FinalPoster.pdf (2.88 MB)

William Ennis

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:00:23 +0000

William Ennis Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/16/2014 - 14:00

William Ennis, 2013 Engineering Intern

Engineering Intern (2013)

Affiliation: The University of Alabama

Project: Design and prototype of STREON aquatic organism exclosure

Will's Mentors: Susan Tower, Andrew Sparks and Ryan Utz

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Will

Will Ennis was a junior at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!), studying mechanical engineering, when he interned with NEON. Will has been interested in engineering since he entered undergraduate school. He spent his summer internship designing tools and equipment for various NEON projects. He said that the best part of his internship at NEON was, “seeing my designs go from a computer screen out to the field. Seeing that something actually works in real life is the ultimate engineering test.��

Q&A

Before NEON, did you have a background in Ecology?

No. What I study and what I am interested in is engineering. Though, I have learned about how ecology and engineering have unique challenges, especially when they interact. Most engineers are designing things that will be profitable. At NEON, we focus more on products that are friendly to the environment and simple for scientists to utilize since NEON is not trying to make money.

Do you want to pursue a career in STEM?

Yes, I like engineering and I think I’ll continue with it.

Did this internship influence your STEM career path?

Not really, it pretty much stayed the same. I wanted to pursue engineering before NEON, and now I still do. It just kind of reinforced how I felt before.

What was the best part of this internship for you?

The best part is seeing my designs go into the field. I love seeing things that I built being used. That is the ultimate test of a design �� does it actually work in real life?

What was the most challenging aspect of this internship for you?

For me, it was learning some of the 3-D design programs. At the University of Alabama, there isn’t a huge emphasis on learning how to use these programs. But I learned at NEON that this is actually one of the main parts of a career in engineering.

What would you tell future NEON interns?

It may seem simple, but I would familiarize yourself with the bus system and other ways of transportation in Boulder before you get here. Most of the interns flew here and we didn’t have cars, so knowing how to get around before you get here is important. That way, you won’t spend the first three days lost, like I did.

WillEnnis_FinalPoster.pdf (2.71 MB)

internships

Announcing our 2017 summer research interns

2017 Undergraduate Internship Program

Another summer of interns has come and gone

Ariel Kaluzhny

CyberInfrastructure Intern

AG���˰ټ��ֹٷ���վ Ariel

Rose Petersky

Aquatic Ecology Intern

AG���˰ټ��ֹٷ���վ Rose

Kevin Sacca

Terrestrial Ecology, Instrumentation Intern

AG���˰ټ��ֹٷ���վ Kevin

Adrienne Rodriguez

Aquatic Ecology Intern

AG���˰ټ��ֹٷ���վ Adrienne

Q&A

Abigail Oakes

Communications Intern

AG���˰ټ��ֹٷ���վ Abby

Q&A

William Ennis

Engineering Intern (2013)

AG���˰ټ��ֹٷ���վ Will

Q&A

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Ariel

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Rose

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Kevin

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Adrienne

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Abby

AG��˰ټ��ֹٷ��վ Will