Project WICCED supports paid undergraduate research internships that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the summer. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the Fall 2022, internships will begin on November 1,  2022 through May 12, 2022

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, DENIN Scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in May 2023.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN.

• Current Funded Projects for Fall 2022 – Spring 2023

  University of Delaware

  • Dissolved organic matter in the Indian River and Rehoboth Bays (Threat 3)
  • Economic experiments to assess the impacts of environmental risk information (S1-Behavior)
  • The Delaware Microbiome Project – regional microbial communities across space and time (Microbiome)
  • Visualizing and Analyzing Microbiome Data in Regional Context and Scale (Data Core-Microbiome)

Project WICCED supports paid undergraduate research internships that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the summer. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the Summer 2022 internships will begin on June 6 through August 12, 2022. Students make a full-time commitment to work on a project during the summer.

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, the scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in August 2022.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN.

Current Projects for Summer 2022

• Advancing-pH-measurement-technologies-for-coastal-ocean-acidification-monitoring-in-the-Delaware-Estuary-and-Delawares-Inland-Bays-Threat-3
• An Assessment of Larval Oyster Recruitment in Delaware_Threat4
• CEMA-Climate-Data-Update-and-Information-Outreach-Data-Core-8
• Delaware Inland Bays Science and Restoration Internship – Threat 3 2021
• Economic experiments to assess the impacts of environmental risk information – Social Dimensions
• Homeowner Valuation of Information about Septic System Condition-Social Dimensions
• Salinization of the Coastal Critical Zone- Drivers and feedbacks that transform landscapes and fluxes between land and sea (Threat 1)
• Sea-Level-Rise-Induced Release of Arsenic from Flood-Prone Contaminated Coastal Sediments – Threat 2
• The Delaware Microbiome Project – regional microbial communities across space and time – Microbiome Core

Project WICCED supports paid undergraduate research internships that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the summer. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the Fall 2020, internships will begin on November 1,  2021 through May 15, 2022

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, DENIN Scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in May 2021.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN.

• Current Funded Projects for Fall 2021 – Spring 2022

  University of Delaware

  • Advancing pH measurement technologies for coastal ocean acidification monitoring in the Delaware Estuary and Delaware’s Inland Bays (Threat 3)
  • CEMA Climate Data Update and Information Outreach (Data Core)
  • Climate change adaptation- economic mechanisms to increase efficiency of coastal property buyouts (Social Dimensions)
  • Sea-Level-Rise-Induced Release of Arsenic from Flood-Prone Contaminated Coastal Sediments (Threat 2)
  • The impacts of increasing seawater level rise on phosphorus biogeochemistry in coastal soils (Threat 2)

Project WICCED supports paid undergraduate research internships that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the summer. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the Summer 2021 internships will begin on June 7 through August 13, 2021. Students make a full-time commitment to work on a project during the summer.

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, the scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in August 2021.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN.

• Current Funded Projects for Summer 2021

  University of Delaware

  • Advancing measurement of estuarine and coastal ocean acidification (Threat 3)
  • Assessing bio-and photo-degradation effects on fluorescent dissolved organic matter signals in the Murderkill estuary (Threat 3)
  • Developing modeling tool to study human behavior and water system (Social Dimensions_DataCore)
  • Drivers of Farmers’ Persistence with Cover Cropping (Social Dimensions)
  • Economic mechanisms to increase efficiency of coastal property buyouts (Social Dimensions)
  • Environmental controls on the vulnerability of coastal aquifers to storm-surge salinization (Threat 1)
  • Homeowner Valuation of Information about Septic System Condition (Social Dimensions)
  • Phosphorus cycling in the Murderkill River (Threat 2)

  Wesley College

  • STEM Education and Chemical Kinetics (Solution 3)
  • STEM laboratory skills training (Solution 3)
  • Tree ring analysis of coastal forests under changing climate (Thtreat 4)

(For the original posting, visit: http://www.denin.udel.edu/students-page/denin-environmental-scholars/)

The DENIN Environmental Scholars Program is a paid undergraduate research internship that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the academic year. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the Fall 2020, internships will begin on November 1,  2020 through May 15, 2021  

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, DENIN Scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in May 2021.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN.

Current Funded Projects for Fall 2020 – Spring 2021.

University of Delaware

• CEMA Climate Data Update and Information Outreach (Data Core)
• Climate Change Adaptation- Economic Mechanisms to Increase Efficiency of Coastal Property Buyouts (S1 Behavior)
• Kinetics of naturally formed manganese-oxides in a changing climate (Threat 2)
• Persistence with Cover Cropping- A Remote Sensing Investigation of Delaware Farmers (Social Dimensions)
• Understanding the distribution of cyanobacteria in Delaware ponds (MicrobiomeCore)

(For the original posting, visit: http://www.denin.udel.edu/students-page/denin-environmental-scholars/)

The DENIN Environmental Scholars Program is a paid undergraduate research internship that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the academic year. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the Summer 2020, internships will begin on May 2020 through August 2020.  Students make a full-time commitment to work on a project during the summer.

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, DENIN Scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in August 2020.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN. Applications are due April 1, 2020.

Current Funded Projects for Summer 2020

University of Delaware

• Data Retrieval and Analysis for Understanding Societal Responses to Global Environmental Change (Data Core)
• Deciphering_satellite_images (Data Core)
• Encouraging Participation in Citizen Science for Coastal Water Data Collection (Social Dimensions)
• Farmers’ Persistence with Agricultural Practices (Social Dimensions)
• Homeowner Uptake of Coastal Buyouts (Social Dimensions)
• Homeowners’ willingness-to-pay for stormwater best management practices in Delaware (Social Dimensions)
• Homeowner Valuation of Information about Septic System Condition (Social Dimensions)
• Interactive Mapping of Geospatial Data (Data Core)Deciphering_satellite_images (Data Core)
• The chemistry of legacy phosphorus in US Mid-Atlantic agricultural soils (Threat 2)
• The Effect of Groundwater Pumping on the Salinization of Coastal Streams (Threat 1)

Wesley College

• Dendroecology- Exploring changes in Delaware’s coastal forrest using dendroecology (Threat 4)
• Evaluation of the COVID-19 Impacts on Wesley’s STEM Undergraduate Population (Solution 3 – EOD)
• Geographic Information System Education for Spatial Analysis of Delaware Based Research Questions (Threat 4)
• Identification of Potential Metabolic Pathways in Environmental Isolates (Microbiome Core)

Position Description

The Center for Experimental & Applied Economics (CEAE) at the University of Delaware seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a postdoc researcher for 2-3 years with the opportunity for renewal thereafter. The successful candidate will focus on applying experimental and behavioral economics to agri-environmental issues and coastal water issues, such as the reduction of non-point source pollution, environmental and food risks, and conducting randomized controlled trials on voluntary conservation programs. This position and related research is supported from funds from the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Opportunities:

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to co-author several publications and participate in professional conferences. This position also involves opportunities to work on research with graduate and undergraduate students. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Kent Messer, CEAE Director and Dr. Leah Palm-Forster CEAE Associate Director.

The University of Delaware is the co-headquarters for the Center for Experimental & Behavioral Agri-Environmental Research (CBEAR), a USDA Center of Excellence. We are also related to the new NSF-EPSCoR project in Delaware entitled, “Water in the Changing Coastal Environment of Delaware” (Project WiCCED). The position will offer a competitive salary that is commensurate with qualifications and experience. An attractive fringe benefit package is included.

Qualifications:

Applicants are expected to have strong training and experience in experimental and behavioral economics and its application to agricultural and/or environmental issues. A PhD in economics or applied economics (or closely related field) with an emphasis on environmental, agricultural, and resource issues is preferred. Applicants without a PhD, but have significant experience with experimental economics research, may also be considered. Experience with writing grant proposals is welcomed.

Application:

Submit via email a letter of application, vita, a personal statement, university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are sufficient), and the names of three references to Maddi Valinski, CEAE Lab Manager (mvalinsk@udel.edu).

Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2019 (negotiable). Review of applications will begin on March 8, 2019, and will continue until an acceptable candidate is identified.

Download the job description

(For the original posting, visit: http://www.denin.udel.edu/students-page/denin-environmental-scholars/)

The DENIN Environmental Scholars Program is a paid undergraduate research internship that provides interested students with a sustained environmental research experience during the academic year. Scholars work with faculty research mentors at the University of Delaware. Students may select from the projects shown on this page. The broad theme of the opportunities relates to water in our changing coastal environment.

For the 2019-2020 Academic year, internships will begin on November 1, 2019 and end on May 07, 2020.  Students make a full-time commitment to work on a project during Winter Session 2020, and work part-time during Fall Semester 2019 and Spring Semester 2020.

University of Delaware undergraduate students from any major may apply. The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, DENIN Scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in May 2019.

All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for a DENIN Environmental Scholar research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your reference, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your reference in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the DENIN Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN. Applications are due October 9, 2019.

Current Funded Projects for Academic Year 2019-2020

Wesley College

• STEM-Education-and-Chemical-Kinetics

University of Delaware

• Continued participation in citizen science (Social Dimensions)
• Coupled iron-carbon chemistry in a warming permafrost environment (Threat 2)
• Cover crop persistence by Delaware farmers A GIS investigation (Social Dimensions)
• Data Retrieval and Analysis for Understanding Human Perceptions of Global Environmental Change (Data Core)
• Data Retrieval and Analysis for Understanding Water Quantity and Quality across the Continental U.S. (Data Core)
• Defining microbial community structure and function in Delaware River waters (Microbiome Core)
• Examining the adoption of oyster farming in Delaware (Solution 2- Policy & Markets_Social Dimensions)
• Experimental economics study of groundwater management (Social Dimensions)
• Homeowners’ willingness-to-pay for stormwater best management practices in Delaware (Social Dimensions)
• Randomized controlled trial related to recruiting diverse students (Social Dimensions)
• Sea level rise impacts on redox active element mobility in natural systems (Threat 2)
• The chemistry of legacy phosphorus in US Mid-Atlantic agricultural soils (Threat 2)

The EPSCoR Project WiCCED Summer Scholars program takes place over a 10-week period beginning in May/June and culminating in August with the presentation of research results at an undergraduate research symposium. In addition to completing an independent research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor, interns participate in skill-building seminars on such topics as choosing a graduate school, research ethics, and making research presentations and posters. Summer Scholars typically receive a stipend of $4,000.

The research project descriptions below specify any coursework or prerequisites for the opportunity. In addition to research, EPSCoR Project WiCCED Summer Scholars are also required to attend workshops in career development and effective communication, as well as occasional field trips or social events. Scholars present the results of their work at a student symposium in August 2019.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2019

How to Apply:

Students who are interested in applying should review the published opportunities below. You may select a first choice and second choice project. To apply, go to:  http://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx

Please note that the application requires one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or another person who can comment on your experience, education, and suitability for an EPSCoR Project WiCCED Summer Scholars research project. The online application system will ask you for the name and email of your references, and will send a request to that person by email. Please contact your references in advance, to see if they are able to provide a letter.

Students with questions about the EPSCoR Project WiCCED Summer Scholars program or the application process should contact Dr. Yolanda Williams-Bey at DENIN.

2019 EPSCoR Project WiCCED Summer Scholars Project Descriptions

Delaware State University 

• Marshgrass
• Oysters
• Sensors

University of Delaware

• A Smart, Piezoelectric Sensor for Detecting Toxins in the Environment (Sensor Core)
• Defining Microbial Community Structure and Function in Delaware River Waters (Microbiome Core)
• Enhancing Farmers’ Adoption of Decision Support Tools to Improve Irrigation Management in Delaware (Social Dimensions)
• Experimental Economics Study of Groundwater Management (Social Dimensions)
• Iron Mineral Transformation and Chromium Sequestration in Oxygen-Limited Soil (Threat 2)
• Social Networks and Oyster Consumption (Social Dimensions)
• The Chemistry of Legacy Phosphorus in US Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Soils (Threat 2)
• Understanding the Distribution of Cyanobacteria in Delaware Ponds

Wesley College

• STEM Education and Chemical Kinetics
• The Microbiome of the St. Jones River Near Silver Lake and Isolation and Characterization of Environmental Bacteria

In summer 2019, there will be opportunities for six William Penn High School students to have paid research opportunities at the University of Delaware. The opportunities are broadly related to the environment, and include computer science, microbiology and soil science.  The opportunities are designed to build skills and experience, earn credit toward graduation, and meet others interested in science and technology. The internships are organized by the Delaware Environmental Institute at the University of Delaware.

The dates of the internships are July 8 to August 16, 2019.

More information on each opportunity is provided below. Students apply online https://ugresearch.udel.edu/PUB_Program.aspx, and are selected through a competitive application process.  To access information, and to apply, go to: https://projectwicced.org/opportunities/

The internships are part of a larger scientific research project in Delaware, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF is a federal agency that funds high-quality science and engineering of importance to society. The Delaware project is a partnership among the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical Community College, and Wesley College. The scientific focus, and the name of the project is, “Water in the changing coastal environment of Delaware” (nicknamed Project WiCCED) The overall project will assess threats and develop solutions around the human and natural pressures threatening water security in Delaware’s changing coastal environment. A major focus of project WiCCED is to monitor nutrient pollution and water quality.

High School students interested in participating in summer research can apply for one of three opportunities.

Opportunity 1, Computer Science

Faculty Member: Andrew Novocin

Data Core: The data core will support project WiCCED by developing a platform for storage and dissemination of data produced by project WiCCED and will develop data analysis techniques and data-backed decision support systems.

Techniques and skills: Learn about computer systems, coding languages and teamworking skills.

Opportunity 2, Microbiology

Faculty Member: Thomas Hanson

Microbiome Core: The microbiome core will support Project WiCCED by establishing high quality genetic information about microbial species found in water and surrounding environments to determine how microbiome profiles are affected by salinity and nutrients.  Microbes are critical players in pollution and chemical cycling. Specific information about the presence and absence of specific genes related to nitrogen, sulfur, carbon and phosphorus cycling will be analyzed.

Techniques and skills: Determine the genetic and physical profile of microorganisms,  sterile technique, media preparation, culture maintenance, and potential for web based bioinformatic programs

Opportunity 3, Soil Science

Faculty Member: Donald Sparks

Threat 2; Salinity-associated Nutrient Mobilization and Cycling: Threat 2 will support project WiCCED by studying how the salinity of newly flooded coastal soils and sediments alters nutrient cycling. Salinization degrades water quality and alters the fundamental physiochemical nature of the soil-water environment. These changes negatively affect the health and functioning of wetland biota and often result in shifts in the structure of the wetland community and alters the ability of a wetland to provide key ecosystem services.

Techniques and skills: Analyze soil materials, pipetting skills, sterile techniques and media preparation.

General skills that most students will learn in conjunction with the specific skills learned in each individual opportunity.

1. How to keep a note book
2. Learn how university laboratories operate
3. Work alongside undergraduate, graduate and professional scientists

Position Title: Web Applications Developer Intern
Location: 102A Pearson Hall, University of Delaware (Remote Working Option Available)
Deadline to Apply: April 1, 2019

The University of Delaware’s Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (CEMA) seeks a
talented student intern interested in creating web applications using environmental sensor data and
information. This position will be a miscellaneous wage position, with compensation commensurate
with experience and qualifications. The intended duration of this internship is June 1, 2019 through
August 31, 2019.

Job Duties:

• Design, develop, and maintain web applications for environmental data websites.
• Develop testing routines for existing and future web applications. Troubleshoot and correct
  problems encountered during testing.
• Ensure the security and integrity of the application(s) and application data.
• Write and prepare software documentation.

Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of fundamental computer science concepts
• Experience developing applications in HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP
• Experience writing and utilizing RESTful API services
• Proficiency in unit testing
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and effectively with people of varying
  computational backgrounds
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to learn and understand the application of environmental data and information in
  applications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with mobile application development (iOS and Android)
• Experience with JSON and other data exchange formats
• Knowledge of SQL for accessing data in databases

To apply, please send resumes with a cover letter to:
Kevin Brinson
Director of DEOS
Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
Email: kbrinson@udel.edu
Phone: 302.831.6906

Summer Internships are available through a variety of local and regional partners in Delaware. 

• Delaware State Park Internships
• Delaware Wild Lands Internship
• Delaware Water Resources Center
• Delaware River Basin Commission Internships

Resources to find internships and jobs in the area related to water:

• Delaware Environmental Institute
• Delaware Water Alliance