--GSSP Program Coordinator, e-mail: GSSP@gvsp.usra.edu
http://www.usra.edu/whats_news/app.html
The Universities Space Research Association (USRA), in collaboration with the Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Earth Sciences Directorate, is offering a limited number of graduate student research opportunities for the summer of 1998. The program is scheduled for June 8 through August 14, 1998. Now in its eighth year, the program is designed to stimulate interest in interdisciplinary Earth science studies, by enabling selected students to pursue specially-tailored research projects in conjunction with Goddard scientific mentors. During the first full week (June 8-12) the selected students will attend a concentrated public lecture series that will provide an overview of important scientific problems and investigations in Earth system science. The title of the 1998 lecture series is "The Oceans: Society & Science."
USRA is a non-profit consortium of universities, chartered to establish and operate cooperative institutions and programs that advance research and education related to space science and technology. GSFC is recognized as a world leader in the application of remote sensing and modeling aimed at improving knowledge of the Earth system. The Goddard Earth Sciences Directorate has a central role in NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) and the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
Planned for full implementation during the next ten years, EOS will require highly-trained professionals with significant interdisciplinary backgrounds for the design, implementation, and analysis of data from this comprehensive satellite system. The aim of this program is to attract and introduce promising students to Earth system science career options through hands-on educational research experiences in the Earth sciences at NASA. Program Activities
Research Projects: Each student will be teamed with a NASA scientist mentor with similar scientific interests to jointly develop and carry out an intensive research project at GSFC over a ten-week period. NASA mentors will be drawn from within the three participating Earth Science laboratories at Goddard: the Laboratory for Atmospheres, the Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes, and the Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics. Students will be expected to produce final oral and written reports on their summer research activities.
Examples of past summer research projects include: Forest productivity in the Pacific Northwest using Landsat imagery; Global teleconnections between sea surface temperature and continental precipitation; Interpretation of GPS data from subduction zone plate boundaries; Use of DMSP/OLS night-time imagery in mapping urban areas; Simulation of sensible and latent heat fluxes using SSM/I winds; Generation of runoff using a probability-distributed model; Observation of chlorophyll A in the U.S. South Atlantic Bight using the Ocean Color and Temperature Sensor (OCTS); Sensitivity of a cumulus convective scheme to data assimilation.
In addition to the introductory lecture series, students will also participate in weekly informal lunch discussions with GSFC researchers, and have the opportunity to tour key NASA facilities and to meet with NASA and industry scientific managers.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria: The program is open to students enrolled in or accepted to a U.S. accredited graduate program in the Earth, physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering disciplines. Students will be selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated motivation and qualification to pursue multidisciplinary research in the Earth sciences, clarity and relevance of stated research interests to NASA programs, and letters of recommendation. Preference will be given to students who have completed at least one year of graduate study. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
Students must commit for the full ten-week period (June 8 - August 14, 1998). Because of NASA/GSFC security regulations, citizens of certain proscribed nations may be ineligible. If in doubt, please inquire.
Compensation and Support: Students selected for the Program will receive a $340/week living expense allowance for the 10-week period. In addition, USRA will reimburse reasonable domestic travel expenses for participants needing to relocate to the Greenbelt, MD area. Housing at the University of Maryland will be provided at program expense, for program participants only. Alternate accommodations cannot be supported.
To Apply: A formal application may be obtained by contacting the GSSP Program Coordinator at the mail address or e-mail address below, or downloaded from http://www.usra.edu/gssp. The completed application must be received along with an updated resume, at least two letters of reference, and undergraduate/graduate transcripts no later than Monday, February 9, 1998. Selectees will be notified before April 1, 1998.
To request an application, to register for the 1998 lecture series, or for other inquiries contact:
GSSP Program Coordinator
Universities Space Research Association
7501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 206
Seabrook, MD 20706
E-mail: GSSP@gvsp.usra.edu