NEWBio Undergraduate Bioenergy Scholar Summer 2015 Internships. This 10-week program is accepting applications until February 1, 2015. Successful applicants will begin their internship on May 26, 2015 with a week-long orientation at Delaware State University, then move to their assigned research university for field and laboratory activities. The session will end on July 31. Applicants will choose from various research projects and mentoring opportunities. For more information and to download the application form, visit NEWBio’s Education: Bioenergy Scholars website: http://www.newbio.psu.edu/education/bioenergyScholars.asp.
One of the research locations is at Cornell:
Cornell University’s Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering’s Soil and Water Lab’s broad mission is to improve the understanding of physical, chemical, and biological processes related to water flow with the ultimate goal of improving and protecting water resources and ecological systems.
In 2015 the NEWBio Summer Scholar at Cornell University will be working with Brian Richards’ team based in the Soil & Water Group in the Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering. Our projects focus on monitoring trace gas emissions and soil trends on our field sites that are growing perennial grass bioenergy feedstocks including switchgrass, reed canarygrass and (starting in 2015) giant miscanthus. Soil measurements include soil carbon and multiple soil health indicators. We are also monitoring site hydrology on our wetness-prone marginal soils, as soil wetness is a primary driver for many of these processes, including exerting strong impacts on the rate of grass stand establishment. There are thus many possibilities for plant, soil and emissions-focused field research in our group this coming summer. The Summer Scholar researcher will work with our team Dr. Richards and PhD students Srabani Das and Cedric Mason) to define and carry out a project that is both independent and yet integrated with our overall program.
http://soilandwater.bee.cornell.edu/
http://bee.cals.cornell.edu/people/brian-richards
Brian K. Richards
Senior Research Associate
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering
63 Riley Robb Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: 607-255-2463
Email: bkr2@cornell.edu