Link to PDF Version.
Project Hypothesis or Objectives:
The overall goal of this project is to understand factors that drive spatial and temporal variability in nutrient and sediment fluxes from urban stream ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay region. To support this goal, nutrient and suspended sediment exports are quantified using surrogate modeling approaches, which leverage continuous water quality information to predict high-frequency water quality constituent concentrations. Because we have a rich network of urban watersheds with continuous water quality information, cross-site comparisons can be used identify factors controlling spatial variability in fluxes. Inter-event comparisons can be used to quantify temporal variability in nutrient and sediment export, and long-term records of flux estimated by surrogate modeling may be used to infer about trends in water quality over time. The intern would have opportunities to participate in all aspects of this project.
Duration: Up to 12 months
Internship Location: Baltimore, MD
Field(s) of Study: Chemistry, Engineering, Geoscience, Life Science, Computing
Applicable NSF Division:
AGS Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, EAR Earth Sciences, OCE Ocean Sciences, DBI Biological Infrastructure, DEB Environmental Biology, BD HS Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs and Spokes, HPC High Performance Computing, SES Social and Economic Sciences, BCS Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, SMA SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, CBET Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, CMMI Civil, Mechanical & Manufacturing Innovation, EFMA Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities, CHE Chemistry, DMS Mathematical Sciences, PHY Physics, EHR Education and Human Resources, ENG Engineering, OAC Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, CISE Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Intern Type Preference: Any Type of Intern
Keywords: Urbanization, water quality, continuous water quality monitoring, Chesapeake Bay, best management practices, ecosystem restoration, stormwater
Expected Outcome:
The intern would be expected to assist with data analysis and interpretation of water quality fluxes in urban streams, and would have the opportunity to lead the development of a journal article summarizing these results, including mentoring support after the internship ends. The student will gain exposure to a science-based government agency and networking opportunities with a wide variety of partners engaged in the Chesapeake Bay program.
Special skills/training Required:
Proficient in R and basic statistics; comfortable managing/manipulating large data sets in R; background in environmental sciences.
Duties/Responsibilities:
The intern would have opportunities to engage in many USGS Chesapeake Bay science activities since the MD-DC-DE Water Science Center is heavily involved in providing science to inform the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. The majority of the internship would consist of reviewing relevant literature, data analysis/interpretation, and summarizing results in a journal article. However, opportunities to engage in field work, including water quality sampling, are also available. There are additional opportunities for exposure to other research areas in our Center (e.g., geomorphology or emerging contaminants).
