Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Summer Research Opportunities

DHS HS-STEM 2016 Summer Internship Program

The Department of Homeland Security sponsors a 10-week summer internship program for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines.  The program provides students with quality research experiences at federal research facilities located across the country and allows students the opportunity to establish connections with DHS professionals.

Graduate Students receive a $700 stipend per week plus travel expenses

Undergraduate Students receive a $600 stipend per week plus travel expenses

Areas of research: Engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological / life sciences, environmental science, emergency and incident management, social sciences, and many more.

10-week research experiences are offered at:  Coast Guard Research and Development Center ● Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute ● Customs and Borders Protection ● Engineer Research and Development Center ● Federal Emergency Management Agency ● National Security Technologies ● National Urban Security Technology Laboratory ● Naval Research Laboratory ● Transportation Security Laboratory ● DOE National Laboratories: Argonne, Berkeley, Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, and Sandia

How to Apply: Applications and supporting materials must be submitted at

https://www.zintellect.com/Posting/Details/1468

Detailed information about the internships can be found at

http://www.orau.gov/dhseducation/internships/

Rapid Genomics Lab Tech position

A local startup company based in the Innovation Hub, Rapid Genomics,has a vacancy for a full-time Molecular Biology Laboratory Technician. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The company is interested in marketing the opportunity to Ag-Bio students. They are ideally looking for a candidate to start as soon as possible, but might be willing to work with the candidate if they have a Fall or Spring graduation date. Please see attached job description.  Students can apply on Gator CareerLink (www.crc.ufl.edu, Job ID: 774342) or by contacting lab@rapid-genomics.com.  

Spring 2016 Course: NANOTECHNOLOGY: APPLICATION IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT (SWS 6932/SWS4932)

COURSE DESCRIPTION/OBJECTIVES:

Description: Nanotechnology is an emerging field of applied science that engages almost every
technical discipline – from chemistry to agriculture – in the study and application of extremely tiny
materials with particle sizes ranging from ~1-100 nm. This course will cover the fundamentals of
nanoscience and nanotechnology from historical development, concepts and principles to nanomaterial manufacturing and property characterization, and the application of nanotechnology in food science, agriculture and environment.

 Objectives (This is a co-taught graduate/undergraduate course):

• To learn the basic concepts, principles, and components of nanotechnology. At the end of the course all students will be able to describe basic theory of nanoscience and nanotechnology. 
• To learn about the creation and characterization of nanomaterials. At the end of the course all students will be familiar with methods for characterizing important properties of nanomaterials commonly used in agriculture and the environment. 
• To learn the application of nanotechnology in agriculture, food, and environment. At the end of the course all students will be able to apply nanotechnology to solve some problems in the fields of food, agriculture, and environment. 
• To learn about toxicology of engineered nanoparticles (EPs) and current methods of assessment. At the end of the course all students will be able to understand potential impact of EPs and conduct simple environmental risk assessment.

Thought for Food Challenge

The 2015/16 Thought For Food Challenge calls on the world's best and brightest university students to form teams and develop breakthrough projects that address the global challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2050. In return, we provide a platform for you to shine, cutting-edge learning tools and resources, world-class mentorship from rock star experts, innovators and entrepreneurs, the chance to win a trip to the inspirational TFF Global Summit as well as significant funding for your project. You'll also join a growing global movement, comprised of friends and supporters who share your passion to make the world a better place.

December 1, 2015 entry deadline. More details here.

PhD research assistantship available: aquatic plants

A Ph.D. research assistantship is available in the Aquatic Plants Lab (Agronomy Department) at the University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC). The successful candidate will work with Dr. Lyn Gettys on research projects that focus on aquatic ecosystems; possible topics include aquatic restoration, ecology, invasive plant biology, IPM for aquatic weed management and the effect of climate change on aquatic and wetland plants, although proposals from prospective students are invited as well. Research projects should be integrated and will include greenhouse, field and laboratory components. There will also be significant opportunities to develop extension experience by delivering results to resource managers and other stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be a team player and a team leader but should be able to work alone; they should also have excellent communication skills and be resourceful, motivated and passionate about aquatic ecosystems. Applicants must have an earned MS degree in horticulture, agronomy, plant science or a related discipline from an accredited institution and a Revised GRE Score (V + Q) of 315 or greater. The successful candidate must hold a valid driver’s license and know how to swim; the ability to trailer, launch, operate and load a 16’ skiff is beneficial but not required. An attractive assistantship package – including stipend, tuition waiver, health insurance benefits and access to very inexpensive graduate housing – is available to well-qualified candidates.

This position is located in Davie, Florida (Broward County) and is minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Nearby areas of interest include Everglades National Park, Lake Okeechobee, the largest constructed wetlands in the world and many natural areas and preserves. Focus areas at the FLREC include wildlife ecology, biology and control of exotic plants and animals, geomatics, horticulture, landscape ecology, entomology, nematology and plant pathology (visit the FLREC webpage at http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/). The Center has a fully equipped chemistry lab that is managed by a senior chemist and FLREC faculty work closely with biocontrol and genetics researchers at the USDA ARS Invasive Plants Research Laboratory, which is located on-site.

Interested applicants should contact Dr. Gettys (lgettys@ufl.edu) for additional information. The target date for filling this assistantship is Spring (January) 2016, but some flexibility may be possible based on circumstances.

ALS 5932: Introduction to Applied Statistics for Agricultural and Life Sciences

AWRA Meeting & Conference

AWRA Meeting 11/10/15 (Next Tuesday)

The next general body meeting is coming up on Tuesday! We are honored to have the opportunity to share our pizza with Dr. Peter Sucsy. Dr. Sucsy has had a distinguished career with the St. Johns River Water Management District and has received national recognition for his water quality modeling efforts. His presentation will focus primarily on modeling vegetative drag in the Silver River.

Southwest Florida Water Resources Conference 1/15/16, Abstracts due 12/4/15

The 25th Annual Southwest Florida Water Resources Conference, at Florida Gulf Coast University, will be the site of this year's AWRA Florida Statewide Student Water Resources Research Poster Contest.

This student research poster contest is open to all Florida students and students conducting research in Florida. We seek abstracts in any of a wide range of topics pertaining to the field of water resources.

For more information, visit the conference website and submit your abstract online.