Research opportunities & mentoring
Why not get 2-6 credits for participating in research or a creative project? Explore research courses, apprenticeship programs, current opportunities, equipment loans, and mentoring resources that help students gain hands-on research and scholarly experience.
URSA Research Courses
All students wishing to take URSA F388 or URSA F488 MUST request permission from URSA Director Trent Sutton before registering for the class. You may contact Dr. Sutton at 907-474-7285 or tmsutton@alaska.edu.
| Course Information: | FALL 2022 - CRN 76427 |
|---|---|
| Instructor: | Trent Sutton, Ph.D. |
| Contact Information: | E: tmsutton@alaska.edu P: 907-474-7285 |
| Office Location: | URSA Office 301 Bunnell |
| Office Hours: | By appointment |
| Credits: | 2-6 |
Course Readings/Materials:
How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
Course Description:
Undergraduate research refers to a collaboration in original research and/or creative
activity between an undergraduate student and a faculty member, leading to work which
is presentable to scholars in the field. Research projects may be an element of the
faculty member's work or could be initiated by the student.
Undergraduate Research offers opportunities for student research in advanced topics
beyond typical undergraduate course offerings. Research areas range across all disciplines.
A substantial level of discipline-specific background, a level commensurate with having
achieved junior or senior standing, is assumed.
Enrolled students are required to create and present their research or creative project in a poster or display at Research and Creative Activity Day in April, as well as turn in a progress report at the end of the semester.
| Course Information: | FALL 2022 - CRN 76426 |
|---|---|
| Instructor: | Trent Sutton, PhD |
| Contact Information: | E: tmsutton@alaska.edu P: 907-474-7285 |
| Office Location: | URSA Office 301 Bunnell |
| Office Hours: | By appointment |
| Credits: | 2-6 |
Course Readings/Materials:
How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
Course Description:
Undergraduate research refers to collaboration in original research and/or creative activity between an undergraduate student and a faculty member, leading to work which is presentable to scholars in the field. Projects may be an element of the faculty member's work or could be initiated by the student.
Undergraduate Research offers opportunities for student research in advanced topics beyond typical undergraduate course offerings. A substantial level of discipline-specific background, a level commensurate with having achieved junior or senior standing, is assumed.
Enrolled students are required to create and present their research or creative project in a poster or display at Research and Creative Activity Day in April, as well as turn in a progress report at the end of the semester.
- A synopsis of the plan for the URSA Course
- A timeline that takes into account that a product (a proposal for F388, a project outcome for F488) is due no later than the end of finals week for the semester.
- How many credits the course will be (range:2-6)
- Your student ID number
- Please cc your mentor on this email.
3. Your mentor (cc'd on the student email) will need to acknowledge that they are willing to work with you, that they will provide feedback on the end of semester outcome, and that they will provide URSA with a grade by the end of the final weeks.
Please contact URSA if you have any questions.
*URSA F388 and F488 are repeatable for credit. Students may take an URSA course a maximum of 2 times for up to 6 credits total.*
Museum Research Apprenticeship Program (MRAP)
The University of Alaska Museum of the North is Alaska’s de facto repository of natural history specimens and cultural objects, and we house multiple world-class research collections.
Processing incoming specimens or objects and their associated data is a critical ongoing
set of highly specialized tasks. Some of these tasks, for example, turn organisms
into scientific specimens that are useful for questions in areas as diverse as evolution,
ecology, genetics, conservation, and the changing environment. Others process objects
of historic or contemporary culture or art for preservation and study of myriad questions
about humans, past and present.
Careful documentation and preservation are key parts of these processes, and these
courses involve hands-on training and working research experience with specimens and
objects and their associated data.
MRAP F288 and F488 - Museum Research Apprenticeship Program pairs students with faculty mentors at the UA Museum of the North to conduct original research. Students interested in this program may contact the following faculty for current opportunities.
1-2 Credits, Offered Fall and Spring
Provides opportunities for undergraduate student research or scholarship in museum-based
subjects not available in typical undergraduate courses. Students are required to
perform research tasks associated with specimens or objects and their associated data
and to turn in a final report. Opportunities range across several museum-based disciplines
(archaeology, botany, earth science, entomology, ethnology and history, film, fine
art, ichthyology, mammalogy, informal science education, and ornithology). Course
may be repeated. Instructor permission Student must contact a potential mentor before
enrolling to determine whether matching opportunities exist.
1-2 Credits, Offered Fall and Spring
Provides opportunities for advanced undergraduate student research or scholarship
in museum-based subjects not available in typical undergraduate courses, building
upon prior experience. Students are required to perform tasks associated with specimens,
objects, and associated data and to turn in a final report. Opportunities range across
several museum-based disciplines (archaeology, botany, earth science, entomology,
ethnology and history, film, fine art, ichthyology, mammalogy, informal science education,
and ornithology). Course repeatable to a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisite: Permission
of instructor. Student must contact potential mentor before enrolling to determine
whether experience is sufficient and matching opportunities exist.
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Patrick Druckenmiller Della Hall Stefanie Ickert-Bond Angela Linn Andres Lopez |
Link Olson Joshua Reuther Derek Sikes Kevin Winker |
Current opportunities at UAF
There are many ways for undergraduate students to get involved in research at UAF!
In addition to URSA funding, several other organizations at UAF, within the UA System,
and outside Alaska offer opportunities for our undergraduate students. Don't be afraid
to reach out to researchers, organizations, and institutes in your field to make a
connection and inquire about future opportunities! On this page we have provide information
about UAF organizations that regularly offer opportunities for funding and/or project
support. If you are looking to join an established project with faculty, staff, or
graduate students at UAF, see the list of opportunities listed below.
If you need assistance contacting individuals or organizations, please reach out! We are more than happy to help you connect with potential opportunities.
New listings are posted when received.
Contact: Falk Huettmann
Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Email: fhuettmann@alaska.edu
Contact: Dmitry Nicolsky
Research Associate Professor, Geophysical Institute
Email: djnicolsky@alaska.edu
*Looking for one (1) student of Junior or Senior standing*
Over the past few years, I have developed an interactive modeling tool for visualizing
particle dynamics in gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields for educational
purposes. You can check it out here:
Currently, the tool includes several animations focused on mechanics, electrodynamics,
and the motion of interacting particles. However, there is potential for expanding
it with additional animations and scenarios. I am looking for an upper-level undergraduate
student majoring in physics or mathematics who could help with this development.
Project Overview:
- We would discuss a given scenario, including physical properties of particles, initial
conditions, and external fields.
- The student would then implement this scenario as an animation within the tool.
- The scenario must be accompanied by the relevant mathematical formulations describing
particle dynamics, including solving the linear momentum equation or Newton’s second
law.
This could be a challenging but rewarding task, as it involves solving second-order
differential equations with external forcing. It’s a great opportunity for a student
to apply theoretical knowledge in a hands-on computational setting.
Prerequisites: Differential equations, calculus, physics
Time Commitment: Flexible hours. The start and end dates depend on the funding opportunity. Most of this work could be done over the summer months.
Compensation: Applicants will need to apply for URSA, BLaST, or other funding to support their work. I am happy to assist in writing the application to help secure funding.
Contact: Carol Gray
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Email: cjgray5@alaska.edu
Looking for up to 4 students of any standing (Freshman-Senior).
*This is an ongoing project and will accept interest past the Spring 2024 listed date.*
Time Commitment: Minimum of 10 hours per week though, if funding is provided, I would be open to students working more hours if they chose to.
Compensation: This position is unpaid. But I am happy to have interns as volunteers or if they are able to obtain grants through URSA or otherwise. I would be happy to mentor a student who is funded through URSA or some other mechanism.
Additional Position Information:
Students would learn about archiving, historical research, and the politics and context of the anti-slavery movement from the 1800s in Canada and the U.S. Through weekly meetings with the professor, students learn about how archival research unfolds and would be part of creating a valuable data base that could be used by historians and other researchers working on civil and human rights for years to come.
When this internship was conducted at a different institution (not in Alaska), interns who worked on this project did independent research that they presented at a professional conference. I am not sure whether such opportunities would be available here in Fairbanks, but there might be some conferences that are virtual that students might apply to. I would be happy to mentor students in crafting an abstract and submitting a conference proposal.
Contact: Sarah Stanley
Faculty, English Department
Email: sstanley2@alaska.edu
Phone: (907) 474-7335
The InsideOut StoryLab is starting to receive submissions from prisoners for a Boundaries and Bridges Story Collection. The InsideOut StoryLab: Boundaries and Bridges is a story collection from both incarcerated and unconfined writers to be distributed by portable story dispensers inside and outside of carceral settings in Alaska.
Type up handwritten submissions
Write response letters submissions
Evaluate submissions
Work with a submission database
We are always in process with collections. This is a chance to get involved with community publishing from the ground up. Sarah (your mentor) is an excellent letter writer for a recommendation. Reach out and get involved!
This position listing is looking for up to 3 students (Freshman-Senior Standing).
Prerequisites: None
Compensation: We can work on writing a grant for this--let us know your interest. Open to mentoring
students who apply for funding through URSA or other campus entities (especially a
student that wants to put together a Community-Engaged Learning award for our next
collection).
Contact: Richard Collins
Faculty, Geophysical Institute & Atmospheric Sciences
Email: rlcollins@alaska.edu
In search of 1 student of any year of study (Freshman through Senior status).
UAF researchers have been studying Earth's highest clouds since the 1990's. These clouds, called noctilucent (night shining, ) form 50 miles high in the summer over Alaska an the Arctic. They are called night shining as the are visible after dark in the late summer. We are looking for a student to use digitizing equipment at the Rasmuson library to convert video tapes to digital files, and post those files to a public website (e.g. You Tube). Student will work with faculty members and staff. Student will have opportunity to participate in related research if interested.
Additional Position Information: This job involves working with an archive of tapes that is unique. Students can learn more about noctilucent clouds at the following links.
Prerequisites: Student should have basic tech skills be able to manage data files, maintain spreadsheets of information, and have ability and interest to learn media skills.
Time Commitment: Start as soon as possible, running through Fall and Spring. Up to 20 hours a week, with total hours ~200-300 hours. The schedule would depend on access to library tape digitizing equipment, but is otherwise flexible.
Compensation: Student Assistant Grade 2, Step 14: $14.67 an hour
Contact: Simon Zwieback
Faculty, Geosciences
Email: szwieback@alaska.edu.
Contact: Tristan Goers
GIS Technician | Digital Services | Fairbanks North Star Borough
Email: tristan.goers@fnsb.gov
Phone: (907) 459-1477
The Fairbanks North Star Borough is offering an internship opportunity georeferencing imagery for course credit to an undergraduate student. This opportunity involves mosaicking and georeferencing scanned historical imagery of the FNSB and may also involve scripting. This work will be completed over one semester with the final deliverables being (1) georeferenced image tiles, (2) a georeferenced, mosaicked, image, and (3) an image tile index. The final product will be an invaluable resource not only for the Fairbanks North Star Borough but also the public at-large. You will be expected to give, at a minimum, weekly progress reports detailing the work completed, any challenges encountered, and any questions you may have.
Prerequisite: Prior exposure to remote sensing or GIS
Pay: This could be a paid internship, an unpaid project for credit, or both.
Please reach out to us to discuss further details.
Benefits: Valuable real-world experience and skills that are in great demand on the job market.
Rolling Deadline- please contact the opportunity provider listed above for more information.
Contact: Simon Zwieback
Professor Geosciences
Phone: (907) 474-5549
Email: szwieback@alaska.edu
The project seeks to characterize permafrost landscape dynamics following temperature
extremes and a bark beetle outbreak. It combines fieldwork in Alaska, soil analysis
in the lab, and remote sensing data analyses.
You will collect field measurements under supervision of experienced researchers.
Laboratory work will include sample preparation and analysis, and data compilation.
Remote sensing analyses may comprise processing and classification of multispectral
and radar remote sensing imagery, and predictive modeling using machine learning.
How long: 10 to 20 h / week during the semester, up to 40 h / week in summer.
Pay: Yes. Salary is negotiable.
Other benefits: Gain field experience in Northern Alaska, potential for research-based credits.
Seeking 2 students, any year of study, willing to learn and work on GIS, climate and wildlife data.
This project provides opportunities for students to explore and work-up specific forestry
and climate GIS data for birds and habitats in Interior Alaska.
Students will gain experience in learning geographic information systems (GIS, ArcGIS or QGIS), insights into landscape ecology, bird, habitat and climate management issues, and digital data skills for Alaska. Office space, hardware and software provided.
Experience required: R skills would ideal, or at least a willingness to learn
Funding: None provided. Students would need to seek funding from URSA Project application or find another source if they require funding. Project coordinator would help with the process.
Deadline: Ongoing
Undergraduate Scholarships of up to $1,000 will be awarded through a competitive process. Scholarships are open to new and continuing undergraduate students majoring in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM). Students receiving awards in past competitions may apply and receive awards for subsequent competitions.
The UAF Center for Innovation is the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ’ Innovation Hub. Through our Innovation Accelerator, we draw from the University of Alaska’s best research to support its development, launch it as a real world solution, and help it scale up. Center for Innovation also offers the Students2Startups program to place the next generation of leaders at the center of innovation now.
One of the main goals of the Alaska INBRE Network continues to be to increase education and research opportunities for University of Alaska undergraduate and graduate students to guide them into programs and advanced training in the biomedical sciences and to enhance the biomedical infrastructure in Alaska.
Career Services manages Handshake- a career platform designed to help guide students through their career search journey and help employers connect with and recruit UAF talent.
- Discover hundreds of jobs and internships.
- Receive personalized recommendations based on your interests.
- Connect with employers.
- Network with peers.
- Find events and career fair information.
- Sign up for on-campus interviews.
- Access the platform through the Handshake app.
Some study abroad programs also offer embedded research opportunities!
When you study abroad through the UAF Study Away Program, you can receive UAF credit
and use your financial aid. To discuss which program offered by UAF's partners might
be a good fit for you, schedule an appointment with the Study Away Program Coordinator.
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Mentor resources
A supportive student-mentor relationship is a key aspect in the success of URSA-awarded projects. Cultivating this relationship enables students to pursue their areas of interest, gain valuable professional experience, and to develop new skills. URSA is here to help you make the most of URSA mentoring opportunities.
Xochitl Munoz was a Summer 2023 Student Project Awardee. Her project was mentored by Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller, Curator of Earth Science at the University of Alaska Museum of the North and Assistant Professor of Geology with the Department of Geology and Geophysics. Watch the video above to learn more about their project.