RESEARCH ASSISTANTS NEEDED
IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND LOCATIONS:  Funding is available to support students on air quality and satellite data validation research projects.  Two air quality projects, one at VU (May - August) and one at Rice U. in Houston, TX (August) involve launching ozonesondes.  Student researchers are responsible for preparing, calibrating, testing, assembling, and launching ozonesondes, as well as posting, distributing, and analyzing the data.  Science questions to be addressed relate to the partitioning of ozone pollution between local and remote sources and stratospheric origins. The VU study will examine cross- and intercontinental transport while the Houston study will examine local and regional pollution.  The satellite data validation project will take place at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD (just outside of Washington, DC).  There, a student will work for 10 weeks with NASA scientists validating ozone and water vapor data in the lower stratosphere/upper troposphere as seen by instruments aboard the Aura satellite.  Science questions to be addressed include strat/trop exchange, polar ozone loss, and pollution transport.

REQUIREMENTS: Previous lab work, familiarity with standard software packages plus Dreamweaver, Adobe Acrobat, and IDL are desirable but not required. An interest in atmospheric science would be helpful. Training will be provided.  Ozonesondes:  this work will not be full-time, so having another activity during the summer would be helpful.  Availability to go to Houston in August is also helpful.  Validation:  full-time work at NASA GSFC would begin after Memorial Day and continue for 10 weeks.  Availability to spend your summer in DC area is essential.

STIPEND: Salary will be commensurate with experience and VU policy.  Housing and travel expenses will be covered. An additional travel allowance will be provided to the student working at NASA.