The University of Iowa offers undergraduates a paid summer research experience centered around space-based instrumentation for observing Earth and space. This immersive program will run for two and a half weeks over the summer in Iowa City, IA. Students will be building small instrument payloads that will be integrated onto drone and high-altitude aerial platforms to take measurements of the Earth below and the atmosphere and space environment above. No prior experience in hardware, instrumentation or electronics is necessary - this hands-on experience is designed for all students who have an interest in Earth, atmospheric, solar and space science. Students from historically marginalized populations in STEM are highly encouraged to apply. 

Program Leads

Allison Jaynes

Allison Jaynes

My research focuses on space weather and how that connects to atmospheric and auroral physics. I am involved in several NASA missions that study near-Earth space (MMS and the Van Allen Probes) as well as smaller payloads such as sounding rockets and CubeSats. Most of the research I'm involved in relates to the dynamics (ebbs and flows) of highly energetic charged particles in the space environment. I am deeply committed to equity and inclusion in STEM, and passionate about active learning and positive team dynamics.

 

 

susanmeerdink

Susan Meerdink

As an assistant professor in the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences at the University of Iowa, I work at the intersection of machine learning, remote sensing, and ecology to understand our functioning natural environment. The ability to capture high temporal, spatial, and spectral resolution imagery has advanced much more rapidly than algorithms for processing, visualizing, and interpreting these images. In my work, I aim to develop algorithms and methodologies for image processing that transform the data into manageable and applicable information for future applications.

adamskibbe

Adam Skibbe

My position is as a senior systems administrator focusing on all things geospatial, where I provide GIS support to the Geographical and Sustainability Sciences Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the university as a whole.  My interests are in the application of cutting-edge technologies to the practice of data collection and/or analysis of geospatial information. I am particularly interested in exposing our students to these tools as preparation for the requirements of the modern geospatial job market.