Welcome to the Virginia Tech SuperDARN Student Interest Page. Here you will find information important to prospective, current, and future VT SuperDARN students, as well students with a general interest in Space Science. This includes information about the lab, news items of interest to students, and important training and policy information. If you have interest in SuperDARN or space related studies, please contact either Dr. Mike Ruohoniemi or Dr. Jo Baker.
The Virginia Tech SuperDARN radar group conducts research on Earth’s space environment using HF radars and allied instrumentation and operates the U.S. component of the international SuperDARN collaboration as an Upper Atmosphere Facility for the National Science Foundation. The activities of the group are student-centered and involve all facets of research, including hardware design, operations, data analysis, and collaborative support for the scientific community. The group is a component of the Space@VT research center within the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Current student research activities include analysis of ionospheric irregularities observed with the new mid-latitude chain of SuperDARN radars, study of ultra low frequency pulsations in the magnetosphere and ionosphere, intercomparison of GPS/TEC data with radar observations of ionospheric stucture, and studies of ionospheric plasma convection and the impacts of space weather disturbance on the ionosphere. Students are closely involved with the operation of the radars including travel to the sites and hardware development and testing. Students also develop new data products and software tools for analysis. They assist members of the scientific community in accessing and utilizing the SuperDARN data set, develop scientific collaborations with colleagues, and represent the group at meetings and conferences. The Virginia Tech SuperDARN radar group is headed by Drs. J. Michael Ruohoniemi (miker@vt.edu) and Joseph B. H. Baker (bakerjb@vt.edu).
Please visit our Archive of Student Items page for important information such as research ethics training and other important information all SuperDARN students need to know.
News Items of Student Interest
Many of the news items below represent excellent opportunities for interested students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. If you would like to talk to a Virginia Tech student who has participated in a number of these types of programs, please feel free to contact our student representative, Nathaniel Frissell.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Tue., Dec. 17, 2013 02:17 PM EST
(40 Reads)
10 Week Duration starting anytime between May 12 and June 20, 2014 Jicamarca and Lima, Peru
Open to: Junior/Senior Undergraduates and 1st/2nd year Grad Students Application Deadline: January 24, 2014 Apply Through:http://jro.igp.gob.pe/jirep/ Support: Travel expenses and a reasonable stipend
A large radar system known as the Jicamarca Radio Observatory (JRO) is located under Earth’s magnetic equator in Peru, not far from the national capital, Lima. It makes scientific observations of the atmosphere and ionosphere and is also a laboratory for developing new radar instrumentation and software. Since 2006 the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has sponsored a summer Research Experience Program for U.S. students at JRO. Students gain experience on different aspects of radar systems and are welcome to propose and run their own experiments. The program is open to junior/senior undergraduate and first/second year graduate students. It provides travel expenses and a reasonable stipend for a period of ten weeks. For 2014 a student can begin any time between May 12 and June 20. More information on the Jicamarca International Research Experience Program (JIREP 2014) can be found at http://jro.igp.gob.pe/jirep/
June - August 2014 Various Locations in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand
Open to: U.S. Citizens or permanent residents enrolled in STEM/STEM Education Masters or Ph.D. Programs at U.S. Institutions Application Deadline: 25 November 2013 Apply Through/Official Information:http://www.nsf.gov/eapsi Support: $5000 stipend, travel, room, and board is provided.
Undergraduate students are hereby invited to spend the fall term 2013 (August-December) at The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). Extended admission is open on a first come, first served basis for the course combination:
AGF 210 – The Middle Polar Atmosphere (15 ECTS)
AGF 213 – Polar Meteorology and Climate (15 ECTS)
There are also places available on the graduate course
AGF 345/845 – Polar Magnetospheric Substorms (10 ECTS) which is an intensive Master-/PhD-level course that runs from October 21-November 22 2013. The course includes fieldwork at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory and the EISCAT Svalbard radar.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Wed., May 15, 2013 03:09 PM EDT
(220 Reads)
Summer or Autumn, Flexible Dates, Minimum of 10 Weeks Washington, DC
Open to: Graduate and undergraduate (completed junior year) at US Institution majoring physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, or geology Application Deadline: Rolling Apply Through:http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/ssb_052239 Salary: $14.50 - $18.00/hour
As part of its celebration of the 50th anniversary of its founding, the Space Studies Board (SSB) has expanded the scope of the Space Policy Intern program it has operated since 1992 by initiating the Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships. The goal of the program is to provide promising undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to work in the area of civil space research policy in the Nation's capital, under the aegis of the SSB. The Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships are offered twice annually.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Mon., Feb. 25, 2013 02:46 PM EST
(429 Reads)
July 29 – August 2, 2013 MIT Haystack Observatory in Westford, MA
Open to: Graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Application Deadline: 15 March 2013 Apply Through:http://www.amisr.com/workshop Funding: Travel, housing, and meals for most US-based students. Funding for post-docs and students outside of the US is considered on a case-by-case basis.
The 2013 ISR Summer School will be held at the MIT Haystack Observatory July 29 – August 2. The school provides students with hands-on experience in designing and running experiments at incoherent scatter radar facilities. During this summer school, students will have the opportunity to run experiments and use data from multiple incoherent scatter radar observatories, such as Poker Flat (PFISR), Millstone Hill, Resolute Bay (RISR), Sondrestrom, Jicamarca and Arecibo. The school will be structured to provide presentations in the morning and hands-on experience in experiment design and analysis in the afternoons. The morning lectures will include an introduction to the theory of incoherent scatter, radar operations, ISR analysis techniques, and the Madrigal database. The afternoon exercises will involve working closely with ISR facility staff in the topic areas of: proposal design, experiment execution, and data analysis. All students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with experienced scientists from multiple institutions.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Sun., Jan. 20, 2013 10:45 PM EST
(461 Reads)
Job location: San Antonio, TX Eligibility: Electrical, Computer, or Mechanical Engineering or Science BS or MS students graduating anytime in 2013. Minimum 3.3 GPA and should be eligible for obtaining a US Security Clearance On Campus Interview Date: February 22, 2013 More Infomation: Career fair booth on February 21, 2013 or contact Amanda Nugent at Web Site:http://www.swri.jobs
The Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX is currently looking for students graduating in May, August or December 2013 to fill its employment needs. SwRI will be interviewing students at Virginia Tech on Friday, February 22nd. SwRI is looking for Electrical and Computer Engineering students pursuing a BS or MS degree with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Students must also be eligible to obtain a U.S. Government Security Clearance. Students can sign up for interviews at the SwRI Career Fair booth on February 21st.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Tue., Jan. 15, 2013 07:38 PM EST
(299 Reads)
Student Eligibility: Virginia Tech rising sophomores and juniors majoring in science or engineering. Other majors may be eligible after individual review. Mentor Eligibility: Virginia Tech Faculty, Postdocs, and Graduate Students in Science and Engineering Fields Student Early Admission Deadline: January 25, 2013 Regular Student/Mentor Deadline: March 8, 2013 Application and more information:www.undergraduate.vt.edu/Scieneering Potential Mentor Application:https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=2G9ACTjHqVgWdriJwyF4rw
Now entering its third year, the Scieneering program at VT is an innovative undergraduate program focused on interdisciplinary research and academic study at the intersection of science, engineering and law (www.undergraduate.vt.edu/Scieneering). As part of this program, science and engineering sophomores and juniors will perform one or more semesters of research in a lab/group outside of their home college, such that a science major will conduct research in an engineering lab, or vice versa. Research may be a full-time summer experience (40 hours per week over 10 weeks) or a part-time experience (~15 hrs/wk during the semester and ~20 hrs/wk during the summer). Mentors receive up to $1,000 to purchase supplies pertinent to the student’s project and students will receive a fellowship. Mentors are expected to provide lab space and project oversight, assuring satisfactory student progress.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Wed., Dec. 12, 2012 03:29 PM EST
(625 Reads)
June 3 - August 9, 2013 MIT Haystack Observatory in Westford, MA
Open to: Undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, and computer science students. US Citizenship or permanent residency required to be eligible for support. Application Deadline: 1 February 2012 Apply Through:http://www.haystack.mit.edu/edu/reu/ Funding: Housing plus $500 weekly stipend
The MIT Haystack Observatory invites undergraduate science, engineering and computer science students to apply for summer research positions. The program extends from June 3 to August 9, 2013. Support is provided by the National Science Foundation's REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program. Women, minorities, and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Tue., Nov. 27, 2012 10:20 PM EST
(421 Reads)
Open to: Undergraduate and Graduate Students with US Citizenship attending VA Space Grant Schools (Including Virginia Tech!) Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Deadline: February 8, 2013 Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship Deadline: February 8, 2013 STEM Bridge Scholarship Deadline: Due March 15, 2013 Application and more information:http://www.vsgc.odu.edu/
By: Nathaniel Frissell
on: Tue., Oct. 02, 2012 08:02 AM EDT
(742 Reads)
November 7-12, 2012 Research Facilities in Alaska
Open to: Student Investigators Application Deadline: ASAP; Application Review begins immediately Apply Through/Official Information: E-mail Dr. Roman Makarevich. See details in this article. Support: Travel Reimbursement up to $2,500
Apply today for student awards to travel to Alaska in November 2012 to
participate in the NSF-sponsored collaborative research project to study the
magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling at high latitudes.
AWARDS: Five awards of up to $2,500 are available to student investigators
to take part in the campaign around November 7-24, 2012. The travel awards
will be based upon the experiment proposal the students submit with their
applications.
