Tag: Environmental Studies

CLOSED: Using GIS to identify wildland firefighting tactics (Calvin Bryan)

Remote: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/8/2026 and run for 6 weeks, finishing on 7/17/2026.

Project Description

In this project, students will use GIS programs to investigate how aircraft have been employed in combating active wildfires. Data has been collected on the exact times and locations of aerial drops of fire retardant from firefighting aircraft over about five years. Students will use this data, along with spatial data on wildfire burn boundaries over the same time period, to help identify the objective of each retardant drop. This data will ultimately be used as a part of a project to estimate the effectiveness of aerial firefighting at actually altering wildfire outcomes.

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Prerequisites

At a minimum, students should be familiar with ArcGIS. It will also be useful if students have experience working in R, Python, and/or have an interest in AI and machine learning.

Special Comments

Students will need to have access to ArcGIS. They will be able to do some of this work from home if they can use it on their personal computer, but may have to work from a campus computer if not.

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/8/2026

Estimated End Date: 7/17/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 6 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 1

Research Location: Remote

Travel Required? No (If “yes”: )

Contact Information: Calvin Bryan (email: cbryan@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Vegetation and soil organic matter responses to the removal of large grazers in Yellowstone Grasslands (Bill Hamilton)

Hybrid: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/08/2026 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/31/2026.

Project Description

While much work has been done on the plant/herbivore interactions, much less in known about the direct and indirect interactions of grazers on the ability of soils to sequester carbon (C). C sequestration is an important ecological property of an intact ecosystem and also serves as an important process for the National Park Service because it can contribute to mediation of climate change. There is a tri-trophic interaction between plants, herbivores and soil microbes that regulates soil C. Microbes are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter with grasses and herbivores contributing to removals and inputs of C from the system. Using a combination of laboratory and field-based experiments we will analyze soil samples for microbial biomass and soil C, quantify net ecosystem productivity, and conduct laboratory soil incubations. This will be done in direct collaboration with the National Park Service Bison Ecology and Management team and interns from the Intertribal Buffalo Council. Our field and laboratory data will identify relationships and mechanisms about grassland carbon exchange that can be linked to broader scales within YNP and in other grassland ecosystems.

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Prerequisites

BIOL 200 level or ENV 201

Special Comments

no

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/08/2026

Estimated End Date: 7/31/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: Hybrid

Travel Required? Yes (If “yes”: Mid June to Yellowstone National Park)

Contact Information: Bill Hamilton (email: hamiltone@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Using GIS to identify wildland firefighting tactics (Calvin Bryan)

Hybrid: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/08/2026 and run for 9 weeks, finishing on 8/7/2026.

Project Description

In this project, students will use GIS programs to investigate how aircraft have been employed in combating active wildfires. Data has been collected on the exact times and locations of aerial drops of fire retardant from firefighting aircraft over about five years. Students will use this data, along with spatial data on wildfire burn boundaries over the same time period, to help identify the objective of each retardant drop. This data will ultimately be used as a part of a project to estimate the effectiveness of aerial firefighting at actually altering wildfire outcomes.

Apply now

Prerequisites

At a minimum, students should be familiar with ArcGIS. It will also be useful if students have experience working in R, Python, and/or have an interest in AI and machine learning.

Special Comments

Students will need to have access to ArcGIS. They will be able to do some of this work from home if they can use it on their personal computer, but may have to work from a campus computer if not.

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/08/2026

Estimated End Date: 8/7/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 9 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: Hybrid

Travel Required? No (If “yes”: )

Contact Information: Calvin Bryan (email: cbryan@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Assessing Climate Services for Agriculture in the Midwest (Ryan McCoy)

Hybrid: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/08/2026 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/31/2026.

Project Description

Climate services involve the production, translation, and utilization of climate information to aid in decision-making. These services aim to provide timely and tailored information to decision-makers and stakeholders in the face of growing climate variability. In doing so, climate services are a critical resource for bolstering climate resiliency and adaptation. This project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (Grant #5030-21600-001-014-G, PI: Ryan McCoy), will evaluate climate services offered by the USDA Midwest Climate Hub (MCH)–an organization tasked with providing regional-specific climate information to stakeholders in the $76 billion agricultural industry in the Midwest. In doing so, this assessment will provide a baseline measure of the value of these services, including their social, economic, and ecological impacts, as well as identify areas for improvement in service delivery and development. As part of this project, student researchers will work in collaboration with the PI, federal organizations, and other government partners to analyze survey data, as well as produce internal reports and external publications relating to MCH’s climate services. In doing so, students will play a pivotal role in increasing the awareness, accessibility, and usability of climate information for agricultural stakeholders in the Midwest, as well as support climate resiliency in U.S. food systems.

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Prerequisites

Ideally, students should have some experience in mixed methods research and data analysis, and some familiarity with R and similar programs by the project start date. Courses relevant to this position include, but are not limited to, the following: -ENV 390 Topics: Applied Mixed Methods in Environmental Studies -SOAN 111 R for Social Scientists -SOAN 222 Data Science Tools for Social Policy

Special Comments

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/08/2026

Estimated End Date: 7/31/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: Hybrid

Travel Required? No (If “yes”: )

Contact Information: Ryan McCoy (email: rmccoy2@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Assessing Drinking Water Suitability and Challenges of Springs and Private Wells in Virginia (MADHUMITA CHAKRABORTY)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/15/2026 and run for 6 weeks, finishing on 7/24/2026.

Project Description

Did you know that over 1.7 million Virginians rely on private wells for their drinking water, while many others turn to roadside springs? These unregulated water sources are a lifeline for many households, yet their safety and quality remain a pressing concern. Here’s where you come in! Join an exciting research project that dives into the heart of spring and private well water quality in Rockbridge County and the surrounding areas. Together, we’ll explore critical questions: (a) What contaminants are lurking in our springs and wells? (b) How many people are at risk from these contaminants? (c) Who is most at risk from exposure to these contaminants? Are certain communities more vulnerable than others? (d) Do the contaminant profiles in spring water differ from those in well water? In other words, are spring water users exposed to a different set of contaminants than well water users? By participating, you’ll gain hands-on experience in water sampling, analyzing contamination patterns, and GIS-based spatial data analysis while making a real-world impact. This project isn’t just about water testing—it’s about connecting science to society. Your efforts will contribute to identifying inequities in water access and guiding potential interventions to ensure safe drinking water for all. Interested? Let’s tackle these essential questions together and make a difference!

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Prerequisites

N/A

Special Comments

For success in the project, you should have: (a) Enthusiasm for engaging in extensive fieldwork: While prior experience in research or lab settings is not required, you must be eager to actively participate in water sampling and laboratory analysis, learning and developing these skills throughout the project. (b) Willingness to travel off campus: You should be ready to travel to other laboratories for water quality analysis. (c) Curiosity and passion: A genuine interest in water quality issues and a drive to make a meaningful impact.

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/15/2026

Estimated End Date: 7/24/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 6 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Travel Required? Yes (If “yes”: We will travel on most days during the first five weeks to different parts of the Rockbridge community. Some trips may also include visiting a local water-testing lab.)

Contact Information: MADHUMITA CHAKRABORTY (email: mchakraborty@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Mitochondrial genetics of Virginia’s Freshwater Crayfish (Paul Cabe)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/08/2026 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/31/2026.

Project Description

Freshwater crayfish are ecologically important species found on nearly all continents. The world hotspot of species diversity is in SE North America. Although hundreds of species are known, many species remain to be described scientifically, hindering research and preventing effective conservation efforts. My lab works to survey, identify and classify Virginia crayfish populations using genetic tools; this includes contributing to efforts to describe new species. We produce and use DNA sequence data, primarily from the mitochondrial genome. Students will experience field work, and learn common DNA techniques like DNA extraction, PCR, gels, DNA sequencing and DNA sequence analysis.

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Prerequisites

Simple lab skills desirable (from Intro Bio or Genetics labs). Good attitude during outdoor field work! (sampling streams)

Special Comments

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/08/2026

Estimated End Date: 7/31/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Travel Required? Yes (If “yes”: Day trips by van to SW Virginia (and other nearby locations), with possibility of one or two nights camping during field trips. All within Virginia.)

Contact Information: Paul Cabe (email: cabep@wlu.edu)

Critical mineral extraction paired with acid mine drainage bioremediation (Margaret Anne Hinkle)

Hybrid: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/22/2026 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 8/14/2026.

Project Description

The research for 2026 will be focused on our collaborative NSF grant with University of Pittsburgh and Hedin Environmental. Rare earth elements, also known as “critical minerals” are those we need for the upcoming energy transition as we move away from carbon-based energy to renewables. You may have heard of a lot of interest in deep sea ocean nodule mining for these REEs – and of the unknown impact that may have on that important ecosystem. These deep sea ocean nodules bind REEs because they are comprised of Mn oxides, known as “the scavengers of the sea.” As it turns out, acid mine drainage contains a lot of rare earth elements, and a by product of acid mine drainage remediation is the precipitation of manganese oxides thanks to the help of manganese oxidizing fungi. We are investigating whether we can take these Mn oxide mineral byproducts of AMD remediation and put them upstream where the water has high concentrations of REEs and extract these REEs in economically viable amounts. We are pairing these field experiments with lab-based experiments, growing the same fungi in our lab that are responsible for manganese oxide biomineralization, and reacting them with REEs to see a) how much of the REEs are removed from solution and b) how? Are they binding to the Mn oxides or to the fungal biomass? The work this summer will better our understanding of whether remediating REEs and Mn from AMD in this way can address the need for domestic sources of critical minerals by enhancing reclamation from AMD discharges rather than creating additional environmental degradation by mining REE ores or seafloor dredging of deep-sea nodules, ideally providing economic incentive for the treatment of AMD-impacted waters, resulting in cleaner, more ecologically diverse streams and rivers.

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Prerequisites

None

Special Comments

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/22/2026

Estimated End Date: 8/14/2026

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 5

Research Location: Hybrid

Travel Required? Yes (If “yes”: Pittsburgh, PA to acid mine drainage field sites, toward the end of the summer. )

Contact Information: Margaret Anne Hinkle (email: hinklem@wlu.edu)