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Contact: Theresa Miller
Graduate Student, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Email: tmmiller13@alaska.edu

*Looking for one (1) student of Freshman-Senior standing.*

This study aims to understand pathways for regrowth of bacterial contaminants in treated drinking water systems and the short- and long-term effectiveness of remediation activities. Project work will include field sampling, developing bacteria cultures, and processing samples for DNA analysis. The lab team works with six utilities, including small community water systems across 4 of 5 regions of the state!

Prerequisites:  None- I am looking for a student who:
1. Is willing to be trained on and adhere to lab and biohazard safety
2. Values doing good and ethical work
3. Cares about attention to detail

This project topic may be highly compatible with (but is not exclusive to) ³ÉÈËӰƬ who are interested in public health, the role of water in subsistence and community well-being, water chemistry, microbiology, environmental engineering, or thinking critically about utilities and the resources that serve our basic human needs.

I intend to support the student's travel to complete field sampling in a Southeast or Southcentral community. I am happy to help the student position the research experience in professional settings via resume help, interview coaching, goal-setting, etc. I am very passionate about strengths-based mentorship and would be happy to take on more ³ÉÈËӰƬ in a mentorship capacity.

If you think you might be interested and/or have questions, I welcome you to please reach out! Research is a great way to have immersive learning experiences and lean into curiosity.

Time Commitment: Flexible - I would like to onboard a student for side-by-side lab training in April-May and anticipate ~30hr/wk for 9 weeks over the summer break with potential continuation at part-time in the Fall if the student is interested!

Compensation: Starting rate is $16.50/hr

Deadline to Contact: Monday, March 17, 2025

Contact: Ellen Candler
Assistant Professor of Biology and Wildlife
Email: emcandler@alaska.edu

*Looking for one (1) student of Freshman, Sophomore or Junior standing*

The Neighborly Wildlife: Fairbanks in Focus project aims to identify the wildlife that share our Fairbanks community with us. Using remote cameras, we will investigate wildlife occurrence and how that varies at different human densities As part of the Urban Wildlife Information Network, this project will also be connected with other projects in urban areas around the world. Throughout the summer, we will work together to establish three remote camera grids in Fairbanks and the surrounding area. In addition, we will work with community members to deploy cameras and learn about community interests related to wildlife. We will also conduct tick presence research, attempting to collect tick if and when they are present. In addition, the student will have the opportunity to learn about different photo analysis tools. These will be useful when analyzing results of the summer research season. The student will have the opportunity to develop a research question related to the remote camera placement in Fairbanks, help set up a long-term research project, gain multiple field and technical skills, and interact with the Fairbanks community through participatory science.

This project will provide a computer for the student to work from for the duration of the project (summer 2025). Transportation to and from study sites will also be provided.

Prerequisites: This work will be outdoors much of the time so comfort working in varying weather conditions is a must. Rain, heat, and bugs are a common occurrence. There is not requirement to have experience with the field techniques but the student should be open to learning new field and computer based techniques.

Time Commitment: This position will last from May 19-August 8, 2025. The selected student is expected to work for 30 hours/week. This equates to a total of 360 hours. 

Compensation: Funding dependent on funded proposal- $16.50/hour for a total of $5,940. 

Deadline to Contact: Friday, March 14, 2025

Contact: Kristin O'Brien
Associate Professor of Biology, Institute of Arctic Biology & College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Email: kmobrien@alaska.edu

*Looking for two (2) ³ÉÈËӰƬ Sophomore to Senior standing*

I'm seeking to hire 1 or 2 undergraduate ³ÉÈËӰƬ to conduct research in my lab this summer, studying the response of Antarctic fish to hypoxia for 25-40 hours per week. Methods include measuring the activity of metabolic enzymes, gene expression using quantitative real-time PCR, and possibly image analysis. Please let me know if you're interested and we can discuss the project in more detail. A complete application includes a goals statement, transcripts, resume and the name and contact information of 2 references.

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Biology I & II, Chemistry 105 & 106

Time Commitment: The positions are for the summer (~ May 15 - Aug 15) with a possibility of continuing through the academic year for 25-40 hours per week during the summer.

Compensation: Students will be paid $17-19 per hour, depending on their level of experience. 

Deadline to Contact: Sunday, March 30, 2025

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.

Deadline to contact: December 31, 2025

Contact: Amanda Young
Spatial & Environmental Data Center Manager, Toolik Field Station
Email: ayoung55@alaska.edu

*Looking for one (1) student of Junior or Senior standing*

Toolik Field Station is looking for a seasonal Environmental Data Center (EDC) Research Technician to join our staff. As our EDC Technician, you’ll help Toolik Field Station (TFS) provide scientific, logistical, and operational support to visiting scientists conducting Arctic research. The EDC supports the science community through the collection of long-term baseline environmental (biotic and abiotic) monitoring, management of equipment, and by providing field assistance to projects. Every day is a little bit different. To thrive in this role, you must have experience in a field based science a willingness to be outside in a variety of conditions (cold, heat, mosquitoes and snow) as well as willingness to be an active community member. Employment from May/June – August.

Prerequisites: Pursuing a degree in a scientific discipline. Inclination to working with plants and instrumentation.

Time Commitment: Start in May or early June and runs into August. This is a full time position working 40+ hours a week on a shift schedule. Working roughly 3 weeks on and one week off, repeat. Position is hourly and you will be paid overtime for hours worked over 40 hours.

Compensation: Position is paid. While on shift you will be living at Toolik Field Station. Transportation to the station, housing, and food are all included while at the field station.

Deadline to Contact: March 17, 2025

Contact: Mike Hull
Assistant Professor of Physics
Email: mmhull2@alaska.edu

Looking for three (3) ³ÉÈËӰƬ (Freshman-Senior Standing). 

I am looking for ³ÉÈËӰƬ for both projects listed below:

1) What do ³ÉÈËӰƬ find interesting in their physics lessons? This would involve qualitative content analysis (student reports about what they found to be most interesting in their class each week).

2) How does bottom-up reflexive training about electromagnetic induction compare in effectiveness to top-down reflective training? This would involve analysis of quantitative data (student responses to questions about electromagnetic induction)

Prerequisites: None- an interest in how ³ÉÈËӰƬ learn and an eagerness to grow in data analysis techniques is beneficial. 

Time Commitment: These positions are available to start ASAP with a flexible workload and end date. 

Compensation: This position is currently unfunded. The mentor would be willing to provide technical support to ³ÉÈËӰƬ interested in applying for project funding.

Deadline to Contact: May 30, 2025 

Contact: Carol Gray
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Email: cjgray5@alaska.edu

Looking for up to 4 ³ÉÈËӰƬ 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ 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, ³ÉÈËӰƬ 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ), 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ might apply to. I would be happy to mentor ³ÉÈËӰƬ 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ.

• 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ (Freshman-Senior Standing). 

Prerequisites: None

Compensation: We can work on writing a grant for this--let us know your interest. Open to mentoring ³ÉÈËӰƬ 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
Director, Graduate School
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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ, 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 ³ÉÈËӰƬ, potential for research-based credits.