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SUMMER GRADUATE STUDENT INTERNSHIP

Description

A summer research internship is available to work with the U.S Geological Survey and the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  The research project will focus on assessing the prevalence and concentrations of antibiotic resistant microbes and genes in Iowa streams and rivers.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance worldwide is one of the most serious global public health concerns of the 21st century and results in the reduction in efficacy of life saving antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally but is primarily accelerated due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics by both humans and agriculture (e.g. livestock production). 

This study will collect environmental samples at stream locations across Iowa to represent livestock-impacted and urban wastewater-impacted watersheds and minimally impacted (i.e. pseudo reference) sites to assess the “background” of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB)/ antibiotic resistant genes (ARG) in Iowa stream systems.   A total network of up to 35 sites will be sampled for this study.

Objectives

The specific project objectives will be to 1) Assist with the collection and shipping of water and sediment samples in Iowa rivers and streams and 2) Develop fact sheets focused on ARB and ARG contamination. 

Who May Apply

This internship is open to qualified graduate students working toward a MPH, MS or PhD degree in    Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Policy & Planning, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Health, Public Health, or a similar field. Prior coursework in environmental science or water quality is desirable. 

The successful applicant must be able to work in varying weather conditions (heat, etc.), be able to climb stream banks, and carry 30-50 pounds over irregular terrain.  Sampling may require occasional overnight travel to Western Iowa.

Hours

The position is part-time.  Hours will be flexible, with 20 hours per week on average. It may be necessary to work more than 20 hours some weeks to meet sampling objectives.  The position will last for at least 8 weeks from May 20 until July 19, 2019. Including salary and fringe benefits, the total internship will pay $24.97/hr, or approximately $5,000.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume or CV (2-page limit), a 1-page letter of support from your current academic advisor, and a personal statement.  The personal statement should describe in a maximum of 500 words, your interest in this internship and how this experience will further your graduate training and professional development at the University of Iowa. 

All application materials should be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday, May 6, 2018 in order to be considered. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Questions and application materials should be submitted to cheec@uiowa.edu

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FY2020 CHEEC INFORMATICS FELLOWSHIP

Description

A one-year fellowship is available to work with the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  In addition to routine management of our drinking water quality database, the fellow will contribute to a research project focused on the development of an interactive platform to visualize this water quality data for public water systems across Iowa. 

Presently, CHEEC has developed an application that uses available information to forecast well characteristics, including aquifer types and the depth to reach the top and bottom of water bearing rocks at any point in Iowa.  The fellow will work to expand the scale of the application by incorporating publically available and historical drinking water quality data for all public water systems in Iowa. The position will also provide support to CHEEC’s Database Manager to maintain and update underlying datasets as needed.

Objectives

The specific project objectives will be to:

  1. Under the supervision of CHEEC’s Database Manager, assist with the maintenance and updating of CHEEC’s drinking water quality database;
  2. Assist with the creation of an interactive platform that will display drinking water quality data for public water systems across Iowa; and
  3. Evaluate the performance and accuracy of the platform by comparing its water quality data to external datasets published by Iowa Department of Natural Resources;

Who May Apply

This fellowship is open to qualified UI graduate students that have experience with database management (MS SQL), programming, algorithm fundamentals, and predictive analytics. MS and PhD level students in Informatics, Computer Science or Statistics graduate programs at the University of Iowa are preferred and encouraged to apply. Prior coursework in environmental science, environmental engineering or environmental chemistry is desirable. 

Hours

The fellowship is for one year from June 1, 2019 until May 31, 2020.  The position will cover the cost of tuition at UI for the FY2020 school year and a 50% graduate research assistant stipend and fringe benefits.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume or CV (2-page limit), a 1-page letter of support from your current academic advisor, and a personal statement.  The personal statement should describe in a maximum of 500 words, your interest in this internship and how this experience will further your graduate training and professional development at the University of Iowa.

All application materials should be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday, May 13, 2018 in order to be considered. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Questions and application materials should be submitted to cheec@uiowa.edu.