Oak Ridge National Laboratory https://www.ornl.gov/
Integration of FAIR(IE) sample and metadata principles into data quality and management pipeline in the Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Scientific Focus Area (TES SFA) sample archive.
Next Application Period:
Due early January, 2025 (see details) for Summer 2025 appointment (approximately May 27th-August 1st).
Internship Details:
- Educational Internship opportunity through the Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program (https://education.ornl.gov/suli/)
- Requirements:
- US citizen / LPR
- Current undergraduate or recent graduate AS/BS (0-2 years)
- GPA 3.0+
- Age 18+
- Full Time, Ongoing Opportunity – Spring/Fall Semester = 16 weeks, Summer Semester = 10 weeks.
- Stipend = $650/week, additional housing allowance and travel reimbursement available, if eligible.
- Potential for up to two semester appointments with possible additional extension depending on funding and program needs.
Project Overview
The TES SFA supports research to understand and predict the interaction of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems and climate, and to assess vulnerability of terrestrial ecosystems to projected environmental change. To achieve these goals, a diverse group of scientific disciplines require collection, analysis, and preservation of equally diverse sample types, specifically heavy on soil and plant samples. In order apply FAIR(IE) principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable, [Inclusive, Ethical]) across the wide range of samples collected as part of the focus area, an adaptable pipeline to associate meaningful metadata with clearly identifiable samples in an organized archive using the SESAR² platform (https://www.geosamples.org/about). By retroactively digitizing, registering, and barcoding the existing sample archives and applying lessons learned to current and future sampling campaigns, an integrated pipeline will be developed by leveraging existing resources and development of new processes.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop practical sample and data organization and management skills in a professional research setting.
- Gain experience with scientific data standards and best practices through integration of physical samples, metadata, and high-quality published datasets.
- Develop science communication skill through synthesizing and presenting results.
- Learn the conceptual framework of terrestrial ecosystems science through participating in high impact, collaborative research.
How to Apply:
This is an educational internship opportunity funding by the Department of Energy and managed by ORAU/ORISE. Applications are made online through the following portal: https://science.osti.gov/wdts/suli/How-to-Apply/. Before applying for this project, you must coordinate with the contact below prior to applying or else you will be added to the general applicant pool and may not be eligible to receive an offer for this specific project. Additionally, the application process can be unintuitive so any questions can be answered ahead of time.
If interested, please contact:
Joshua Birkebak, Ph.D. – birkebakjm@ornl.gov
Oak Ridge National Lab
Biological and Environmental Systems Science
Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Scientific Focus Area