A 10-week paid internship program where students work with faculty mentors on applying computational and data-intensive approaches to climate science research.
Are you an undergraduate student who is interested in applying computational and data-intensive approaches to research areas relevant to climate science and climate change?
We are pleased to announce that Fisk University will host the 2025 MS-CC Climate Science Internship Program in partnership with Meharry Medical College. The program is funded by a National Science Foundation award (#2234326).
We will update this website with new details about our 2025 program in the coming weeks, including the application process, which will be available in early December 2024.
In the meantime, we’d like to invite you to learn more about our most recent cohort below.
2024 Program Highlights
In coordination with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Florida A&M University, the MS-CC launched a research internship program in summer 2024 to provide students the opportunity to engage in data-intensive climate research among students, faculty mentors, and climate science researchers.
10-week program hosted at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Program ran from June 3, to August 9, 2024.
Program covered airfare, housing, meals, and a $7,000 stipend per student for the duration of the 10 weeks.
First two weeks included training and instruction at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, followed by eight weeks working on a team-based research project.
Students worked closely with faculty mentors, graduate students, and climate science subject matter experts at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and other universities.
Students participated in field trips, virtual group sessions with other students and mentors, and additional opportunities to engage with experts in climate science.
Inaugural 2024 MS-CC Climate Science Research Symposium
In the final week of the climate science internship, students showcased their research at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the Carver Hall auditorium located at Academic Ovl, Princess Anne, MD 21853. The showcase provided a platform for student interns to present their research projects and share their experiences. Please see the agenda below for more information.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 | 9 AM – 4:30 PM
Time
Details
9 – 9:30 AM
Welcome
Speaker:
• Rae Quadara, MS-CC Climate Science Assistant Director
Modeling of Chesapeake Bay Water Dynamics using Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM)
Speakers:
• Dr. Xia, Mentor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Amir Walker, Morgan State University
• Alicia Guerrero-Gobert, Blackfeet Community College
• Moses Nwakwuo, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Analyzing Historical Air Temperature Data in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Speakers:
• Dr. Das, Mentor, Howard University
• Dr. Sakai, Mentor, Howard University
• Anazia Pharrams, Florida A&M University
• Micah Gholson, Rust College
• Kaylanna Guerrero-Gobert, Blackfeet Community College
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Q&A
11:45 AM – 12:55 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 1:20 PM
ML-based Solution for Land Cover Classification Using Hyperspectral Images
Speakers:
• Dr. Carlos Theran-Suarez, Mentor, Florida A&M University
• Anne-Marie Boseman, Dillard University
• Adrian Lockwood, Claflin University
An Investigation of Climate Variability, Change, and Impacts Using Surface Temperatures and Precipitation for the Southeast Region of the USA
Speakers:
• Dr. Reddy, Mentor, Jackson State University
• Hassan Abdelrahim, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Juliana Guerrero-Gobert, Blackfeet Community College
PM2.5 and Its Effect on Those with Asthma in the Baltimore Area
Speakers:
• Dr. Damoah, Mentor, Morgan State University
• Jonathankeith Murchison, Mentor, Fayetteville State University
• Merasia Johnson, Delaware State University
• Carl “Tre” Powell III, Shaw University
Speaker:
• Alexia Jones, MS-CC Climate Science Program Manager
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Student Research Showcase
Speakers:
• MS-CC Climate Science Interns
4:30 – 6 PM
Private Dinner & Closing
Faculty Contributors
The MS-CC Student Internship in Climate Science brings together faculty with experience in marine science, agriculture and water science, atmospheric science and meteorology, data science, computer science, and additional academic programs informing climate science research.
Students will receive additional support from graduate students and other subject matter experts working with these faculty, some of whom will provide remote mentoring during portions of the summer.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
UMES Faculty Coordinator
Dr. Chigbu is the Director of the NOAA LMRCSC since 2006, holding B.S. and M.S. degrees in Zoology and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington’s School of Fisheries. At UMES, he leads various marine science programs, including the NSF CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics. His research focuses on fisheries and zooplankton ecology, emphasizing the impact of climatic variations on water quality and biota, as well as trophic dynamics in marine and freshwater environments. Additionally, he directs the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates site and the Professional Science Masters program in Quantitative Fisheries and Resource Economics at UMES.
Dr. Richard Long serves as the Center Director for the NOAA EPP/MSI Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems-II led by FAMU, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs in the College of Science and Technology, and Program Director for the National Academies Gulf Scholar Program at FAMU. As a microbial oceanographer, he studies microorganisms in the context of environmental, ocean, and human health.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Student Mentor
Dr. Meng Xia is a physical oceanographer who runs both numerical modeling and observations to study the plume dynamics, bay-ocean exchange, and biophysical interaction, and also investigate the response of estuarine and coastal oceans to global warming/climate change.
Dr. Bautista is an assistant professor in Data Science at the Department of Computing Information Systems (CIS) in the College of Science and Technology. His research utilizes AI, machine learning, and generative language models applied in domains like healthcare, ethics, and data behavior.
Dr. Carlos Theran
Florida A&M University Student Mentor
Dr. Carlos Theran-Suarez is an Assistant Professor in Data Science at the Department of Computer Science in the College of Science and Technology at Florida A&M University. His research interest is developing and implementing machine learning and deep learning pipelines in domains such as healthcare, natural language processing, and remote sensing applications, specifically in land cover classification using hyperspectral images.
Dr. Richard Damoah is an Assistant Professor in the Climate Science Division at Morgan State University (MSU). He has more than 15 years of experience in chemistry climate modeling, radiative transfer modeling, trajectory modeling, pollution measurement and data analysis with strong programming skills. His activities over the years have included using climate models to investigate the interaction between air pollution and climate.
Dr. Remata Reddy is a professor at Jackson State University, specializing in meteorology and environmental science. He teaches various undergraduate and graduate courses while serving as an academic and research advisor. His research focuses on tropical meteorology, climate variability, and climate change through numerical modeling and satellite data analysis, collaborating with NOAA/NASA scientists, and leading grants from NSF and NASA. Dr. Reddy is an active member of multiple professional organizations and currently chairs the Division of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Ricardo Sakai
Howard University Student Mentor
Dr. Sakai’s interests are the interpretation of micrometeorological measurements in suburban, industrial, and forested landscapes; atmospheric boundary layer processes; air quality; spatial validity of single point measurements in a synoptic scale; instrumentation assembly; and upper air data quality assessment. He also teaches, mentors, and advises Ph.D. and MS candidates in atmospheric sciences at Howard University.
Dr. Debanjana Das
Howard University
Student Mentor
Dr. Debanjana Das is an interdisciplinary climate scientist and performing artist, currently working at Howard University and the NOAA Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. She leads research on climate extremes and global climate change, aiming to understand their impacts both locally and globally on physical processes and communities through observational data and global climate models. Additionally, she also leading a Sloan Foundation-funded project on energy justice at Howard. She uniquely combines performing arts with faith-based and cultural knowledge to address climate issues, using dance to facilitate climate conversations and promote dialogue about climate justice. She also researches ways to bridge the gaps between weather, water, climate science, and faith-based communities. Dr. Das is a prominent voice in the media and on various podcasts, advocating for climate literacy in general. She has worked as an executive production designer for films focusing on marginalized communities.
Internship Objectives At-a-Glance
The MS-CC Student Internship in Climate Science is guided by the following objectives.
Engage undergraduate student interns in collaborative, data-driven research within the field of climate science.
Familiarize student interns with a diverse array of technology tools and resources essential for data-centric research, collectively known as cyberinfrastructure
Provide training and experience in essential research skills and practices, such as experimental design, data analysis, identification of background resources, and scientific communication.
Foster cross-organizational collaboration by facilitating engagement between students, climate scientists, and research technology professionals.
Who Can Apply
The MS-CC Student Internship in Climate Science is open to currently enrolled undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States, with preference given to rising juniors and seniors attending an HBCU or TCU.
The internship program will be of benefit to students interested in applying cyberinfrastructure approaches to research areas relevant to climate science and climate change.
Students currently pursuing STEM undergraduate degrees, including but not limited to environmental science, marine science, biology, math/computer science, engineering, atmospheric science, and physics are encouraged to apply.
Student Intern Responsibilities
Students selected will be expected to dedicate their full attention to the internship program during the entire 10-week summer program that runs June 3 to August 9, 2024. Students are not permitted to have additional employment or take summer classes while participating in the MS-CC Student Internship in Climate Science.
Application Information
The application period closed at 5 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024. All application materials must be submitted before the end of the application period for ensured consideration.
Students will need to submit the following information to formally apply for the MS-CC Student Internship in Data-driven Climate Science:
Online application form
College transcripts.
Contact information for two references.
References will then be emailed a link to submit a recommendation letter. Applicants will receive an email notification when their references have completed the process.
Due to the large number of applications received for the MS-CC Student Internship in Climate Science, we have extended the notification period from March 20, 2024, to April 15, 2024.
All students who applied to the program can expect to receive an update on their application status by April 15, 2024. Students selected to participate in the internship program must confirm their acceptance within one week of receiving the notification email.
Prior to their arrival at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore campus, interns are expected to provide the required information and documentation as requested by the internship program staff. Additionally, interns are required to collaborate with the program staff to coordinate travel arrangements to and from the campus.
Contact Us
Send any questions, comments, or inquiries about the MS-CC Student Internship in Data-driven Climate Science program and application process to Lanika Starks, Senior Director of Program Operations.
