Announcements of Opportunity
SURF: Announcements of Opportunity
Below are Announcements of Opportunity posted by Caltech faculty and JPL technical staff for the SURF program. Each AO indicates whether or not it is open to non-Caltech students. If an AO is NOT open to non-Caltech students, please DO NOT contact the mentor. Announcements of Opportunity are posted as they are received. Please check back regularly for new AO submissions!
Remember: This is just one way that you can go about identifying a suitable project and/or mentor. Click here for more tips on finding a mentor. Announcements for external summer programs are listed here.
*Students applying for JPL projects should complete a SURF@JPL application instead of a "regular" SURF application.
*Students pursuing opportunities at JPL must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.
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| Project: | Development and Deployment of Sensors for Measuring Carbon Dioxide in Rivers | ||||||||
| Disciplines: | Environmental Science and Engineering, Geobiology | ||||||||
| Mentor: | Woodward Fischer, Professor of Geobiology, (GPS), wfischer@caltech.edu | ||||||||
| AO Contact: | Simon Andren, sandren@caltech.edu | ||||||||
| Background: |
Rivers are integral components of the global carbon cycle, acting not just as conduits transporting carbon but also as dynamic systems that emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere. Recent studies have highlighted that CO₂ emissions from rivers are comparable to the ocean sink, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of riverine carbon dynamics. Traditional methods of measuring dissolved CO₂ in rivers—such as spot sampling or calculations from pH and alkalinity—often miss critical diurnal variations, leading to underestimations of CO₂ fluxes. This research project focuses on continuing the development and deployment of automated sensor systems for continuous monitoring of dissolved CO₂ in river systems. By capturing high-resolution data, one can start to unravel the complex interplay of biological, chemical, and physical processes that control CO₂ concentrations in rivers. This understanding is crucial for accurately quantifying carbon fluxes and improving global carbon budget models. |
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| Description: |
We are seeking an undergraduate student to work on this project, both on the instrumentation and the deployment. The project will unfold in two key stages: Finalizing the Sensor System: Assembly and Calibration Laboratory Testing Address and optimize if needed Structuring and Conducting a Field Study: Study Design Field Deployment Data Analysis Interpretation Dissemination |
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| Student Requirements: | This project is ideal for a student who wants large ownership of a project and who’s interested in hands-on work. The student will be exposed to various tools like soldering, programming, and fieldwork. Experience in any of these areas is a bonus. If interested, the project could start earlier than summer 2025 for a credited research experience. | ||||||||
| Programs: |
This AO can be done under the following programs:
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