Project Opportunities for Environmental Science Majors
↓ Scroll down for a current list of projects & opportunities for ENVS majors ↓
Get involved!
Students
Faculty and staff from across campus are excited to work with Environmental Science majors on projects that help us understand, protect, and improve our environment. Check out the list below for projects that faculty are actively looking for students to help out with. If you find an opportunity that interests you, reach out to the mentor listed.
Looking for other opportunities? Internships, volunteer opportunities, and job postings are regularly included in our ENVS newsletter. Check out the Office of Undergraduate Research, Sustainable Clubs, and Sustainability Internships pages for more ways to get involved.
Faculty
We have outstanding students with interdisciplinary training who are eager to get involved in research. Add your projects to our list to advertise them to interested students!
Not quite ready?
Want to more about research or gaining research skills before approaching faculty about undergraduate research? Here are some tips and ideas:
- Sign up for PHYS/GEO/CHEM 2820: Elements of Research in the Sciences (offered Spring semester, counts as 3 credits of Category 4 elective credit for ENVS majors)
- Take a CRE course (course-based research experience). There are several CRE courses in the ENVS program.
- Talk to other students about their experiences. Read this We.B.Sci blog post, watch this video about student research at Weber, or check out the Office of Undergraduate Research page.
- Apply to participate in the Research Fellows program
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Many of the opportunities posted require no prior research experience, and faculty can train you in the skills you will need.
Current Project & Opportunity List
Entomology Research
with Dr. Mull
Mentor: Dr. John Mull, Department of Zoology
Type of opportunity: Independent Research for Credit (up to 3 credits)
Project duration: One semester to multiple years
Description: I am interested in and willing to mentor students who would like to become involved in the type of insect ecology research that I do. Any students who might want to explore these types of research opportunities should contact me to find out more about the specific details of my research interests.
Contact: jmull@weber.edu
Science Communication Projects
with Dr. Crimmel
Mentor: Dr. Hal Crimmel, Brady Distinguished Professor of Environmental Humanities, Department of English
Type of opportunity: Research for Credit (up to 3 credits)
Project duration: Any
Description: An important part of doing science is communicating that research to the general public and to scholars & teachers outside the disciplines of science. I have worked over the last decade on interdisciplinary work that combines writing and filmmaking with science to tell interesting stories. If you are interested in telling yours, please be in touch.
Contact: hcrimmel@weber.edu
About Dr. Crimmel (CV) | The Rights of Nature Documentary by Dr. Crimmel
Clay Phacelia Herbivory Protection Research
with Dr. Skopec
Mentor: Dr. Michele Skopec, Department of Zoology
Type of opportunity: Research for Credit (up to 2 credits) or Paid Internship
Project duration: Multiple years
Description: Dr. Michele Skopec leads a team of 2-4 Weber State students on 6 trips per year to Spanish Fork canyon to survey, monitor and place herbivore exclusion cages around clay phacelia, a rare and endangered plant found only in Spanish Fork canyon. Wildlife cameras have been placed at clay phacelia sites to monitor predation by herbivores. Plant locations are mapped and demographic data, such as size, vigor, flowering etc. are collected during field site visits. Students interested in herbivory, botany, soil science, and/or GIS should contact Dr. Skopec about joining the research team. It is expected that students will attend the field site visits which occur on weekends, and be able to hike on steep and uneven terrain.
Requirements: The ability to hike on steep and uneven terrain is required.
Desired skills & coursework: GIS, or plant identification, or animal identification skills appreciated but not required.
Contact: micheleskopec@weber.edu
Emissions of Volatile Chemical Products
with Dr. Pagonis
Mentor: Dr. Demetrios Pagonis, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Type of opportunity: Unpaid Internship or Research for Credit (up to 3 credits)
Project duration: One semester to multiple years
Description: This project studies the emissions of volatile chemical products (shampoos, paints, cleaning products) and how they impact indoor and outdoor air quality. The research student(s) involved in this project will design experiments using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to monitor the composition and emission rates of chemical products. Students who continue for multiple semesters may carry out modeling of the impacts of these chemicals on indoor air quality.
Desired skills & coursework: Coursework up to CHEM 3000 (Quantitative Analysis)
Contact: demetriospagonis@weber.edu
Analysis of Airborne Air Quality Datasets
with Dr. Pagonis
Mentor: Dr. Demetrios Pagonis, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Type of opportunity: Unpaid Internship, Paid Research Assistantship, or Research for Credit (2 credits)
Project duration: Two semesters to multiple years
Description: This project is a NASA-funded re-analysis of ten years of airborne measurements, focused on the impact of particulate matter on air quality and climate. The research student will write and run analysis code on these datasets, including non-linear fitting, numerical modeling, and Monte Carlo simulation.
Requirements: Experience programming in an object-oriented language (C, Python, etc.)
Desired skills & coursework: GIS, or plant identification, or animal identification skills appreciated but not required.
Contact: demetriospagonis@weber.edu
Energy Management Projects
with Justin Owen
Mentor: Justin Owen, Energy Manager, Energy and Sustainability Office
Description: I am interested in mentoring students in projects of their own design. Come talk to me about your interests and ideas, and we can work together to design a project just for you.
Contact: justinowen@weber.edu
Materials Chemistry Research with
Dr. Burnett
Mentor: Dr. Brandon Burnett, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Description: I am interested in mentoring students in projects of their own design. Come talk to me about your interests and ideas, and we can work together to design a project just for you.
Contact: brandonburnett@weber.edu
Sustainability Projects
with Jenn Bodine
Mentor: Jenn Bodine, Sustainability Manager, Energy and Sustainability Office
Description: I am interested in mentoring students in projects of their own design. Come talk to me about your interests and ideas, and we can work together to design a project just for you.
Contact: jenniferbodine@weber.edu | 801-626-6421
Geospatial and Remote Sensing Research
with Dr. Frazier
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Frazier, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department of Geography
Description: I am interested in mentoring students in projects of their own design. Come talk to me about your interests and ideas, and we can work together to design a project just for you.
Contact: ryanfrazier@weber.edu