Summer internships & Senior research projects
We very strongly encourage all majors to do a summer internship
between their junior and senior year. There are many opportunities
discussed below for paid and unpaid internships. Many of these
summer projects (but not all) might result in a senior thesis in the
framework of the senior seminar. If you know what you
are going to work on for your senior thesis by early in the spring
semester of your junior year, you can take the senior seminar in the
sequence spring (junior year) - fall (senior year). This
allows you to bracket a summer internship, and be better
prepared for the summer.
How to find research opportunities
- find your passion
- did you read/learn about exciting research, did you meet any
exciting researchers?
- define a few broader areas of interest
- find researchers that work in your fields of interest
- look at websites, authors of key papers, etc.
- local researchers might be easier to build a relationship
with
- consider Barnard faculty members
- and/or apply to formal internship programs, deadlines in
February and March, typically
- keep in mind that during the semester you can't get academic
credit and get paid for the same work
- Prof Stute in the EnvSci Department can help with coordinating
research opportunities (sign
up for appointment)
Senior thesis websites
Columbia/Barnard based internships
- The Lamont Summer Intern
Program for undergraduates from U.S. colleges and
universities provides a summer research experience in Earth and
ocean sciences. The program features a hands-on research project
under the supervision of a Columbia-affiliated scientist, as
well as special lectures, workshops and fieldtrips. When
applying to this program you will compete with students from all
over the country. Typically 1-2 BC/CU students get selected.
Deadline is March 15.
- The Earth Intern Program
for Columbia and Barnard undergraduates provides a summer
research experience in Environmental sciences. The program
features a hands-on research project under the supervision of an
LDEO-affiliated scientist, as well as special lectures,
workshops and fieldtrips. As BC/CU junior you have a very good
chance being admitted. Deadline is March 15.
Details on applying to the program can be found under the links
above. The web sites also include the name and and expertise of the
research mentors listed. All of the projects are suitable for
senior theses
Other opportunities