Welcome to the Virginia Tech SuperDARN Student Interest Page. Here you will find information important to prospective, current, and future VT SuperDARN students, as well students with a general interest in Space Science. This includes information about the lab, news items of interest to students, and important training and policy information. If you have interest in SuperDARN or space related studies, please contact either Dr. Mike Ruohoniemi or Dr. Jo Baker.
The Virginia Tech SuperDARN radar group conducts research on Earth’s space environment using HF radars and allied instrumentation and operates the U.S. component of the international SuperDARN collaboration as an Upper Atmosphere Facility for the National Science Foundation. The activities of the group are student-centered and involve all facets of research, including hardware design, operations, data analysis, and collaborative support for the scientific community. The group is a component of the Space@VT research center within the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Current student research activities include analysis of ionospheric irregularities observed with the new mid-latitude chain of SuperDARN radars, study of ultra low frequency pulsations in the magnetosphere and ionosphere, intercomparison of GPS/TEC data with radar observations of ionospheric stucture, and studies of ionospheric plasma convection and the impacts of space weather disturbance on the ionosphere. Students are closely involved with the operation of the radars including travel to the sites and hardware development and testing. Students also develop new data products and software tools for analysis. They assist members of the scientific community in accessing and utilizing the SuperDARN data set, develop scientific collaborations with colleagues, and represent the group at meetings and conferences. The Virginia Tech SuperDARN radar group is headed by Drs. J. Michael Ruohoniemi (miker@vt.edu) and Joseph B. H. Baker (bakerjb@vt.edu).
Please visit our Archive of Student Items page for important information such as research ethics training and other important information all SuperDARN students need to know.
News Items of Student Interest
Many of the news items below represent excellent opportunities for interested students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
By: miker
on: Mon., July 17, 2023 10:28 AM EDT
(201 Reads)
The USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Awards provide college scholarship awards to students who have shown a career interest in science or engineering with an emphasis on space research or space science education, and aeronautics-related sciences. For 2023 up to five undergraduate scholarship awards are available in amounts up to $5,000. Awards are for one year only.
Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students attending a four-year accredited college or university that offers courses leading to a degree in science or engineering and within two (2) years of earning a B.S. or a B.A. in a field of science and engineering, including life science and science education by the time the award is received. Detailed eligibility and application requirements are available at https://www.hou.usra.edu/usra_scholarships/application/
Application deadline: August 9, 2023
By: miker
on: Tue., Mar. 21, 2023 12:24 PM EDT
(1072 Reads)
Students, undergraduate, and early graduate students are invited to join the second Space Weather Simulation Summer School to be held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, July 24 - August 5, 2023. The goal of the summer school is to prepare students to gain skills that are required for science researchers. Specifically, the school teaches coding and how to code well, as well as how to write simulations. One of the many things covered are reading real space instrument data and making plots in python, documentation, and solving non-linear equations on a grid. Financial support is available for students.
The deadline for applications is May 1st.
Link to online application form: https://forms.gle/fRroNi6CYcrm8mn16
For more information, please email Qusai Al Shidi
By: miker
on: Sun., Mar. 19, 2023 11:00 PM EDT
(722 Reads)
The NSF funded 2023 Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) Summer School (in-person) is planned to be held at University of Alaska Fairbanks between July 17-22. The summer school’s goal is to train students in the theory and concepts of incoherent scatter radar, and allows for hands-on opportunities to design and run experiments at ISR facilities. This year’s school will focus on high-latitude / auroral observations using the Poker Flat ISR (PFISR) as a part of the NSF supported Geospace Facility.
We encourage graduate/advanced undergraduate students to apply for the school. The program funds participants from the U.S. institutions, and international students who wish to participate can apply if their university/organization is willing to cover their travel expenses. The program web site ishttps://amisr.com/school/
The deadline for application submission is March 24, 2023.
By: miker
on: Tue., Mar. 14, 2023 02:12 AM EDT
(1340 Reads)
The 2023 Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science (PARS) summer school will be held in person at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) between August 1-10, 2023. The summer school provides faculty, graduate, and advanced undergraduate students with exposure to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Subauroral Geophysical Observatory (SAGO) for Space Physics and Radio Science and the HAARP research site in Gakona, Alaska.
Graduate and advanced undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for the school, and attendance is limited. Those candidates who are selected for the 2023 PARS summer school and are enrolled at U.S. Universities/institutions will receive travel support and accommodation to attend this event. Self-funded students from institutions in other countries are welcome to apply as well.
Website: https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/pars2023
Deadline for applications: March 31, 2023
By: miker
on: Thu., Feb. 23, 2023 12:10 PM EST
(918 Reads)
JIREP is an international internship program organized by Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory in Lima, Peru that is offered to junior/senior undergraduate and/or first and second year graduate students. The program will cover travel expenses (to and from Lima) as well as a reasonable stipend. Since the Observatory is located outside the city of Lima, transportation also will be provided. This is the opportunity to gain valuable international work experience and get to know Peru, a multicultural country, full of traditions, with an award-winning gastronomy and vast nature reserves.
By: miker
on: Thu., Feb. 23, 2023 11:10 AM EST
(1248 Reads)
UCAR | CPAESS is accepting applications for the NASA Heliophysics Summer School which focuses on the physics of space weather events that start at the Sun and influence atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres throughout the solar system. This year’s theme is Observational Heliophysics.
Program website: https://heliophysics.ucar.edu/summer-school/recruitment-announcement
The Summer School has two sections. There will be a remote phase from July 17-21, 2023; and an in-person phase from August 7-11, 2023. The summer school has been expanded to include a remote phase so that more people can participate. Admission is competitive; up to 50 students are selected to attend each year.
Application deadline: March 3, 2023.
By: miker
on: Sun., Feb. 05, 2023 05:37 PM EST
(964 Reads)
The Institute of Space Weather Sciences (ISWS) at the New Jersey Institute of Technology will host a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in the summer of 2023 (May 22 to July 28, 2023), funded by the National Science Foundation.
Undergraduate students in STEM fields will be invited to Newark, New Jersey for 10 weeks to engage in cutting-edge solar physics, terrestrial physics, space weather, and big data research with space physicists, astronomers, and computer scientists. A list of research projects offered can be viewed at this link: https://spaceweather.njit.edu/reu-research-projects. Students will be provided a stipend of $6,000 for the 10-week program. Additionally, travel, meal allowance, and accommodation are provided to each student. Applications by members of under-represented groups are encouraged. For more information about the program and online application, please visit the ISWS REU website: https://spaceweather.njit.edu/reu
By: miker
on: Mon., Jan. 30, 2023 10:45 AM EST
(845 Reads)
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship Program provides awards of up to $8,500 to rising juniors and seniors who are enrolled full-time in a program of study in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance. Application deadline is January 27, 2023. See https://vsgc.odu.edu/undergraduatescholarships/
The VSGC Graduate Research STEM Fellowship Program provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a program of study in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance. Application deadline is January 27, 2023. See https://vsgc.odu.edu/graduatefellowships/
The VSGC STEM Bridge Scholarship Program provides scholarships of $1,000 to students who are rising sophomores or juniors majoring in STEM. Students from any federally recognized minority group in STEM and enrolled full-time in a program of STEM at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities are strongly encouraged to apply. Application deadline is March 10, 2023. See https://vsgc.odu.edu/stembridge/
By: miker
on: Mon., Jan. 23, 2023 07:37 AM EST
(635 Reads)
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is accepting applications for its 2023 Space Weather Summer School, scheduled for June 5th-July 28th 2023. The school, which will be in-presence, combines lectures and summer research projects. Students receive a prestigious Vela Fellowship (worth $13,000 to cover travel and living expenses), technical training, and opportunities for professional development. Information about the school can be found at: https://www.lanl.gov/projects/national-security-education-center/space-earth-center/space-weather-school/index.php
By: miker
on: Wed., Jan. 18, 2023 05:32 PM EST
(708 Reads)
Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) is an undergraduate-to-graduate bridge program designed to broaden participation of historically underrepresented communities in the atmospheric and related sciences. SOARS Protégés can participate for up to four (4) summers conducting research in atmospheric and earth-system sciences. SOARS offers comprehensive financial support for summer research, conference travel, as well as undergraduate and graduate school funding.
SOARS invites students from multiple STEM disciplines — including chemistry, ecology, engineering, geography, mathematics, meteorology, physics, and the social sciences--to deepen their expertise in understanding the Earth’s Atmosphere. see the SOARS program website at https://soars.ucar.edu/
