Call for Summer Institute Theme Leads
Call for Theme Leads for the 2025 Summer Institute
Deadline to Apply: November 10, 2024
CUAHSI is seeking Research Project Theme Leaders to join the 2025 National Water Center Innovators Program Summer Institute to be held June 9 - July 24, 2025. As a Theme Leader, you will play a crucial role in guiding student research projects and research teams and ensuring a successful project-based learning experience. If you are eager to support the next generation of water researchers, we encourage you to apply.
Theme Leads gain experience working with the next generation of water researchers, leading a collaborative research team, and contributing to the mission of the National Water Center alongside other researchers.
2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Summer Institute. Learn more about the program here.
A successful applicant will demonstrate:
They are an active member of the scientific community with research experience in a relevant subject matter.
Experience and excitement for mentoring students and supporting student growth and learning.
Interest in collaborative science and experience leading a team.
Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community of Summer Institute fellows and alumni.
Willingness to ideate new research projects aligned with program themes alongside program organizers and other theme leaders.
Eligibility:
Multiple years of relevant research experience
Experience leading a collaborative scientific research project
Must be based in the US and affiliated with a US institution, or entity
Key Responsibilities:
Participate in a welcome meeting in Winter 2024
Review student applications January 2025
Participate in biweekly virtual meetings during the program planning period (February - May 2025).
Present in a spring webinar (Spring 2025) introducing incoming fellows to Summer Institute themes.
Collaborate with the National Water Center and CUAHSI to refine research projects within determined themes.
Ensure data readiness for program kickoff.
Work with Summer Institute Leadership to ensure computing resources are available and adequate for project completion.
Provide on-site instruction on specific modules during the SI introduction and training period (June 9 - 20, 2025 though alternative arrangements can be considered if a in-person attendance for the entire two weeks is not possible).
Guide students in designing and executing their projects.
Hold weekly check-ins with project teams, and host remote office hours throughout the Summer Institute June 9 - July 24, 2025.Provide mentorship and guidance to students in person and virtually during the program.
Assist students with preparing project chapters for the 2024 SI final report, and capstone presentation.
Attend the Capstone event at the University of Alabama (July 24, 2024).
Comply with the CUAHSI Code of Conduct and encourage students do the same, reporting any issues to CUAHSI or National Water Center leadership as necessary.
Possible Research Themes for the 2025 Summer Institute as recommended by the National Water Center:
Approaches to snow forecasting to estimate the current spatial distribution and volume of snow water equivalent
Surface Water Analyses to estimate the volume of water in natural and man-made water bodies
Data approaches to identify high flow thresholds
Use of advanced techniques for pluvial flooding prediction
Use of data analysis techniques to generate low-flow estimates
Development of machine learning techniques to improve deterministic or ensemble model performance
Development of enhanced visualizations approaches to understand past, current, and future inundation conditions
Use of historical time series to assess the universality of unit flow thresholds as currently used by the National Weather Service. Extend this analysis to NWM stream reaches using NWM retrospective scenario output.
Compensation:
Theme Leaders will be paid an honorarium for their role in the Summer Institute.
Travel-related expenses will be covered by the program.
Additional information:
CUAHSI is committed to creating a collaborative and inclusive Summer Institute. We believe a diverse and inclusive community is essential for promoting innovation, equity, and excellence in the water sciences and related fields. To this end, we seek candidates for the Theme Leader position who share our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within our community.
We are committed to making the Summer Institute program inclusive and accessible. Therefore, we can consider alternative arrangements for Theme Leaders on a case-by-case basis to accommodate those who may not be able to spend two consecutive weeks onsite at the beginning of the program. Please feel free to reach out to us to discuss specific ideas or needs during the application process.
We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please feel free to contact Julia Masterman (email hidden; JavaScript is required) with any questions or concerns.
