Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as an REU-Site (Ocean and Earth Sciences), U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP), and other funding sources.

REU Site at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Interdisciplinary Cutting-Edge Research though the Analysis of Global Data

This REU site at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has offered internships for more than two decades. Funding is provided by the US National Science Foundation (Arlington, Virginia) and is contingent upon their continued support.

The Lamont-Doherty contacts for the REU are Dr. Dallas Abbott (845-596-1131) and Dr. Michael Kaplan; please direct all questions to them. The NSF contact for the REU Site program is Program Manager Dr. Elizabeth Rom. NSF does not handle REU applications; please contact each REU site directly for application information.

The Lamont-Doherty Summer Intern Program offers the chance to experience scientific research as an undergraduate. The program is open to those who have completed their junior or sophomore year at a university or college in the U.S., including community colleges, with majors in earth science, environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, or engineering. The NSF REU-SITE part of the program is open only to US citizens or permanent residents. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply to the program, but they can only select projects that are not part of the REU-Site (see 2024 National Program Brochure or FAQ for more details). Graduating seniors are not eligible for this internship. Students from community colleges and who are first-generation are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should have an interest in conducting research in the Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric, and Environmental Sciences. Two previous college-level courses in one or more of these areas are desirable if they are available to the student. All students are preferred to have at least one year of calculus (high school or college) and/or good grades in college level mathematics. Students choosing research in geochemistry and chemical oceanography should have at least two semesters of college-level chemistry; in marine biology at least two semesters of college-level biology; and in geophysics should have at least two semesters of college-level physics. However, exceptions may be made in cases where the applicant’s college does not offer appropriate courses.

The program features:

A hands-on research project under the supervision of a Columbia-affiliated scientist;

Opportunities to discuss science with both experts and peers;

Training in data analysis techniques, using software environments such as GeoMapApp, R, Matlab, and Python;

Training in lab safety, professional ethics, and career opportunities;

Special lectures, workshops, and field trips;

Free housing in a Dominican University dormitory;

Ten-week stipend of $7000.

‍

• The program is open to those who have completed their junior or sophomore year at a university or college in the U.S., including community colleges, with majors in earth science, environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, or engineering.
• The NSF REU-SITE part of the program is open only to US citizens or permanent residents. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply to the program, but they can only select projects that are not part of the REU-Site (see 2024 National Program Brochure or FAQ for more details).
• Graduating seniors are not eligible for this internship. Students from community colleges and who are first-generation are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants should have an interest in conducting research in the Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric, and Environmental Sciences. Two previous college-level courses in one or more of these areas are desirable if they are available to the student.
• All students are preferred to have at least one year of calculus (high school or college) and/or good grades in college level mathematics. Students choosing research in geochemistry and chemical oceanography should have at least two semesters of college-level chemistry; in marine biology at least two semesters of college-level biology; and in geophysics should have at least two semesters of college-level physics. However, exceptions may be made in cases where the applicant’s college does not offer appropriate courses.