Student Research: Introduction

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  • Introduction
  • Earth Institute Student Research Showcase
  • Millennium Villages Student Research Showcase
  • Climate Change Adaptation Research Showcase
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The Earth Institute offers a wide array of support for research opportunities to students in order to achieve a sustainable research and knowledge base.  Undergraduate and graduate students are given many options for study and research programs, including undergraduate research assistantships, travel grants and the Millennium Villages Internship program.

We encourage students to share their work with their peers and present it in a number of different conferences throughout the year. On this page you will find links to past student research conferences at Columbia University, showcasing the research work of students in education programs supported by the Earth Institute.

In addition to directly supporting research and holding the conferences, the Office of Academic and Research Programs offers a variety of student resources, including listings of funding opportunities, student groups and organizations, related coursework and recent news.

For more information on any of these programs, please contact the OARP at ei-students@ei.columbia.edu or 212-854-3142.

RA Program:

During Fall and Spring semesters, the Earth Institute’s Office of Academic and Research Programs sponsors a number of undergraduate research assistantships, giving Columbia and Barnard students a valuable chance to participate in projects involving sustainability, development economics, Earth sciences, ecology, atmospheric research, and environmental policy. Students will work directly with faculty on current research projects, on a part-time basis. The program aims to give students a valuable chance to collaborate on substantive matters of inquiry. The deadline for Fall semester Research Assistant opportunities will be September 18, 2009.

Internship Program:

The Earth Institute’s Office of Academic and Research Programs sponsors internships in EI departments and centers for both undergraduate and graduate students from Columbia University and Barnard College year-round.  Part-time internships are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters, while full-time positions are offered through the summer. Internships are a wonderful opportunity for both students and their host departments, offering students invaluable exposure to EI research and operations and offering EI departments the contributions of bright and dynamic CU students. Please click here for a list of current opportunities.

Travel Grant Program:

Each year, the Earth Institute allocates funding to support travel by students matriculated in Columbia University degree programs engaged in research projects dealing with issues of sustainable development and/or environmental protection.  This travel is for projects directly related to degree studies at Columbia University.

The maximum travel grant award is $750 per person, and students must use this to cover the cost of their travel for research they are conducting to meet specific degree requirements. The travel grant program funds individuals rather than projects. In so doing, each member of a research team may apply individually for funding and there is no limit on the number of people who may apply from any one project group.

The travel grant program is offered once per year at the beginning of each Fall semester. Please click here to learn about requirements for the program and here to see presentations from past recipients.

Earth Institute Student Research Showcase

On Thursday, March 26th, the Earth Institute’s Office of Academic and Research Programs brought together 15 student interns, research assistants and travel grant recipients at the Earth Institute Student Research Conference. All of the research projects involved students who are currently studying under an academic program affiliated with the Earth Institute or have received funding through a travel grant, internship, or research assistantship from the Earth Institute. Please click here to view the presentations and posters.

HSBC

The Earth Institute Climate Change Adaptation Initiative provides opportunities for students to work on climate change adaptation issues affecting the New York Metropolitan Area. Internships are supported in centers and institutes across Columbia University and in government agencies, community groups and environmental organizations throughout New York City. Course research and workshop field trips are also funded through this initiative. The Climate Change Adaptation Initiative is made possible by a grant from HSBC in the Community (USA) Inc.

Millennium Villages Student Research Showcase

On Wednesday, February 18th the Earth Institute at Columbia University's Office of Academic and Research Programs brought together 30 student interns, researchers and faculty members in the first Millennium Villages Student Research Showcase. These students and researchers shared their unique educational research experiences of working toward ending extreme poverty through sustainable development in the Millennium Villages project (MVP), the groundbreaking collaboration between the Earth Institute, Millennium Promise and the United Nations Development Programme, designed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.