Undergraduate support is available through special programs. These programs are sponsored by INSTAAR, the university, industry (e.g., Mobil), and agencies such as the National Science Foundation and are designed to encourage undergraduate participation in research. They include SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Program), SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships), SMART (Summer Minority Access Research Training), UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities), UMP (University Mentoring Program), and REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates).

Undergraduate research opportunities may lead to Honors Theses and internships. These programs have contributed greatly to the feasibility of including undergraduates in INSTAAR research and to encouraging undergraduate students to continue to graduate degrees.

Prospective undergraduate student researchers should contact one or several INSTAAR Directorate Members working in fields of your interest. General INSTAAR-related student questions should be sent to instaar-info@instaar.colorado.edu. Occasionally, a student research opportunity is posted on the INSTAAR jobs page.

Participants in the National Science Foundation sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program at the INSTAAR Mountain Research Station pose for a group photo near the D1 site, Niwot Ridge LTER, Colorado. July 2002. Photo: B. Bowman.

Nancy Rivera, Garymar Rivera and Detlev Helmig working on Summit Greenland data. Both Nancy and Garymar were summer students from the UCAR SOARS program (Significant Opportunities for Advancement in Research and Science). Both students worked on archived data to further elucidate processes that determine the sources and sinks of ozone in the Polar troposphere. Summer 2002.

Several INSTAAR Undergraduate Student Researchers, 2003: U. Quillmann and B. Clarke.

Brian Clarke and Doug Dickens (undergraduate Geology majors) taking a look at the fiord wall on which they later made a first ascent. During their ascent, they collected rock samples for cosmogenic exposure dating, allowing them to test the efficiency of glacial erosion on vertical surfaces. Baffin Island. May 2002. Photo: J. Briner.

Brian Clarke (undergraduate Geology major) and Michael Robinson (right) zeroing their altimeter so they can get accurate elevations of raised marine features at the head of Clyde Inlet, Baffin Island. Brian and Mike helped Jason Briner elucidate the deglaciation and post-glacial emergence records of the area. August 2001. Photo: J. Briner.

Brian Clarke (undergraduate Geology major) at base camp overlooking Clyde Inlet, Baffin Island. Clarke was helping Jason Briner to elucidate the glacial history of the area. August 2001. Photo: J. Briner.

Brian Clarke, Michael Robinson, and Jason Briner (left to right, INSTAAR, CU Boulder) posing in front of a waterfall emanating from a hanging glacier in upper Clyde Inlet, Baffin Island. The cliff beyond the waterfall projects to at least 4000 feet above the fiord waters. The group was studying the deglaciation history of the fiord. August 2001. Photo: J. Briner.