Left arrow Barnard.edu
Left arrow Barnard.edu
Search All of Barnard.edu

Opportunities and Resources

Opportunities and Resources

Undergraduate Research in the Department

At any time in your search, you are encouraged to approach a faculty member for advice as well as to ask about pursuing independent research, either as a job (see Beyond Barnard) or as part of academic study or part of a research program.  We encourage you to make an appointment with departmental faculty either as co-Chairs, instructors, or  advisers.  There are opportunities during the year in our department and our affiliates, and structured, paid opportunities such as SRI (Summer  Research Opportunity), or Lamont and Earth Institute programs as well as programs.  See below for more info on how to organize and go about your search:

Image of student working in research lab

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

  1. The Lamont Summer Intern Program for undergraduates from U.S. colleges and universities provides a summer research experience in Earth and ocean sciences. The program features a hands-on research project under the supervision of a Columbia-affiliated scientist, as well as special lectures, workshops and fieldtrips. When applying to this program you will compete with students from all over the country.  Our majors do well in this application process and usually perform this research in the summer of their Junior year as a basis for their Senior Thesis. This program is an REU, Research Experience for Undergraduates, and provides research opportunities funded by NSF. A stipend and campus housing is included.  Deadline is March 15.
     
  2. The Earth Intern Program for Columbia and Barnard undergraduates provides a summer research experience in Environmental sciences. The program features a hands-on research project under the supervision of an LDEO-affiliated scientist, as well as special lectures, workshops and fieldtrips. As BC/CU junior you have a very good chance being admitted for this research funded by the Earth Institute and our Junior majors usually use this research for their Senior Thesis. A stipend and campus housing is included. Deadline is March 15.
     
  3. Barnard's Summer Reasearch Institute, SRI, is a 10-week program for Barnard students who want to conduct scientific research over the summer.  Students work directly with a mentor at Barnard College, Columbia University, or other institutions. The SRI provides a common experience for students, providing additional training and opportunities to build skills, along with faculty lectures, alumnae panel discussions, social events, and more. Students receive funding, provided by grants, alumnae donors, the Office of the Provost.  Students interested in working in an external lab may do so, but must ask if the mentor can provide full or partial funding. Many of our Junior major SRI participants use their work as foundations for their Senior Thesis Projects. Subsidized campus housing is available for those who apply.

Details on applying to these program can be found under the links above. For information on other campus-wide research opportunities, check out Barnard's Research Opportunities page.

Summer internships & Senior research projects

We very strongly encourage all majors to do a summer internship between their junior and senior year. There are many opportunities discussed below for paid and unpaid internships. Many of these summer projects (but not all) might result in a senior thesis in the framework of the senior seminar.   If you know what you are going to work on for your senior thesis by early in the spring semester of your junior year, you can take the senior seminar in the sequence  spring (junior year) - fall (senior year). This allows you to bracket a summer internship, and  be better prepared for the summer.

How to find research opportunities

  • Find your passion: 
    - Did you read/learn about exciting research, did you meet any exciting researchers?
  • Define a few broader areas of interest
  • Find researchers that work in your fields of interest
    - Look at websites, authors of key papers, etc.
    - Local researchers might be easier to build a relationship with
    - Consider Barnard faculty members
  • You may wish to apply to formal internship programs, deadlines in January through March, typically, though some as early as December
  • Keep in mind that during the semester you can't get academic credit and get paid for the same work
  • Professors Stute and Mailloux can help with coordinating research opportunities (sign up for appointment)

Senior thesis website

Look at the Senior Thesis website to get an idea of what is happening down the line for information, like:

Other opportunities

E(SP)2 Environmental Science Pathways Scholars Program

Currently not enrolling:

E(SP)2 is a new NSF funded program to prepare the next generation of diverse leaders in Environmental Science.  The program is designed for students who intend on pursuing one of the majors in the Department of Environmental Science (Environmental Science or Environment and Sustainability) with an interest in Environmental Science, Sustainability or Environmental Justice.  The goal is to increase and diversify the Environmental Science major and workforce. 

This program includes a summer bridge before the first year, a journal club, a spring break field trip, a service-learning community outreach course, and up to three summers of funded research.   Over one of the summers, students can substitute a funded internship focusing on environmental justice in New York City for lab research.  The program will focus on helping students learn key environmental science skills. 

Admitted applicants to Barnard who apply for (SP)2  will automatically be eligible for E(SP)2 depending on their interests and will be contacted during the interview process.

Do not worry if you don’t make it into the program.  The Environmental Science Department still has numerous opportunities for field work and field research including summer research funded through the SRI program and the Lamont and Earth Intern Programs to name a few. 

Please email Logan Brenner with any questions or to learn more about the E(SP)2 Program.

For more Information about the Barnard application process email Barnard Admissions or call:
212-854-2014.