Employment opportunities for undergraduate students

As many as 40 undergraduate students are employed each year at JEL. In most cases, they work as technicians on various research projects directed by the resident scientists. Students participate in both field and laboratory research projects, gaining invaluable hands-on experiences and getting paid for it! The major mission of JEL is research but it also includes education, particularly education that is research-related. Student work opportunities at JEL are an important aspect of UNH's total undergraduate program. They provide career-related experiences that help each student to better focus his or her career goals.

What are the types of jobs done by undergraduate students at JEL? Most of the undergraduates working at JEL are assigned to one laboratory. They are usually paid from funds secured by one scientist for a particular project or projects. Most of these projects have both laboratory and field components, and student workers are typically involved in a variety of work tasks.

Most of the research carried out at JEL is ecological or environmental in nature. Hence, the field work can involve taking samples of water, sediments, invertebrates, fishes, and/or plants. Many projects involve working from small boats, and some jobs require SCUBA certification. Ongoing research topics deal with nearly all components of the coastal environment; see the list of Current Research at JEL for details, or click on individual faculty web pages (Faculty and Staff) for more information.

A wide variety of laboratory analyses are carried out at JEL, and many involve undergraduates. There are well-equipped laboratories in the areas of sedimentology, microbiology, shellfish biology, phycology, saltmarsh ecology, seagrass biology, and water quality (see Facilities section for a list of analytical equipment).

Much of the research at JEL has a computer component. There is the usual variety of computers and software, and some undergraduate workers help with various data entry and analysis tasks. There is also an ArcInfo-based Geographic Information System (GIS) lab. A variety of GIS work is performed from the basic task of creating and editing data to complex multi-component geographic analysis.

How can I find out about job opportunities at JEL? Most of the undergraduate jobs at JEL are filled by advertising on campus through the usual channels such as bulletin boards, announcements in classes, etc. It is typically easy to get several good candidates for any job at JEL! The individual scientists do their own interviewing and hiring. On occasion, students from other colleges and universities are employed at JEL, particularly during the summer. In any case, if you have an interest in possible employment in a particular research area, contact any of the scientists personally (Faculty and Staff). Or, you may also contact Dave Shay, the Laboratory Manager, for general information.

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Graduate student research and employment

At any given time, there may be as many as a dozen graduate students conducting their thesis or dissertation research at JEL. The life of a graduate student is a busy one. During the academic year, most are occupied with course work and other activities on campus. Those who are mostly involved with their research, however, are at the Lab much of the year. The summers find nearly all of the graduate students at the Lab most days working on their own research topics as well as helping one another. JEL offers a diversity of research opportunities but it is also small enough for considerable camaraderie among the students, faculty, and staff. A sense of "family" often develops because of the close day-to-day working activities, especially during the summer months. If this kind of environment is part of what you are looking for in your graduate education, consider graduate studies at UNH with one of the JEL faculty as your major advisor.

What kinds of graduate research projects are carried out at JEL? Graduate students typically pursue research topics that are part of their major advisor's overall research program. The major topic areas of JEL scientists include botany, geology, microbiology, wetlands science, and zoology. See the list of Current Research at JEL and the webpages of the individual faculty members (Faculty and Staff) for more information.

Which JEL faculty members have graduate students? All of the scientists at JEL have research or academic appointments in one or more departments at UNH, and they can be major advisors for graduate students. Some, however, tend to employ graduate students in their research programs more than others. Also see the individual UNH Departments for more information and faculty members other than those at JEL that may be of interest: Earth Sciences, Natural Resources, Plant Biology, and Zoology.

How can I get more information about graduate research opportunities at JEL? All graduate degrees at UNH are granted through an academic department based on the main campus. Most of the students who use JEL for their research have one of the JEL faculty members as their major advisor, and they are pursuing their degree through their advisor's home department. The current JEL faculty members have appointments in the departments listed in the previous section. Prospective graduate students should begin by obtaining an application package from The Graduate School. These materials will explain the overall process, which differs to some degree among the departments. In most cases, it is probably best to also directly contact as early as possible the faculty member(s) that seems most appropriate for what you want to study.

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