NSF IRES: Mapping and Quantifying the Natural Disaster Resilience of Displaced People – fully funded field research summer 2022 in Rwanda

March 31, 2022

The Center for Geographic Information Science & Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has immediate openings for undergraduate and graduate summer research positions as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) International Research Experience for Students (IRES) project IRES Track I: Mapping and Quantifying the Natural Disaster Resilience of Displaced People with the University of Rwanda Center for Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.

Executive Summary and Key Facts:

1. Fully-funded research positions in Rwanda. Funding includes housing, airfare, medical expenses and stipend.
2. US-citizen or permanent residents only.
3. Must commit to being in Rwanda for 10 weeks during Summer 2022 (June 6-Aug 12). Longer stays possible based on research interests and fit.
4. Must have experience with GIS (Esri preferred)
5. Excellent match for undergraduate and/or graduate students interested in GIS, disaster management, displacement, humanitarian field research, or other relevant areas.
6. Deadline to apply: April 11, 2022 – due to short notice, research statement and resume from applicant is sufficient. References will be contacted as needed.

About the Research Program:

This International Research Experience for Students (IRES) is focused on mapping and quantifying the natural disaster resilience of displaced people in Rwanda at the University of Rwanda Center for Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (CGIS). Significant activities include student access to and learning from CGIS on displaced population natural disaster resilience issues unique to Rwanda, East African context student research training activities, and access to disaster management organizations focused on displaced people such as the Rwandan Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs only available in Rwanda. The project will create unique linkages to East African organizations that will train, educate and professionally develop STEM student research scientists over three years focused on disaster resilience, displacement and GIS. The project will broaden participation of underrepresented groups as we will fully leverage RIT’s existing underrepresented recruitments networks such as RIT’s large Deaf-and-Hard of Hearing population, women, and minorities. Displaced people in Rwanda will also benefit through their participation as field research assistants as well as the research providing outreach and advocacy for their situations. Intellectual products created by IRES students, such as community-scale resilience maps displacement resilience indexes will provide important benefits to society that can bring global attention to displacement and disaster resilience research and GIS. The project is particularly strong in enhancing infrastructure for research and education as IRES students will become part of Rwandan and East African research networks only available by being on-site in Rwanda. Workshops on disasters and resilience GIS mapping will be conducted by IRES students with Rwandan secondary schools and disaster stakeholder groups for broader project outreach. If successful, findings will be generalizable for additional internationally-focused research beyond displaced population natural disaster resilience in Rwanda (for example, the Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises) and particularly US-national interest disaster resilience and displacement issues like seen in hurricanes Harvey and Maria, creating the potential for broader US-national and international research on displaced population natural disaster resilience that can provide future students with the knowledge, motivation and inspiration to pursue internationally-focused science careers to solve US-national and global challenges.

Logistical Information:

The program is only available to current, full-time undergraduate students at US-based institutions. Students who have already graduated or are planning to graduate before the summer 2022 cannot be considered.

We can only consider applications from US Citizens and permanent residents.

Students must have a GPA 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) at the time of application. We are looking to recruit undergraduate and graduate students interested in GIS, disaster management, displacement, humanitarian field research, or other relevant areas.

We particularly encourage participation from underrepresented groups in science. For example, RIT has a strong Deaf and Hard of Hearing student and faculty population via RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

The program will run for 10 weeks during summer 2022 in Rwanda. Longer stays possible based on research interests and fit.

Accepted students for the program students will receive housing, airfare, medical expenses, and stipend support their summer research experience in Rwanda.

Timeline:

Application deadline: April 11, 2022 – due to short notice, research statement and resume from applicant is sufficient.  References will be contacted as needed.

For More Information:

A video overview of information for potential applicants can be found on YouTube at:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSZWwxIw1GU

Visit our website for more information on the IRES Project:

www.rit.edu/gccis/geoinfosciencecenter/nsf-ires-rwanda

How to Apply:

Email directly to Brian Tomaszewski (bmtski@rit.edu) the following:

1. A 1000-word statement of interest as to why you wish to conduct research in Rwanda and how you see the experience benefiting your educational experience and long-term career prospects in science, technology or engineering fields. Please clearly indicate in your statement when you a graduating from school.
2. A copy of your resume (2-page maximum) outlining your GIS and other relevant skill set.
3. Contact information (name, phone number, email) for your primary faculty advisor and one other faculty member who can serve as a reference for you.

For more information and questions, please contact:

Brian Tomaszewski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Center for Geographic Information Science & Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Rochester, NY  USA
phone/whatsapp: +1 585-259-9678
bmtski@rit.edu