Research mentors at Iowa State University are invited to apply for the inaugural Water
Resilience Collaborative (WRC) Undergraduate Research Experience. The program aims to equip undergraduate research scholars with diverse perspectives and experience in waterrelated research and extension. During this inaugural year, research projects proposed by research mentors will be selected based on alignment with WRC goals and their relevance in advancing water-related research and extension. Through their participation in this program, students will engage in real-world problem-solving, analyzing the complexities and trade-oIs of water management in rural and urban landscapes. The program will also provide professional development opportunities to enhance research skills, communication, and career readiness in water-related fields. The program follows a costshare model, where the WRC covers two-thirds of the cost, and the research mentor is responsible for the remaining one-third. We anticipate that this first cohort will include 8-10 students.
The Water Resilience Collaborative is a group of interdisciplinary researchers and
extension leaders at Iowa State University collectively working towards advancing water
security and resilience throughout the urban-rural continuum. The WRC has grown out of the Water Security Initiative with the aim of supporting world-class research, extension, and education in water sustainability that ensures safe and healthy water for people and care for natural and managed ecosystems. We are supported by ISU donors, ISU Extension and Outreach, and the College of Engineering.
Program structure: The program officially begins on June 2, but participants and mentors may request an earlier start date if needed. This is an on-campus, in-person program with built-in flexibility for fieldwork, data collection, conference travel, and other activities. Students are required to attend five professional development events. While the schedule is subject to change, we will make every eIort to maintain the planned dates to facilitate scheduling.
- June 2, Monday: program kick-off
- June 17, Tuesday: Professional Development 1
- June 30, Monday: Professional Development 2
- July 10, Thursday: Professional Development 3
- July 23, Wednesday: Professional Development 4
- August (TBD): Summer Research Symposium
Student support: Participants are full time, paid ($15/hour) in addition to a $1,000 scholarship paid directly to the student.
Who is eligible? Each research mentor will be responsible for hiring the most qualified student for the proposed work. Eligible mentors include faculty, staf, and other program leaders. Student participants must be US Citizens/ permanent residents & current undergraduate students with at least one year of undergraduate coursework completed and at least one semester of course work remaining after the summer internship.
More information and how to apply: Please include the following information in a document not to exceed 2 pages to Sara McMillan (swmcmill@iastate.edu) by Friday, March 28, 2025. Any questions, please reach out via email.
- Title
- Research mentor(s): Name, affiliation, email address
- Abstract: Provide a brief description of the research project and student responsibilities.
- Mentoring experience: statement of prior experience mentoring undergraduate students in research.