UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #716

serial: '716'
sid: '14206'
uuid: 2d1569f2-745a-4f31-bdb8-8d489bf129eb
uri: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal
created: '1723043272'
completed: '1723044778'
changed: '1729798946'
in_draft: '0'
current_page: ''
remote_addr: 146.201.212.130
uid: '0'
langcode: en
webform_id: urop_project_proposal_portal
entity_type: node
entity_id: '1116'
locked: '0'
sticky: '0'
notes: ''
metatag: meta
data:
  roundtable_info: {  }
  approximately_how_many_hours_a_week_would_the_research_assistant: 5-10
  are_you_currently_looking_for_students_: 'No'
  confirmation_1: '1'
  contact_email_fsu_email: ''
  contact_email_fsu_email2: ''
  contact_email_fsu_email_if_affiliated_: srsmith@fsu.edu
  faculty_advisor_confirmation: ''
  faculty_advisor_name: ''
  faculty_advisor_s_fsu_email: ''
  fsu_college: 'Arts and Sciences'
  fsu_department_if_applicable_: 'Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies'
  headshot_optional_: '44371'
  if_the_project_location_is_off_campus_does_the_student_need_to_p: 'City of Tallahassee bus service, Innovation Park line.'
  mentoring_philosophy: 'Overall, I believe in providing an inquiry-based learning experience where mentors provide general guidance to the student, but let the student find their way to a solution to a research task or question. Trying something that does not work is both expected and encouraged. I promote a very interactive learning environment where the student can engage with other students, scientists, and technicians. I provide an informal lab experience and want the student to be comfortable to ask any questions to improve their understanding of the task at hand. I also expect the student to take ownership of their research and be willing to communicate their results and ask questions within a structured communications environment (e.g., weekly team meetings).'
  mentor_handbook_and_faqs: '1'
  name_of_other_faculty_collaborator_if_applicable_: 'Mark Bourassa, Kristen Briggs'
  number_of_assistants_needed_faculty_postdoc_max_6_graduate_stude: '1'
  other_faculty_collaborator_s_preferred_pronouns: ''
  overall_research_project_description: |
    Ever wondered how weather observations are made over the ocean? Or how these observations support weather forecasting? Do you have an interest in weather instrumentation or computers? One of the primary sources of high-quality weather observations over the oceans is research vessels. These ships typically are equipped with fully automated weather stations (AWS) that record the ship’s position and motion, along with a wide range of weather and near surface ocean observations. The Marine Data Center (MDC) at FSU routinely receives AWS data from over 35 research vessels operating across the world’s oceans. Our team routinely monitors these observations to ensure they are of high quality, and we frequently communicate with technicians on the ships that are responsible to maintain the AWS. When problems are discovered, we reach out to the ship as soon as possible so that repairs can be made, limiting the number of days when suspect observations are collected. In addition, researchers at the MDC use these weather observations to investigate the exchange of heat, moisture, and momentum between the ocean and atmosphere. These interactions are key drivers for weather systems over the oceans that have significant impact on commercial shipping, energy producers, fisheries, and a the public at large.

    The goal of this UROP project is to analyze and evaluate weather observations from the AWS on research ships contributing to the MDC. Possible projects include
    (1)	Examining suspect wind observations from a sonic anemometer and working with the technicians on the vessel hosting that instrument to determine the source of the erroneous data
    (2)	Running algorithms to estimate the heat, moisture, and momentum exchanges (known as fluxes) from several research cruises to the Southern Ocean. In this analysis, the UROP would be identifying the range of extremes that exist in a part of the ocean known to have some of the most severe storms on the globe. Observations from this region are rare and highly valuable to the scientific community.
    (3)	Using space-based satellite observations to evaluate and confirm the existence of extreme weather and flux events identified from research vessel AWS data.

    This research project will provide students with an introduction to weather instrumentation used on ships, an understanding of the instruments’ technical capabilities and limitations, the opportunity to work with the scientific data formats used for weather observations, and experience in programming and data analysis necessary to process and evaluate AWS data. The students may also interact (virtually) with technicians working on active research vessels.
  please_add_any_additional_information_here: ''
  please_provide_a_link_to_your_publications_a_video_clip_or_a_web: 'https://www.coaps.fsu.edu/shawn-smith'
  please_select_the_choice_that_most_accurately_describes_your_exp: In-person
  please_select_the_location_of_your_project_: '2000 Levy Avenue, Building A, Suite 292, Tallahassee, FL 32310'
  position_availability_for_student_research: 'Flexible schedule'
  position_title: Faculty
  primary_research_mentor_name: 'Shawn Smith'
  project_keywords: 'Meteorology, Weather, Instruments, Observation, Analysis'
  relevant_student_major_s_: 'Meteorology, Marine Science, Computer Science, Scientific Computing, Engineering'
  research_mentor_preferred_pronoun2: ''
  research_mentor_pronouns: ''
  research_mentor_supervisor_if_different_from_above_: ''
  research_tasks_for_student_research_assistant_s_: |
    The student will learn about the methods and technology used worldwide by research vessels to make high-quality weather observations, including gaining an understanding of the challenges of making measurements in the marine environment.
    The student will be tutored in how to read and understand the technical specifications for weather instruments and will learn how to use the technical documents to understand the raw sensor data and use it to identify potential errors in observations.
    The students will also use data collected during past research cruises and, if helpful satellite observations, to gain skills in computer programming (e.g., Python), data analysis, introductory statistics, and preparing scientific plots and graphs.  

    Students will be expected to report regularly to their scientific mentors during team research meetings. They will prepare graphs and tables to present their research results and will present their results via their UROP poster to the MDC and at the FSU UROP Symposium. For Fall 2024, we anticipate the student will work in person at our lab in Innovation Park.
  roundtable_times_and_zoom_links: ''
  skills_that_research_assistants_may_need_: |
    Required: Basic computer skills (e.g., familiar with Mac or PC environment, web browsing, Microsoft office suite). A willingness to learn new techniques, be very detail oriented, and to participate as part of a team.
    Recommended: Introductory knowledge of computer programming (e.g., C, C++, Python) and familiarity with LINUX operating environment. We anticipate the student will be able to learn many concepts and coding techniques during the project. 
  title_of_the_project: 'Analysis of Marine Weather Observations from Research Vessels'
  update_url: 'https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=jPLZQgfrunDn0JrQRAFqKij5zcPI3XLWGmojqYo9Ibk'
  urop_performance_evaluation: '1'
  urop_poster_presentation: '1'
  when_potential_research_assistants_are_reaching_out_via_email_2: ''
  when_potential_research_assistants_are_reaching_out_via_email_wh: 'Prof., Ms.'
  when_students_are_reaching_out_via_email_what_is_your_preferreda: Mr.
  would_you_like_to_participate_in_the_urop_research_mentor_round2: 'No'
  would_you_like_to_participate_in_the_urop_research_mentor_roundt: ''
  year: '2024'