Application

Recruiting

Rising sophomores and junior majors in a geoscience field with at least two courses in geology. Preference will be given to students from colleges and universities where research possibilities are limited. Spanish-speaking students, veterans, women, and students from under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Baja Basins IRES, you must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled as an undergraduate student at an institution of higher education in the United States throughout the duration of your participation in the Baja Basins IRES program. Prior to starting the Baja Basins IRES, you must have completed at least one introductory geoscience course plus at least one additional geology courses such as mineralogy, petrology, volcanology, structural geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, and field methods (or similar courses).  Students must be enrolled as an undergraduate in Spring and Summer 2022 to be eligible. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.

Students should be aware that field work in the Baja California desert in January, while being a mostly fulfilling and invigorating experience, is physically demanding and can at times bring with it discomfort due to either cold and/or wet weather or very hot temperatures. We will, at times, be navigating to rugged and sometimes expansive terrain on foot, far from modern conveniences. We encourage application from students who are generally comfortable in the outdoors and expect they would enjoy the challenges of this kind of environment. Furthermore, some Spanish language training is desirable although not required.

Information for the Online Application

Please use the link below to complete the online application. Prepare your answers before continuing to the online form. The online form will ask you for the following:

  • Name, address, phone number, school and other email addresses, etc.;
  • Overall GPA and total credit hours taken; Institutions attended and coursework taken at each of them; unofficial transcript.
  • Download the BajaBasins IRES Recommendation 2022. Give this form to two people who you have asked to submit a confidential letter of recommendation on your behalf. Please provide the name and email of your recommenders.
  • The following short essay questions (Please construct your answers in a separate document so you can cut and paste your answers into the proper fields on the online application form);
    • What extracurricular activities have you been involved with?
    • Describe past and present research projects or independent work associated with your interest in the geosciences.
    • What honors, scholarships, societies, awards, etc. have you received or been involved with?
    • What field geology experience do you have? Have you ever been dry camping (i.e. hauling all your water in the 4WD in jugs) in the desert, with no shower for a week or more at a time?
  • Statement of interests (in approximately one page or less): Please describe your interest in the Baja Basins IRES. Why have you found yourself interested in this program? What type of research project would you like to pursue (i.e. sedimentology, mineralogy, structure,  geomorphology, volcanology, etc.)? What are your educational/professional goals?;
  • The last page of the application will prompt you to upload a copy of your unofficial transcript(s).

Online application deadline is Friday, September 24, 2021.

To apply, please fill out the online application.