The Segura Watershed Processes Lab is hiring for two REU interns for this summer.
Title: Research Experience for Undergraduates in post-fire impacts on streamflow and riparian zones
Position period: June 18 – August 27 , 2026
Location: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Blue River, Oregon and Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Description of project: This research project is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research grant at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest and is led by the Segura Watershed Processes Lab at Oregon State University. The study will build on the active work of this group to understand how post-fire effects on the landscape influence streamflow through canopy cover, nutrient availability, vegetation shifts, and groundwater flow. The goal is to understand fire influences on summer streamflow instream nutrient concentrations and isotope variability. We will take water samples from 12 stream locations in the study area weekly during the REU term to study nutrient concentration as well as water stable isotope analysis. This data will inform a research project developed with the student(s) to answer a research question regarding fire impacts on riparian areas. We will also participate in three other research projects while in the field, such as a fish survey, large wood survey, and synoptic sampling campaign along stream mainstems. In all, this will provide opportunities to see a wide breadth of forest hydrology research.
Duties will include: 1) instream water sampling (isotopes, DOC/NO3, cations and anions), 2) pilot large wood survey along two stream mainstems, 3) data retrieval and maintenance of temperature loggers and other stream loggers, 4) field site characterization, 5) hiking through difficult, steep terrain with gear 6) data entry and organization, 7) and finally, data synthesis and presentation.
This internship will provide the undergraduate student(s) an opportunity to participate in 10 weeks of mentored, paid, independent research. The student(s) will interact with scientists, university faculty, federal scientists, and graduate students conducting research in the area. Participant(s) will work closely with faculty mentor Dr. Catalina Segura and graduate student mentors Maeve Bittle (MS) and Stalin Guamán (PhD). The REU student will conduct supervised and guided research and be encouraged to tailor the research project to their own interests.
Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will start March 30th, 2026 and continue until suitable candidates are identified. Also posted on the HJA website, under News and Events.
Please see the attachment for more details!
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