The USGS FLOW (Future Leaders in Observation of Water) Academy is sponsored by the USGS, organized by CIROH (Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology), and hosted by the Alabama Water Institute at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. Access to the world-class USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) will allow for prototyping and testing of research challenge solutions.
The 2025 program will be held from June 2 to July 24, 2025.
Participants will be working in small teams to develop solutions for real-life research challenges. Student team projects will include elements of data management, visualization, communication, and consideration of translating the projects into operations. Hands-on mini workshops will be held to build and enhance skills in areas such as soldering, microcontrollers, programming, robotics, and instrumentation. While the overall theme for the 2025 program is Hydrologic Extremes, six sub-themes with associated research projects will be addressed:
- Contact and non-contact water observing technologies
- Deploying, operating, and securing autonomous vehicles
- Camera imagery for observing water conditions
- Edge computing and Internet of Things
- Spatial and logistical analysis of observation networks
- Rapid deployment infrastructure and strategies
Additional activities will include field trips related to water (Cahaba River) and water observing facilities (USGS, NEON, NWS), a day-long federal careers workshop, and professional development opportunities to build communication, leadership, and collaboration skills, as well as seminars and networking events where participants can interact with water observing technology experts and USGS scientists. At the conclusion of the program, participants will present their research on and solutions to the challenges they tackled at a FLOW Symposium capstone event.
A competitive honorarium & a stipend for housing/food will be provided. Housing will be located on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL.
How to Apply:
Eligible students (undergraduate or graduate students at U.S. colleges/universities) can apply here. Applications are due by January 27th, 2025.
As part of your application, you will need the following in a format that can be uploaded:
- A current CV/resume that includes course work, individual research, internships, apprenticeships, and employment showing your subject matter experience with hydrology, building & using sensor technologies, and observations of water in the field (You do not have to have extensive experience in every subject to be considered for acceptance into the program.)
- Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts (as of time of the application)
- Personal statement of interest (1 page or less) describing your 1) experience and interest in water observing technologies, 2) experience and interest in water science, and 3) career interests in water sensing and observation
- A letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor or a professor who is able to describe your potential for success in the program
The ideal student would be one of the following:
- Engineering students working in sensor and instrumentation development who are willing to apply these skills and knowledge in water research and observation
- Water science students interested in learning instrumentation and sensor development with some programming ability and experience working with water sensors and instrumentation
For more information, contact Marie E. Wilson (AWI Education/Outreach Coordinator) at mewilson@ua.edu.