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Wednesday, August 5, 2026
[AGNR-UNDERGRADSTUDENTS] AGNR Summer Announcements - 8/4/2026 ☀️ 🐢
IN-PLACE Science Communication & Community Engagement Intern (apply by 8/17)
IN-PLACE Science Communication & Community Engagement Intern
About IN-PLACE
The Interdisciplinary Network for Place-based Learning, Action, and Community- Engaged EnviroMental Health (IN-PLACE) is a University of Maryland interdisciplinary initiative advancing research, education, and community partnerships focused on the relationships between people, environment, and health. Through collaborations across the University of Maryland and communities throughout Maryland, IN-PLACE promotes equitable access to nature, develops and evaluates nature-based health interventions, and translates research into education, workforce development, and community programming.
Position Summary
The IN-PLACE Science Communication & Community Engagement Intern will help build the public presence of one of the University of Maryland's newest interdisciplinary initiatives. Working alongside the Operations Director and collaborating with faculty, researchers, students, and community partners, the intern will create engaging digital content, tell the stories of IN-PLACE research and partnerships, promote events and opportunities, and help strengthen communication across the initiative's four interdisciplinary cores. This internship offers hands-on experience in science communication, environmental storytelling, digital marketing, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboratio n while allowing students to develop a professional portfolio of communication products.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities may include:
● Develop and manage content for IN-PLACE social media platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms as appropriate).
● Create graphics, short videos, photography, and other visual media highlighting research, student experiences, community partnerships, and events.
● Produce interviews, student spotlights, faculty profiles, and research stories for digital platforms.
● Assist with planning, writing, and publishing the IN-PLACE newsletter.
● Update and maintain the IN-PLACE website with news, events, resources, and opportunities.
● Write website articles, research and policy briefs, event summaries, and other communication materials for both academic and public audiences.
● Support promotion of seminars, workshops, conferences, community events, and student opportunities.
● Coordinate communication efforts across IN-PLACE's Research, Community Engagement, Campus Well-being, and Experiential Learning Cores.
● Identify communication trends and develop creative strategies to expand IN-PLACEs visibility across campus and throughout Maryland.
● Assist with outreach activities and represent IN-PLACE at campus events as opportunities arise.
● Contribute ideas for new communication initiatives and special projects that advance the mission of IN-PLACE.
QualificationsMinimum Qualifications
● Undergraduate student eligible for internship credit.
● Minimum GPA of 3.0.
● Strong written and verbal communication skills.
● Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
● Ability to work independently while collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.
● Interest in environmental sustainability, public health, science communication, community engagement, and/or interdisciplinary research.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with one or more of the following is preferred but not required:
● Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar graphic design software
● Photography or videography
● Social media content creation and management
● Writing for websites, newsletters, blogs, or social media
● Basic data visualization or infographic design
Hours
Approximately 9-10 hours per week during the regular semester or 20 hours a week during the summer semester (flexible scheduling).
Compensation
This position is intended to fulfill internship credit requirements.
Learning Outcomes
Through this internship, students will gain experience in:
● Science communication and public engagement
● Environmental and health communication
● Digital marketing and social media strategy
● Website management and newsletter production
● Graphic design and multimedia storytelling
● Professional writing for diverse audiences
● Community engagement and partnership development
● Working within an interdisciplinary research initiative
Application Materials
Please submit:
● Cover Letter
● Resume
● Unofficial Transcript
● One writing sample or a portfolio of communication, design, photography, video, or social media work (if available)
Email application materials to: inplace-apply@umd.edu
Deadline to apply by EOB, Monday, August 17th.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Thursday, July 30, 2026
[UMDParents] Fwd: Division of Administration - Student Job Opening for Fall & Spring 2026-2027
On-campus work opportunity for undergraduates from the Office of the Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, in the Division of Administration. The application deadline is August 7, 2026.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Student fellowship
More job postings below
Note 3 of these positions are with ERM, the consulting firm where Jennifer Gunnulfsen (jgunnulf@umd.edu) used to work for so she will gladly answer any questions from anyone who is interested!
NRAC Director Search - Reminder Email
Dear Colleagues,
As some of you may know, the Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center (NRAC), housed in AGNR at UMD, is one of five USDA-funded Regional Aquaculture Centers. In partnership with producers and service industries, NRAC’s mission is to advance aquaculture through research, development, demonstration, and extension education, to support a viable and profitable aquaculture industry across the Northeast.
We are currently seeking a new Director for the Center. We are looking for a visionary leader with the ability to foster the Center’s continued growth, strengthen collaborative partnerships, and elevate its visibility. This opportunity is open only to current AGNR faculty members (both TTK and PTK).
The full position description and application instructions are available here: https://www.myworkday.
If you are interested in being considered, please submit your application by July 31, which is the best consideration date for this position.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
Best regards,
Puneet
Acorn Environmental: Entry- to Mid-Level Environmental Analyst
Recent grads!
"This position provides an opportunity to develop expertise in a specialized consulting practice supporting Native American Tribes with environmental planning and compliance for fee-to-trust, land management, natural resources, and development projects."
Thursday, July 16, 2026
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Fall 2026 course offering, NFSC-415/615: R for Applied Genomics
NFSC-415/615: R for Applied Genomics, Fall 2026
Instructor: Ryan Blaustein, Ph.D. (rblauste@umd.edu)
Location: Woods Hall, Room 1127
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:45am
Office Hours: Contact instructor for appointment
Course Objective: Genomics research is increasingly important in agriculture and biotechnology. New advances in understanding genome function and, at the foundation of food systems and nutrition, interactions in complex microbiomes (microbial communities and their genes) have come from the generation and processing of ‘big data.’ Essential to applied genomics research is knowledge of programming language for statistical analysis and interpretation of large datasets. NFSC-415/615 will train students with skills for programming in R, the primary open-source language used in the agricultural and life sciences, and how to analyze genomics and microbiome data.
Course Description: This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to R, along with statistical concepts and algorithms used in whole genome sequencing (WGS) and microbiome analysis. Most of the course will deal with R scripts and packages, though additional software tools may be incorporated. This course will consist of three modules:
1. Basics of the R language
2. Genomic applications in food science and nutrition
3. Introduction to omics data analysis
Prerequisites: Students are expected to have taken at least one semester of biostatistics, such as BIOM-301 or BIOM-601, and to have background understanding of principles in molecular biology, or permission granted from the instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes: After completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Write R scripts and use coding language
2. Navigate open-source software applications and genomics repositories, such as in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) archives
3. Perform basic genome and microbiome analysis
Grading: Students will complete weekly exercises and module projects to demonstrate knowledge and application of concepts discussed in class.
Course Assignment Final Grade Scale*
Weekly exercise, 10 points, x10 = 100 points A+ (97-100%); A (93-96%); A- (90-92%); Module 1 Project, 100 points B+ (87-89%); B (83-86%); B- (80-82%); Module 2 Project, 100 points C+ (77-79%); C (73-76%); C- (70-72%); Module 3 Project, 100 points D+ (67-69%); D (63-66%); D- (60-62%); Term paper, 100 points (NFSC-615 only) F (<60%)
*The final grade reflects the student’s understanding of the subject material. At the end of the semester, the final grade scale may be adjusted.
Communication: All lecture materials, including R-scripts, papers for discussion, and assignments will be posted to CANVAS on a weekly basis.
Resources and Software: Students need to install the free software R (https://www.r project.org/) and R-studio (https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/) on their personal computer and bring the computer to each lecture.
Assignments:
Weekly Exercises – Given the fast-paced nature of this course, weekly exercises will be assigned to support continuous learning and skill development. These ‘take-home quizzes’ will be designed to build proficiency in R scripting and reinforce key course concepts. Exercises will be due on the Tuesday following the week in which they are assigned (e.g., a Week 1 assignment is due Tuesday of Week 2).
Module Projects – At the conclusion of each module, students will complete a comprehensive project to demonstrate their ability to apply R programming and integrate course concepts. Projects will include annotated R scripts and accompanying summaries that reflect core coding skills, e.g., use logical and mathematical operators, sub-setting data, working with apply family functions, writing loops and original functions, navigating conditional statements, generating data visualizations, and/or applying statistics to answer relevant analytical questions. Example datasets (e.g., microbiome and RNA-seq) will be provided for these projects.
Term Paper (NFSC-615) – Graduate students will develop a research proposal focused on genomics applications covered in the course. Proposals may address either applied or fundamental research questions and must incorporate at least two of the following approaches in the detailed experimental design and plans for the computational analysis: • Whole genome sequencing
• Amplicon sequencing (e.g., 16S rRNA gene)
• Shotgun metagenomic sequencing
• Transcriptomic sequencing
• Other area approved by the instructor
The paper is limited to 10 pages (excluding references) and is due Friday, December 4, 2026.
Late assignments will receive a 20% reduction in the assignment grade for each week that it is late. Assignments that are not submitted after 2 weeks will receive a 0.
Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools: Understanding how and when to use generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT and Gemini) is quickly emerging as an important skill for future professionals. While students are permitted to use AI for general brainstorming, every element of the above class assignments must be prepared by the student. The use of generative AI tools to replace independent research or in an unreferenced way will be treated as plagiarism.
Honor Code: It is expected that all students adhere to the Honor Code administered by the UMD Student Honor Council. Any student involved in academic dishonesty will be reported and will receive a course grade consistent with university policies. For more information see: http://www.shc.umd.edu/code.html.
Accommodations: If you wish to discuss academic accommodations, please provide documentation from the Accessibility and Disability Support Service (301-314-7682; adsfrontdesk@umd.edu). If you are encountering personal difficulties during the course, please let the instructor know as soon as possible. The UMD Counseling Center (301-314-7651) is available for assistance as well.
Schedule of Classes: