We are looking for a student who will train machine learning models to analyze images of duckweed (aquatic plants). Our lab is working on understanding emergent species interactions in ecosystems, using duckweed as a model system. The assistant will develop, train, and test models to measure and identify plant species in images containing many plants which look very similar to each other. This task is no small challenge and as such, we are looking for candidates that have some experience with machine learning techniques applied to images/graphics.

Qualified candidates should email Chase Rakowski at chaserak@unc.edu with a brief 1 page cover letter and a resume.

Background
The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the world’s leading research and learning institutions for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH). We conduct qualitative and quantitative research across the entire WaSH sector and play a major role in advancing evidence-based policies and practices in national, regional, and international fora. Our mission is strengthening global WaSH through research, policy, and practice. Our core focus is producing policy and practice-oriented science. We target our research to address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations to ensure that people have sustainable access to WaSH to meet their health, economic, social, and environmental needs.
The Water Institute has several openings for undergraduate students to participate in research related to WaSH in low- and middle-income countries. The Water Institute addresses these challenges through research that identifies problems, develops solutions, demonstrates that solutions can work in the real world, and scales up action.
Current opportunities
Students who complete research through the Water Institute will receive hands-on training and mentoring from our core faculty and staff. Students will have opportunities to network with WaSH professionals, apply quantitative, qualitative, and project management skills, collect and/or analyze data, and learn about programmatic approaches used by major non-governmental and multilateral organizations (e.g., WHO, UNICEF). Opportunities are available for the following topics:
• Reviewing and analyzing water system data to understand the occurrence of toxic metals in drinking water in low- and middle-income countries
• Analyzing school, healthcare facility, household, and water system data to understand enablers and barriers to WaSH service delivery in LMICs
• Reviewing the effectiveness and evidence of the impact for WaSH in healthcare facility interventions and programmatic approaches
• Documenting knowledge management systems and diffusion of learning within the WaSH sector
• Evaluating WaSH infrastructure sustainability and operations and maintenance
We are particularly interested in students with the following skills:
• Statistical analysis/epidemiology
• Environmental modeling
• Qualitative interviewing and analysis
• Systematic literature review
• Technical writing and policy analysis

Interested students should complete the Qualtrics form at https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_efJVIZgTH6m49am
When prompted for the keyword for this posting, please enter the keyword “general interest.”

The Physical Mathematics Lab (PML) (Intro Video) offers a wide range of interdisciplinary problems that find motivation in very diverse fields, including soft matter, fluid mechanics, biophysics and quantum mechanics. One of PML’s themes is the study of new Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogs (HQAs) with walking drops (Video). Millimetric liquid drops can walk across the surface of a vibrating fluid bath, self-propelled through a resonant interaction with their own guiding or ‘pilot’ wave fields. These walking drops exhibit features previously thought to be exclusive to the quantum realm. This system has attracted a great deal of attention as it constitutes the first known and directly observable pilot-wave system of the form proposed by de Broglie in 1926 as a rational, realist alternative to the Copenhagen Interpretation (Video & Read). At PML, we work to unveil and rationalize new HQAs, thus challenging the limits between the quantum & classical worlds. Our investigations blend experiments & mathematical modeling (theory & simulations), we can thus tailor your project according to your interests & skills. Prior research experience is not necessary, you just need to be eager to learn!