Self Designed Proposal Epa Research Internship

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Basic Information
Full Name: Jacob Carson
UC Email: carsonjb@mail.uc.edu
College: College of Engineering and Applied Science
Major: Environmental Engineering
Title of Project: Environmental Protection Agency Research Internship
Thematic Area (choose only one): Research
Expected Project Start Date: May 1, 2014
Expected Project End Date: August 14, 2014
Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
I will be acquiring a paid research internship at the Cincinnati branch of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Project Description: I will work with engineers and researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with water
quality work. We will conduct tests on water samples and perform in-depth analyses of those samples. An example of this
testing would be the incident that occurred in the Greater Toronto area August of 2014. The water in Lake Erie was found
to have had 250% the allowed amount of the neurotoxin microcystin. Testing of this water was completed at the
Cincinnati EPA where it was examined and a solution was met. It is expected that as a research intern I will work on
similar projects and find solutions to water quality problems as they arise in the region. There will be possible travel
across the region that the Cincinnati EPA branch serves to collect water samples and complete on-ground testing.
Personal Meaning: This EPA research internship provides me with the tools I need to better understand my major and the
path I will want to follow in my future. As an environmental engineer the most significant portion of my future career
entails working closely with water quality and ways to disperse it efficiently to people. I am excited to begin my career
and work on improving the lives of people in my community in an earth friendly manner.
Quantity: I will be expected to work approximately 640 hours over a 16-week period.
Quality: The work I will complete will consistently be on task as I am on the clock. I will not be allowed to simply waste
time as in this valuable opportunity I will be pushed to my limits to produce the results needed to help people in the
region.
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
Ability to Think Beyond the Completed Research: After completing a water study I will evaluate the impact that it has on
the people and habitat that it flows through. I will work to increase my understanding of the water cycle and how the
water I collect and test will create rippling affects in the region. As I complete my research I will remember that our
region is very fortunate in that there is relatively bountiful water and that people can water their crops and turn on taps for
water to drink and bathe with 24/7. Areas throughout the world, even in the United States, do not have to ease of water
access. I hope that this research allows me to reflect on my gathered knowledge and implement it into my work with the
University of Cincinnati branch of Engineers Without Borders.
Demonstrate Awareness of Key Weakness/Limitations: I understand that my research will be mostly conducted as a
follower of a mentor and permanent staff member at the Cincinnati branch of the EPA. Therefore it is known that I will
not be in charge of my own research and will most likely be unable to research specific topics and paths of my interest. I
will also be unable to complete long-term research opportunities, as I will only be a part of the program for 16 weeks,
much of which will be completing weekly turnover projects for communities in the region. I believe I will be able to take
valuable information away from this experience and apply it towards future research on water quality and water
production.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)

A. The EPA research internship will allow me to connect to my personal future goals through giving me
knowledge on water quality in our region. As an avid believe in humans impact on our ecological world
and the possible outcomes of hydro politics I am looking forward to learning methods to purify water for
drinking and use, as well as learning ways to properly distribute it and ways to prevent contamination. As
a student studying environmental engineering I will be very excited to learn about water quality. It will
help put me on track and give me real world experience implementing what I have learned in the
classroom. Professionally, acquiring an EPA research internship will be crucial in helping me once I leave
college for the job market. The government is the number one employer of environmental engineers, and
the EPA employs the vast majority of those. Having the EPA internship will open those doors later in my
career to have a job that I am happy going to every day.
B. One method of water sanitization is chlorination. It is a highly effective method of disinfection. The
chlorine gas is gathered from sodium chloride, and then pressurized into a liquid. The liquid chlorine is
then mixed into the untreated water where it comes into contact with bacteria, viruses, and protozoans.
Once it meets these pathogens the chlorine disintegrates the lipids that make up the cell wall of the
pathogens. Once the pathogens have come into contact with the chlorine they either die, or are no longer
able to multiply. This method of disinfection is widely used to treat water and make it drinkable in the
United States.
"Chlorination." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
23 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.cdc.gov/safewater/chlorination.html>.
Another method of water sanitization is ozone treatment. It is another highly effective method of
disinfection against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Adding energy to oxygen gas creates the ozone; it
however is very unstable and once mixed into the untreated water through bottle contact the ozone is able
to oxidize the water by simply breaking down into oxygen gas. This method of disinfection is widely used
in Europe and is accepted by the FDA. While more expensive than chlorination, it creates fewer
byproducts.
Oram, Brian. "Ozonation in Water Treatment." Ozonation in Water Treatment. Water Research Watershed
Center, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.water-research.net/index.php/ozonation>.
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
I am bringing a unique set of talents and ambition to the EPA when completing my research. I am extremely hard working
and looking beyond the results for the understanding of how I can take what I learn and apply it to communities in need
around the world. Because of my drive stay and make a career in my hometown of Cincinnati I will work harder and
longer to make an impact on my superiors and make them want me to join them on co op and in the future.
5. Reflection
I will live at my home in Mason, Ohio during the EPA internship. This allows me to reflect for 45 minutes after every
days work. Once I am home I will write and document into a journal what I did that day, how I learned from those
activities, and how I can implement that knowledge into my schoolwork and into Engineers Without Borders.
6. Dissemination
I plan to present the information I have learned and reflect on my EPA research internship through presentations with
LEEP, an environmental club at the University as well as with Engineering Without Borders. This presentation will last
approximately 10-15 minutes. I will go over what major projects I worked on, what I learned, and how I plan to
implement that knowledge into the clubs being presented to.
7. Project Advisor(s)
The project advisor will be the person I report to, this individual is currently unknown.
8. Budget (if applicable)

The only expense will be gas to the EPA from my home in Mason Ohio. This is approximately
$900 over the course of the internship. I am expected to receive $10.00-$18.50 an hour at this internship, which over the
length of the internship is expected to be between $6400 and $11840, these funds will be used towards college tuition.

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3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)

8. Budget (if applicable)

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