UCARÕs Summer Employment Program:  Gateway to a scientific future
by Lucy Warner, NCAR Information and Education Outreach Program

The programÕs purpose is to encourage minority students to consider careers 
in science, engineering, and research support activities by introducing them 
to research through hands-on participation in ongoing programs. 

or more than a decade, UCARÕs Summer Employment Program, SEP, has 
brought minority undergraduates to work at NCAR and in other UCAR 
programs, giving them valuable experience in a scientific setting.  This yearÕs 
group of 18 (a record number) was selected from over 200 applicants.  Each 
participant completed an original project overseen by a UCAR or NCAR 
supervisor and documented in a research paper.  Participants also took part in 
a technical writing class, a one-day colloquium on scientific career paths, and 
a visit to Colorado State University for a firsthand view of graduate work in 
atmospheric research.  SEP is sponsored by UCARÕs Human Resources 
department and coordinated by Anna Reyna-Arcos (see page 15).  A list of the 
students, their academic affiliations, area of interest, and UCAR or NCAR 
sponsor follows.  

Merra Asres, electrical engineering, Chicago State University; numerical 
models in precipitation forecasting; Arthur Mizzi, NCAR Climate and Global 
Dynamics Division (CGD).

Angela Benedict, mathematics and science, Long Island University; trace gas 
measurement and data analysis; Elliot Atlas, NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry 
Division (ACD).

Lorraine Calame, meteorology, City College, New York; analysis of 
atmospheric ozone data; Sasha Madronich, ACD.

Sheila Dorsey, architectural engineering, Montana State University; 
documentation of existing mechanical systems; Michael George, NCAR 
DirectorÕs Office.

Noelle Fukushima, biology, University of California, Santa Cruz; 
meteorological and chemical observations of the convective boundary layer 
to estimate hydrocarbon emissions from forests; Kenneth Davis, NCAR 
Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division.

Doroteo Garcia, mechanical engineering, California State Polytechnic 
University; analysis of atmospheric chemistry field observations; Brian 
Ridley, ACD.

Olafemi Gibson, mathematics and physics, Clark Atlanta University; CEDAR 
(Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) workshop and 
data analysis; John Emery, NCAR High Altitude Observatory (HAO).

Shing Kong, environmental engineering, Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology; creation of Ynot worksheets for synoptic meteorologists; Mitchell 
Baltuch, UCAR Unidata.

Ernest Lee, physics, Princeton University; optical properties of polar clouds; 
Steve Massie, ACD.

Minfei Leng, electrical engineering, Grove City College; Global Change 
Institute; Tom Wigley, UCAR Office for Interdisciplinary Earth Studies.

Joseph Massaquoi, physics and computer engineering, Morehouse College; 
climate of West Africa; Gregory Jenkins, CGD.

Shantˇe McQueen, mathematics, Clark Atlanta University; polar ozone data 
analysis; Michael Coffey, ACD.

Phil Medina, aerospace engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder; flow 
analysis of aerosol probe; Darrel Baumgardner, NCAR Atmospheric 
Technology Division.

Vanitha Sankaran, optical engineering, University of Arizona; solar EUV 
(extreme ultaviolet) Irradiance Sounding Rocket Experiment; Thomas 
Woods, HAO.

Eugene Saunders, meteorology and statistics, North Carolina State 
University; storm chasing and data analysis; Sandra Henry, NCAR Research 
Applications Program (RAP).

Chris Sharp, physics and economics, University of New Mexico; global 
satellite data; William Randel, ACD.

Mark Watson, meteorology and political science, Saint Louis University; 
storm chasing and data analysis; Edward Brandes, RAP.

Tracey Williams, engineering science and mathematics, Colorado State 
University; data analysis of sea-surface temperature; Raymond Najjar, UCAR 
Climate System Modeling Program.