"I switched from a narrowly-focued Ph.D. program to the ESE program because I realized my interests were broad and multi-disciplinary. Working on my internship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regularoy Branch, I have knowledge and am gaining experience which will allow me to work in almost any environmental field." Dan Swenson, ESE Student

Internship

Following the Problems Course, students work in an internship conducted at an outside institution such as a government agency, national laboratory, non-profit organization, or private company. The internship provides practical experience in environmental analysis and management, as well as the opportunity to conduct a dissertation research project under the supervision of a UCLA doctoral committee.

The dissertation must be scholarly and original work applied towards solving a significant environmental problem. As with Problems Courses, dissertations typically address policy as well as technical dimensions of a particular problem. The dissertation should be completed in 18-36 months.

Recent Dissertations

Cody Livingston. 2008. “Development and Application of a Validated Method for Measurements of Ammonia Emissions from In-Use Vehicles on a Chassis Dynamometer.” Arthur Winer, Chair. Host Institution: Air Resources Board.

Cara Augustenborg. 2007. “Nitrogen Recycling for the Sustainability of Irish Agriculture.” Irwin Suffet, Chair. Host Institution: Teagasc Environmental Research Centre, Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Wexford, Ireland.

Sarah Rothenberg. 2007. “Mercury Cycling in a Coastal Estuary and Implications for Mercury Total Maximum Daily Loads.” Jennifer Jay and Richard Ambrose, Co-Chairs. Host Institution: Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Yong Jae Chung. 2006. “Cumulative Impacts to Riparian Wetlands in the Aliso Creek and San Juan Creek Watersheds.” Richard Ambrose, Chair. Host Institution: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Maria Echarte. 2006. "Fate and Transport of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Urban Runoff Diversion System." Irwin Suffet, Chair. Host Institution: Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Erik Larsen. 2006. “Regulation, Characterization, and Assessment of Riparian Habitat in Federal and State Jurisdiction, Orange County, CA.” Richard Ambrose, Chair. Host Institution: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Chad Lewis. 2006. "Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water and Fetal Development." Beate Ritz and Irwin Suffet, Co-Chairs. Host Institution: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Center for Environmental Health.

Heesu Park. 2006. “Statistical Evaluation of the Distribution and Behavior of Fuel Oxygenates in Groundwater: A Case Study of the Los Angeles Region.” Irwin Suffet, Chair. Host Institution: Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Gang Qin. 2006. “Pilot Studies of Hexavalent Chromium Removal in the City of Glendale Groundwater Supply.” Irwin Suffet, Chair.

Fernando Rosario. 2006. "Characterization of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in Water." Irwin Suffet, Chair. Host Institution: Southern Nevada Water District.

Matthew Vandersande. 2006. “Regulation of non-wetland riparian areas in the arid and semi-arid southwest: Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, bank stabilization, and a policy recommendation.” Linwood Pendleton and Richard Ambrose, Co-Chairs. Host Institution: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Namita Verma. 2006. “Emissions Reduction Benefits and Cost-effectiveness of Catalytic Converter Replacement for Light-duty Vehicles in the South Coast Air Basin.” Arthur Winer, Chair. Host Institution: Air Resources Board.

Kyonga Yoon. 2006. “Quantification of Metals, Nutrients, and Solids from Natural Catchments During Wet -and Dry-weather in Southern California.” Michael K. Stenstrom and Richard Ambrose, Co-Chairs. Host Institution: Southern California Coastal Water Research Project.