"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

Air Pollution and Exposure Assessment
(Advisor: Dr. Arthur M. Winer)

Anne-Christine Aycaguer.  2001.  Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Geologic Reservoirs to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach.
Host Institution: ARCO.

Scott Fruin.  2003.  Characterizing Black Carbon and Fine Particle Concentrations Inside Vehicles: Implications for Refined Exposure Assessments for Diesel Exhaust Particulate Matter. Host Institution: California Air Resources Board

Derek G. Shendell.  2003.  Assessment of Organic Compound Exposures. Thermal Comfort Parameters, and HVAC System-Driven Exchange Rates in Public School Portable Classrooms in California.
Host Institution: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Crystal K. Reul-Chen.  2004.  Feasibility of Retrofitting California's Solid Waste Collection Vehicles for Diesel Particulate matter Emissions Control.  Host Institution: California Air Resources Board.

Restoration Ecology and Environmental Assessment
(Advisor: Dr. Richard F. Ambrose)

Mark Sudol.  1996.  Success of Riparian Mitigation as Compensation for Impacts due to Permits Issued through Section 404 of the Clean Water Act in Orange County, California.  Host Institution: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Spencer MacNeil.  2001.  Hydrogeomorphic Assessment of Aliso Creek Watershed Streams:  Developing a Foundation for Holistic Permitting and Management.
Host Institution: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Whitman Miller.  2001.  Assessing the Importance of Biological Attributes for Invasion Success:  Easter Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Introductions and Associated Molluscan Invasions of Pacific and Atlantic Coastal Systems.
Host Institution: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

Cindy Lin.  2002.  Effects of Landscape Modification on Stream Ecology and Structure in a Mixed-Use Watershed in Mediterranean Southern California.
Host Institution: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Shelley Luce.  2003.  Urbanization and Aquatic Ecosystem Health in Malibu Creek, California: Impacts on Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, and Environmental Policy.  Host Institution: Heal the Bay.

Water Quality and Environmental Chemistry
(Advisor: Dr. Mel Suffet)

Joel Pederson.  2001.  Transport and Potential Ecotoxicity of Organophosphorus Ester Insecticides and Pesticide Adjuvants in Surface Runoff.  Host Institution: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Christopher Gabelich.  2001.  Effect of Pretreatment on Reverse Osmosis Membrane Performance and an Evaluation of the Electrosorption of Inorganic Salts onto Carbon Aerogels.  Host Institution: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.


Environmental Management and Policy
(Advisor: Dr. Linwood Pendleton)

New faculty member (joined UCLA in the Spring of 2004)