The Unidata Users Committee is seeking nominations for a Graduate Student representative to join the group of university faculty members who serve on this committee. Nominees should be Graduate Students who use Unidata software, hold a strong interest in the Unidata program, and have an interest in learning how a community-based program like Unidata is governed. Nominations may be made by any community member, and self-nominations are acceptable. This position will be for a two-year term beginning with the fall 2023 Users Committee meeting.
— Lena Heuscher
“Serving on the Unidata Users Committee is an opportunity that I feel grateful to have been a part of,” said former representative Lena Heuscher, who is currently doing graduate research at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. “Not only did serving on the committee allow me to make sure that student voices were heard throughout the geoscience community, it also allowed me to network with other professionals throughout the field.”
In addition to bringing a valuable student perspective to Unidata committee discussions, Graduate Student representatives make numerous professional contacts at Unidata and in the university community at large, and gain insights stemming from participation in Unidata program governance. The Unidata Users committee meets twice a year in Boulder, CO; the Unidata Program Center pays all travel and lodging expenses for the student representative's travel to committee meetings.
“I felt like I was seeing the forefront of data science, which made the position fun, but the news I brought back to my university and fellow students helps build stronger university programs and students that are ready for the future,” said former student representative Warren Pettee of his experience on the Users Committee. “It boosted my confidence as a programmer, and I look forward to helping build and contribute to the Unidata Community throughout my career,” Pettee continued. He is now a developer for the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
To nominate a student for this committee position, please send a short (no more than one page in length) description that includes:
- Your contact information (e-mail, phone)
- The student's name, institution, and e-mail address
- The student's discipline and major
- Which Unidata software and tools the student is using
- Evidence of interest and/or willingness to engage in community service
- Explanation of why the student is well suited for participation on the committee
(Note: Nominees may also be asked to provide a letter of recommendation from their graduate advisers.)
Please submit nominations by July 21, 2023 to: nominations@unidata.ucar.edu.
Unidata is a leader in educational software development and data distribution. We rely on input from two governing committees, the Users Committee, which is charged with providing feedback from the user community to Unidata, and the Strategic Advisory Committee, charged with ensuring that community needs are being met by Unidata. For additional information on Unidata's governing committees, see Unidata's governing committee pages.
If you have questions, please contact:
Kevin Goebbert
Chair, Unidata Users Committee
kevin.goebbert@valpo.edu
