For these academic year opportunities, please apply at https://e4e.ucsd.edu/join and specify the opportunity you are interested in. Our next round of applications will be processed at the start of the academic quarter. Keep in mind that projects do recruit outside of these opportunities as well.
Table of Contents
Acoustic Species ID – ML
On the Acoustic Species Identification team we aim to aid our San Diego Zoo collaborators in breaking into the passive acoustic monitoring field. As a preliminary deployment, our collaborators collected over four terabytes of audio recordings from the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon. We are working to combine the powers of fields such as machine learning, digital signal processing, computer science, biology, and ecology to parse through and extract statistically significant indicators of ecological health from the world’s natural soundscapes that are begging to be heard.
Required Skills
- Python (Matplotlib, Scipy, Numpy)
Desired Skills
- Pytorch, Tensorflow,
- Linux
- DSP
- Git
- Research Skills
Aye-aye Sleep Monitoring – Systems
On the Aye-Aye Sleep Monitoring Team, we have been developing tools (software/physical) that allow us to determine various characteristics of the Aye-Aye such as when they are sleeping. We are looking for a student to take on a thesis-level project to take this project to the deployable stage.
Required Skills
- Project management
- Systems engineering
- Good communication
- Good documentation
Desired Skills
- Familiarity with multidisciplinary engineering
- Python
- Linux
Baboons on the Move – Computer Vision Engineer
In the Baboons on the Move team, we are aiming to use drone footage to assist our collaborators in studying group-level decision-making. To that end, we are looking for a computer vision engineer who can take on the job of detecting and tracking baboons in our drone footage.
Required Skills
- Background with Git/GitHub
- Background in Python, C++, or Matlab
- Background with Computer Vision Techniques
Desired Skills
- NVIDIA CUDA
- PyTorch/Tensorflow
- Bayesian Filters
- Experience reading and writing scientific papers
Baboons on the Move – Systems Engineer
In the Baboons on the Move team, we are aiming to use drone footage to assist our collaborators in studying group-level decision-making. To that end, we are looking for a systems engineer to support the architecture of the project. Responsibilities for this position include both program and project management. You will oversee the evaluation and comparison of competing algorithms to spot.
Required Skills
- Project management
- Systems engineering
- Good communication skills
- Good documentation skills
Desired Skills
- Familiarity with multidisciplinary engineering
- Experience reading and writing scientific papers
FishSense – Computer Vision/Machine Learning Engineer
FishSense is aiming to build fish detection and volume estimation algorithms using RGBD data. A CV/ML engineer would work with training detection models, testing said models, and connecting the data science work with the Scripps scientific divers who will be primarily operating the devices.
Required Skills
- Python programming
- Github
- SSH
- Basic Machine Learning Concepts
Desired Skills
- PyTorch
- TensorFlow
- Object Detection Project experience
- Familiarity with advanced models, especially FasterRCNN/YOLO
FishSense – Rust Developer
FishSense is creating an application in Rust to support fast and efficient data processing from the FishSense Lite field deployment. Much of this work will be porting existing Python code into extensible modules, creating unit tests, and finding ways to use Rust to interface with GPU libraries (CUDA) and computer vision/machine learning frameworks.
Required Skills
- Rust programming
- Python programming
- Github
Desired Skills
- Strong linear algebra background
Hardware Team – Electrical Design
Engineers for Exploration develops a number of systems to support scientists in conducting scientific studies. These systems often contain experimental technologies, but need to survive in harsh austere environments such as in jungles, ocean depths, or the desert, as well as for long periods of time. We are looking for a team of students to help with developing and building the electrical components for several of these systems. This team will be supporting every project that involves hardware, which enables students to get a broad range of experience with various types of design spaces. We would be looking for students to commit at least 4 hours a week.
Required Skills
- Altium Designer or Autodesk Eagle
- Electrical design, analysis, and prototyping
- Technical documentation
Desired Skills
- Rapid prototyping and design
- Experience with soldering
Hardware Team – Mechanical Design
Engineers for Exploration develops a number of systems to support scientists in conducting scientific studies. These systems often contain experimental technologies, but need to survive in harsh austere environments such as in jungles, ocean depths, or the desert. We are looking for a team of students to help with developing and building the mechanical components for several of these systems. This team will be supporting every project that involves hardware, which enables students to get a broad range of experience with various types of design spaces. We would be looking for students to commit at least 4 hours a week.
Required Skills
- SolidWorks
- Mechanical design, analysis, and prototyping
- Technical documentation
Desired Skills
- Rapid prototyping and design
- Experience with building hardened systems
Mangrove Monitoring – ML
The Mangrove Monitoring ML team develops state of the art algorithms for classifying mangrove imagery using high-resolution drone and satellite imagery. We are looking for experienced students to help in the further improvement of our current algorithms and for the development of new algorithms with a focus on publications.
Required Skills
- Computer Vision/Deep Learning Knowledge
- Data Science Fundamentals
- Experience with CNN/Unet Architectures
- Experience with Data Analysis Libraries (pandas, numpy, etc).
Desired Skills
- Experience with Tensorflow/Pytorch
- Experience with GIS/Remote Sensing workflows
Mangrove Monitoring – Software Development
The Mangrove Monitoring Image Classification Tool team develops a tool that lets conservation scientists access and use our ML algorithms without prior knowledge to classify mangrove imagery using a web-based tool. We are looking for a student to help contribute to the testing, development, and design of our current Image Classification Tool with additional features and performance updates.
Required Skills
- General coding experience & knowledge of good software development practices
- Basic knowledge of frontend or backend or cloud
- Git/GitHub
Desired Skills
- Experience with React/TypeScript
- Experience with RESTful APIs (Express, Node)
- Experience with Docker
- UI/UX design experience
- Experience with AWS
- Experience with Python or Flask
- Have worked with NoSQL databases (MongoDB)
- Experience with any testing frameworks
Radio Telemetry Tracker – Mechanical Engineer
The Radio Telemetry Tracking project seeks to aid scientists in the monitoring and conservation of wildlife by offering an efficient and reliable method of tracking animals. We are currently working on creating a long-term monitoring system that requires hardware mounts to be designed and built, and are seeking students with background in mechanical engineering to help us. We would be looking for students to commit at least 4 hours a week.
Required Skills
- SolidWorks CAD + Drawings
- 3D Printing and/or Laser Cutting
- Familiarity with using hand tools (screwdriveres, wrenches, etc)
Radio Telemetry Tracker – Electrical Engineer
The Radio Telemetry Tracking project seeks to aid scientists in the monitoring and conservation of wildlife by offering an efficient and reliable method of tracking animals. We are looking for students to help maintain, develop, and test next generation monitoring systems ranging from drone payload trackers to mobile tracking stations. We would be looking for students to commit at least 4 hours a week.
Required Skills
- Circuit design
- Experience in electrical debugging
- Technical documentation
Desired Skills
- Experience soldering
Radio Telemetry Tracker – Student Co-Lead
Engineers for Exploration (E4E) is looking for motivated students to take on a leadership role for our Radio Telemetry Tracker (RTT) team. This role could tie into an undergraduate or master’s thesis project, and we encourage students to explore this option. RTT is a multidisciplinary systems project in collaboration with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance which aims to improve methods of tracking animals using radio telemetry. This type of animal tracking picks up signals from radio transmitters which have been attached to or embedded in subject animals. Traditional on-foot methods of radio telemetry require researchers to trek through difficult terrain with unwieldy antennae, so we’re developing two systems to make the process easier: a drone-based system to fly over the terrain, and a tower-based system to be set up and left to collect data with little supervision.
We have deployed our system to the field previously, and the project’s current goals include designing a new PCB for our payload, redesigning our payload’s physical housing, and developing software to communicate with the system’s peripheral devices, all to prepare for upcoming deployments. Examples of skills which would be helpful for this role include systems engineering, PCB design, electrical debugging, embedded programming, and digital signal processing.
We assemble our system with custom sensors to gather the data we need and record it for later analysis. Due to such customization and the multidisciplinary nature of RTT, this project has many moving parts, and the ideal candidate would have some experience navigating such problems of complexity. This role includes the expectation and opportunity to deploy the system you develop into the field in order to track animals and report on results.
Desired Skills/Familiarity
- Leadership/Project Management
- PCB Design/Layout/Assembly/Testing
- Mechanical Design/Fabrication/Assembly/Testing
- Digital Interfacing (I2C/Serial)
- Embedded Linux (I2C/Serial/GPIO/sysfs/networking)
- Python (pybind11/threading)
- Digital Signal Processing (STFT/spectral analysis/mixing)
Smartfin – Controls
Smartfin brings surfers and scientists together to collect important oceanographic data from coastlines by developing a surfboard fin that can passively collect information and seamlessly upload it to a cloud for use by scientists. We are looking for someone interested in developing and improving waves data analysis and processing for the Smartfin sensor.
Required Skills
- Python
- Embedded C/C++
- Digital Signal Processing
Desired Skills
- Sensor Fusion
Smartfin – Sensor Development
Ocean acidification is a major concern, and a significant metric in understanding climate change. One of the ways scientists can understand ocean acidification is by monitoring changes in salinity. The Smartfin project can assist in this by developing a low-cost salinity sensor that is embedded into surfing fins. We are looking for someone interested in taking on a thesis-level project to develop this sensor.
Required Skills
- Circuit Design/Analysis/Test
- Embedded C/C++
Smartfin – Thermal Design Engineer
The Smartfin project currently provides sea surface temperature as one of its key measurements. However, the current sensor implementation does not have sufficient thermal response to generate useful data. We are looking for someone interested in taking on an honors thesis-level project to make this improvement.
Required Skills
- Desire to learn new things
- Research Skills (reading/writing papers)
- Mechanical design, analysis, and prototyping
- Python for data analysis
Desired Skills
- Embedded C/C++
Research Support Group
The Research Support Group is a highly multidisciplinary group that supports all E4E research operations. Responsibilities include maintaining the website, compute systems, 3D printers, machine tools, and operations software. We are looking for students with a passion for learning new skills and exploring ways to support research.