Clarkson University’s ASET-REU renewal strengthens research, opportunity in the North Country

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Hands-on research opportunities will continue at Clarkson University next summer as its Aquatic Science, Engineering, and Technology Research Experiences for Undergraduates (ASET-REU) program has been renewed. The National Science Foundation has extended the immersive experience that brings undergraduate researchers to Potsdam to tackle environmental challenges affecting the North Country and the broader Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River watershed.

The ASET- REU program brings 10 undergraduate scholars to Clarkson each year for an intensive 10-week program. Students work alongside Clarkson faculty on research spanning aquatic natural sciences, sustainability and aquatic resource engineering.

Students will conduct field-based, laboratory, and computational research addressing critical challenges in freshwater ecosystems, including water quality, ecosystem resilience, aquatic biodiversity, environmental monitoring, emerging contaminants, sustainable water treatment technologies, and aquatic resource management.

A distinctive part of the program is Clarkson's partnership with the Akwesasne community. Through research, workshops and field visits, students learn how Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge can inform approaches to environmental research and engineering. The partnership provides scholars with a deeper understanding of the communities and ecosystems connected by the St. Lawrence River.

The renewal builds on five years of growth and impact. Clarkson's proposal reports that the program received 517 applications and served 50 students from 2021 through 2025. Ninety percent of participants came from institutions with limited research infrastructure and opportunities, expanding access to hands-on research for students who might not otherwise have those experiences.

The program also reported that 62 percent of participants identified as women and 36 percent were first-generation college students. Twenty-two percent entered graduate school, while 21 percent joined the STEM workforce.

Led by Clarkson Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Abul Baki, ASET-REU goes beyond laboratory and field research. Scholars develop skills in scientific communication, teamwork and professional development while exploring graduate education and career opportunities.

By bringing emerging scientists and engineers to Potsdam each summer, the renewed ASET-REU strengthens Clarkson's role as a center for research and education while connecting that work to the waterways, ecosystems and communities of the North Country.