During the spring or summer quarter 2025, the Humanistic GIS Lab, run by Dr. Bo Zhao, is excited to recruit 1-2 undergraduate interns supported by the Halmo Geography Scholars Program. Students are expected to work 100 hours over the course of the quarter, and will be provided with $2,000.
The Humanistic GIS (HGIS) Lab is committed to exploring the Digital Earth as the home of humankind. Driven by this common interest, a group of UW scholars and student researchers have been working together (1) to explore innovative methodologies to improve geospatial technologies with the consideration of human experience, (2) to reflect upon the social implications of maps, geovisualization, and other geospatial technologies, and (3) to geo-narrate a variety of geographic phenomena, especially those related to vulnerable populations.
The HGIS Research Intern will work closely with the HGIS Lab, contributing to cutting-edge research and projects in geographic information systems (GIS). This internship is designed as an experiential learning opportunity, with a significant focus on developing the intern’s skills in web development and GIS technologies. The position will have a defined beginning and end and will center around clearly outlined projects, giving the intern the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a professional research setting.
Learning Goals
- Gain hands-on experience in developing and maintaining web-based GIS applications.
- Explore the application of GIS in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within geographic research.
- Develop technical skills in front-end web development and geospatial technologies, enhancing proficiency with HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and GIS libraries such as Mapbox, MapLibre, or ArcGIS JavaScript.
- Participate in collaborative research tasks that contribute to ongoing projects in the HGIS Lab, with an emphasis on student learning and skill development.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in developing and maintaining web maps and GIS applications for ongoing HGIS research projects.
- Test and assist in building the HGIS website using WordPress, ensuring functionality and user-friendliness.
- Collaborate with other team members, providing support for front-end web development and data visualization tasks.
- Attend regular check-ins with the supervisor for feedback, guidance, and project updates.
Requirements
- Familiarity with front-end web development.
- Proficiency in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
- Experience using WordPress.
- Familiarity with Mapbox, MapLibre, or ArcGIS JavaScript libraries.
- Prior experience in developing web maps or web GIS applications is preferred.
- A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and an understanding of how these values apply to web development and GIS projects.
Supervision & Communication
- The intern will be supervised by Bo Zhao, with regular meetings to discuss progress, learning outcomes, and any challenges encountered during the internship.
- The intern will have access to the HGIS Lab space and necessary equipment for web development and GIS tasks.
- Opportunities for feedback and mentorship will be provided throughout the internship to ensure the intern’s learning goals are met.