Graduate students

The Mountain Research Station supports graduate education by providing access to one of North America's best-studied mountain environments. Graduate courses from the University of Colorado Boulder and other universities use the station for field instruction, giving students opportunities to learn in the same landscapes where long-term ecological, atmospheric, hydrological, and climate research is conducted. 

Graduate students learn not only through coursework but also through research. By designing and conducting research at the MRS, they apply classroom knowledge to real-world environmental questions while developing the technical, analytical, and professional skills needed for careers in science.

 

EBIO FIRED UP field experience

Logo for the FIRED UP grad student program with overlapping mountains at the top and the words Learn, Connect, Empower at the bottom

 

The Mountain Research Station is home to FIRED UP (Field-Intensive Research Emphasizing Diversity UP in the Alpine), a free, immersive field experience for incoming graduate students in CU Boulder's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO). Every incoming EBIO graduate student is invited to participate during the summer before beginning graduate school, providing an opportunity to build field experience, develop lasting professional relationships, and explore research questions in mountain ecosystems before classes begin.

During their time at the station, students gain hands-on experience with ecological field methods, environmental monitoring, and collaborative research while working alongside faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and fellow graduate students. The program also builds community through mentoring, team-based learning, and discussions about succeeding in graduate school, helping participants begin their studies with practical skills, professional connections, and a strong sense of belonging.

A group of students standing in a green mountain meadow holding butterfly nets. Beautiful alpine pine forest in the background.

Fired Up! students after completing a pollinator survey

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Students walking on Niwot Ridge amongst various climate instrumentation, with peaks and glaciers in the background
Students crouch on Niwot Ridge placing small flags near yellow wild flowers
Students walking through a lush subalpine forest with butterfly nets
Students sitting in a subalpine meadow with a beautiful pine forest in the background.
Students stand around an instrument for data collection in a green subalpine meadow.
Students stand in the pine forest at a data collection instrument that resembles an electrical box
Students stand along Como Creek in the subalpine forest, observing instruments placed in the creek for data collection
Students point at a data collection device in the subalpine pine forest
A group of people sit close together around a large table full of food in a rustic building
Students stand in a brown alpine forest taking measurements of trees
Students listening to an instructor speak in an subalpine meadow with large pine trees in the background
A student reads a graphic for identifying pollinators while standing in a subalpine meadow
A group of about 20 people gather around a very large table in a glass-walled rustic cabin and listen to several lecturers
Students in alpine gear huddle around a plot of grass in a subalpine meadow.
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Students in alpine gear stand in a beautiful alpine meadow with stunning views of a mountain range in background.
A group of students in winter gear pause for a moment on an alpine path with trees and peaks in the background
Students stand in a circle around a plot of soil in a subalpine meadow, with pine trees in the backgroud

Grad research opportunities

Graduate students from CU Boulder and other universities are central to both the research mission and the collaborative culture of the Mountain Research Station. Working alongside faculty, postdoctoral researchers, staff, and fellow students, they help drive new discoveries while developing the field, analytical, and professional skills that define graduate education. 

Prospective graduate students interested in conducting research at the station are encouraged to explore our Current research, the Niwot Ridge LTER, and the websites of our other science partners, then contact individual researchers whose projects align with their interests to discuss potential opportunities.

Occasionally the MRS works with partners to provide direct support for student research. See below for info and opportunities.

Students can apply for summer field grants to research alpine tundra - Deadline March 1, 2026

The University of Colorado Mountain Research Station is pleased to announce a competitive Summer Field Research Grant, supported by the Maxwell / Hanrahan Foundation, to fund undergraduate or graduate students conducting alpine tundra research during Summer 2026.

Grad retreats and field events

 

In addition to supporting graduate courses, the Mountain Research Station hosts graduate student events throughout the year. These include the annual CU Boulder Department of Geography New Graduate Student Retreat, where incoming students meet faculty, learn about current research, participate in field tours, and hike to Niwot Ridge as they begin building connections within the department.

A large group of graduate students and several faculty pose for a group photo

 

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