The geosciences is one of the best areas for students interested in finding
summer internships and jobs - whether you are interested in working in
a national park, a research laboratory, on a mapping project, or on a
Washington, DC, assignment in public policy initiatives. Undergraduate
internships are typically designed as summer appointments for students
who have just finished their sophomore or junior year in college, but
requirements vary. Many provide a stipend as well as room and board arrangements;
a few are volunteer positions.
| Alaska
State Parks Volunteer Program |
Volunteering assignments in the Alaska
State Parks range from campground host, archaeological assistant,
backcountry ranger assistant, museum assistant, natural history interpreter,
ranger assistant, trail crew, and more! Most positions offer housing
and an expense allowance. |
| Carnegie
Institution of Washington |
The Geophysical Lab and the Department
of Terrestrial Magnetism run a 10-week paid summer internship program
where undergraduates conduct an individual research project and participate
in a weekly seminar program. Possible research topics include experimental
petrology, mineralogy, seismology, planetary geology, astronomy, mineral
physics, biogeochemistry, geochemistry, cosmochemistry, and analytical
chemistry. Housing is provided. |
| Environmental
Careers Organization (ECO) |
ECO Associates work on hydroelectric
projects, collect soil samples from the ocean's floor, design interactive
maps of range lands, research environmental law issues, conduct field
research in the California desert, give interpretive tours at national
parks, and work on environmental marketing campaigns. |
| Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Internships, Fellowships, and Student Programs |
Excellent summer opportunities are available
through the EPA such as their National Network for Environmental Management
Studies, and Student Environmental Associate Program and Diversity
Initiative. Both programs involve hands-on work in a range of environmentally-related
fields. |
| GeoCorps
America™ |
Through the GeoCorps America Program,
GSA places all levels of geoscientists — college students, professionals,
and retirees — in temporary summer positions with the National
Park Service and USDA Forest Service to complete projects in research,
resource management, and interpretation and education that require
geoscience expertise. Participants receive a stipend and housing (or
housing allowance) during their assignment. |
| Geology-related undergraduate Internship possibilities |
A page of links to other internship possibilities, some geology-related, others not so much. Hosted by Washington & Lee University. |
| Harvard
Forest Summer Research Programs in Ecology |
This program includes hands-on research
focusing on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest
ecosystems, including atmospheric pollution, global warming, hurricanes,
treefalls, and insect outbreaks. Located in central Massachusetts,
students will also attend seminars, a one-day symposium on careers
in ecology, and participate in a student research symposium. |
|
| Incorporated
Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Summer Undergraduate Internship
Program |
Undergraduate interns will work directly
with a researcher from one of the IRIS member institutions. Research
projects may involve deployment of seismic instruments in the field
(within the US or internationally), or analyses of seismic data in
a lab setting (for example investigations of Earth structure, earthquake
sources, seismic hazards) at the IRIS member institution. |
| Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory Scholars Employment Program |
Internships are available that give students
an opportunity to do hands-on research under scientists and engineers.
The program includes seminars, workshops, field trips, coursework,
research papers, presentations, and regional and national conferences. |
| Los
Alamos National Lab Internships/Coops |
Internships and coop programs strive
to provide opportunities that provide meaningful work experiences
while incorporating education and training activities. Students have
an opportunity to contribute to the Laboratory's mission while working
with state-of-the-art equipment and instruments. |
| Lunar
and Planetary Institute Summer Internship |
LPI offers a 10-week program for selected
undergraduates to participate in lunar and planetary research with
scientists at LPI and the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Possible
areas of research include meteorites, planetary volcanism, photogeology,
experimental petrology, etc. Includes a $500 per week stipend to cover
living expenses, and assistance with travel expenses. |
| Monterey
Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) Summer Internship |
The focus of the 10-week MBARI internship
is on the intern’s professional development—learning research
techniques and improving communication and collaboration skills. Each
intern will have an MBARI mentor who will supervise a specific project.
Interns will also serve as peer-mentors to other interns. |
| NASA
Student Employment Program |
NASA sponsors a variety of paid and unpaid
work opportunities for students. Find out more about the different
types of student opportunities by reviewing the list of student programs. |
|
| National
Park Service Geoscientists-in-the-Parks program |
The NPS is looking for experienced earth
science professional AND STUDENTS to work with park staffs to help
them understand and manage the geologic resources. The work varies
greatly from park to park and may be broad or specific in scope. The
range of needs includes fundamental research, synthesis of geologic
literature, mapping, inventorying, site evaluation, developing brochures
and informative media presentations, and educating staff. Paid and
volunteer opportunities. |
| National
Sciences Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students
(NSF-REU) |
The National Science Foundation makes
possible a number of opportunities for undergraduates to join research
projects in the earth sciences, ocean sciences, and other fields each
summer. The projects vary from year to year, and are located everywhere
from Alaska to Atlanta! |
| National
Wildlife Federation |
the National Wildlife Federation brings
students and recent graduates to its offices nationwide, where they
can experience many aspects of NWF's conservation mission, including
work on endangered species, land stewardship, and protecting our nation's
water. For undergraduates or those returning to higher education after
an internship, NWF's Campus
Ecology Fellowship program offers the chance to apply these new
skills to practical campus projects. |
| Resources
for the Future Summer Internships |
RFF has several paid summer internships.
Priority consideration is given to graduate students. Each intern
can expect to work with one more RFF researchers on a variety of ongoing
projects, or assist in the development of entirely new areas of research
and policy analysis. RFF's three research divisions are Energy and
Natural Resources (ENR), Quality of the Environment (QE), and Risk,
Resource, and Environmental Management (RREM). |
Sierra Club Internship Opportunities
San
Francisco Office
Washington,
D.C. Office |
In the three types of internships available
(issue-, political-, or media-oriented), interns may conduct research,
gather and analyze information, write summaries and fact-sheets for
educational purposes, help prepare Congressional testimony, and accompany
staff on visits to Congressional offices. |
| Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center |
The Smithsonian Environmental Research
Center's (SERC) Internship Program offers undergraduate students an
opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental
research and education. |
|
| Smithsonian
Institution Research Training Program at the National Museum of Natural
History |
This 10-week, in-residence, museum-based
training program actively facilitates the education, training, and
encouragement of the next generation of natural history researchers
by hosting opportunities for students to explore natural history research,
especially systematic biology, geology, and anthropology. The program
includes a personalized research project plus group lectures, workshops,
discussions, demonstrations and tours of the NMNH specimen collections. |
| The
Student Conservation Association, Inc. |
Opportunities for those 18 years of age
and older to live and work individually or in team-based groups at
natural and cultural sites nationwide in virtually every field imaginable;
varying term lengths available year-round. Expenses paid, weekly living
allowance and education award. |
| U,S,
DOE Global Change Education Program |
The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
(SURE) is available for students interested in global change research
activities. A detailed description of this program is available on
their website. |
| U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science |
This program places students in paid
internships in Science and Engineering at any of several Department
of Energy facilities. Students work with scientists or engineers on
projects related to the laboratories' research programs. |
| USGS
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Volunteer Program |
Volunteers gain experience working on
active volcanoes and participating in scientific research--collecting
and analyzing data, building and installing instruments for experiments
and volcano and earthquake monitoring, taking photographs and conducting
surveys, and working on team or individual research projects. |
| White
Mountain Research Station Eastern Sierra Internship |
This 10-week program provides students
the opportunity to participate in scientific field studies. The program
focuses on natural resource monitoring and research throughout the
Owens Valley, the Sierra Nevada, and White Mountains. With a critical
mass of 10-12 students working on a diverse range of projects, and
with weekly science discussions, guest seminars, student presentations,
and other regular group feedback and reflection, ESI creates an engaged
‘learning community’ in which students explore the role
of scientific inquiry in natural resource management. |
