Internships

Get the most out of your college education by participating in a student internship program! Gain valuable work experience as an intern that can be directly related to your academic field of study - while earning upper division credit applicable to your degree at SDSU. Contacts you make as an intern can last a lifetime and may be the boost you need to achieve your career goals!

The geosciences is one of the best areas for students interested in finding summer internships/jobs in their field of study. Whether you're interested in working in a National Park, a research laboratory, on a mapping project, or taking on a Washington DC assignment in public policy initiatives, summer jobs in the geosciences are second to none. 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.

Deciding on which internship opportunities to pursue is a critical part of the process - consult with a faculty member in the Department about any questions you have. You should - of course - pick something that matches your interests/career aspirations .  Once you have done this - you must prepare a strong application. Many internships are highly competitive and an ill-conceived or poorly prepared application may be doomed to failure. Here are some hot tips for preparing a successful application.

Below are links to some of the more well-known geoscience internship opportunities.

Links

National

GeoCorps America™ -  GeoCorps AmericaTM in cooperation with the National Park Service and US Forest Service - do you want to work in a National Park or a National Forest? - check this out. “Through GeoCorps America™, the Geological Society of America strives to increase the presence of geoscientists on federal lands, thereby increasing the permanent hiring of geoscientists, enhancing the transfer of geoscience knowledge to land managers and the public, and raising awareness of the geosciences.” Join GSA and be eligible to apply! If you decide to apply for a GeoCorps position make sure to read the “Tips” section of the website which provides good general information on how to prepare a strong application! 

The Mann BRIDGE Program - through the Geological Society of America offers applied geoscience mentorships to top geoscience students and recent graduates (within two years of graduation). The program matches these students and graduates with professionals in a geoscience industry for a 10-week applied internship. Students work with a mentor to use geoscience theory and skills to solve practical problems in a professional setting.

National Sciences Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (REU) This site provides listing of internship/research opportunities from all over the country.

Carnegie Institution of Washington - The Geophysical Lab and the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism runs a summer
intern program for college undergraduates and high school students funded by the NSF RUE program. This is a top deck research opportunity and interns are routinely involved in publishing results with their mentor in this program.

Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science - offers a 10 week program for selected undergraduates
to participate actively in lunar and planetary research with scientists at LPI and the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Another A+ research opportunity.

Sierra Club Internship Opportunities - The Sierra Club through their Washington DC office offers three types of internships which are issue, political, or media oriented. Interns may conduct research, gather and analyze information, write summaries and factsheets for educational purposes, help prepare Congressional testimony, and accompany staff on visits to Congressional offices.

Student Conservation Association, Inc. - volunteer and paid positions

United States Geological Survey - the USGS offers a variety of quality student internship opportunities.

U.S. Geological Survey Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) - SCEP is a component of the USGS Student Educational Employment Program (SEEP) that offers you valuable work experience directly related to your academic field of study.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Volunteer Program - HVO provides free lodging in their fully-furnished guest house about 4 km from the Observatory provided you qualify and are willing to work for at least three months on a full-time basis.

The National Park Service GeoScientists-in-the-Park program  –  The NPS is looking for experienced earth science professionals and students to work with park staffs to help them understand and manage the resources through examining the geology, water, air, and integrated sciences. The work varies greatly from park to park and may be broad or specific in scope.

Yosemite National Park Student Internships - summer 12-week undergraduate student internships supported by the Yosemite Association!

Grand Canyon National Park Student Internships - filled locally through the Park Service. You can get an application and information by contacting the Park Service Information Office at Grand Canyon National Park.

Yellowstone National Park - Yellowstone DOES NOT have any intern positions.....go figure!

The Association for Women Geoscientists - AWG offers Geologist in the Parks positions - three positions supported in 2002.  

The Association for Women in Science - paid internships available year-round at their National Office in Washington D.C., each lasting 2-4 months.

The Council on Undergraduate Research - awards summer fellowships to students interested in pursuing their research interests at primarily undergraduate institutions.

IRIS Summer Undergraduate Internship Program - Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). This program involves undergraduates in seismological research projects at the universities and research institutions that belong to the IRIS Consortium. 

US Department of Energy Office of Science Education - offers a wide variety of 10 and 16 week
internships for undergraduates - including pre-service teachers - at any of several Department of Energy national facilities. 

US Department of Energy Internships and Fellowships - The U.S. Department of Energy is urging students to launch their fast track careers with this
federal government’s leading source of science and high tech jobs. 

The Lamont-Doherty Summer Intern Program - This program offers the chance to experience scientific research as an undergraduate. The program is open to US citizens or permanent residents who have completed their junior or sophomore year in college with majors in geology, environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, or engineering. Summer 2002 Theme: Analyzing Global Databases

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Research 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 science. Work on a research projects with mentoring Smithsonian professionals in the biological, geological, and anthropological disciplines. Helping students develop confidence and competence in the research process is the cornerstone of this Program. A total of 20 students participated in the '02 session.

Resources for the Future Summer Internship Program - RFF is an independent nonprofit organization based in Washington DC specializing in
research, policy analysis and public education on environmental, energy and natural resource issues. They have several paid summer internships for graduate and outstanding undergraduate students. The program is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. Internships are available beginning in June and ending in late August for a 10-week assignment. 

SAGE - (Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience) Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Program - Professor George Jiracek in our Department is a co-director of this nationally recognized program; 1998 Recipient of the Excellence in Geophysical Education Award of the American Geophysical Union.

Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Program - The National Science Foundation makes possible a number of opportunities for
undergraduates to join research projects each summer. Check this link for a listing of the 2002 programs in the Earth Sciences.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GEOSCIENCES - a listing provided through 

California

Southern California Earthquake Center - SCEC has funded 72 students (including 39 women and 16
minority students) to work alongside 50 SCEC scientists over the past 7 years.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute - participate in a three month mentored internship program at the MBARI facilities at Moss Landing on the Monterey Bay. The focus of the MBARI internship is on the interns professional development: learning research techniques and improving
communication and collaboration skills