Geoscience Summer Internships: Launching Your Career in Earth Sciences
Geoscience summer internships offer invaluable opportunities for students to gain practical experience, explore career paths, and network with professionals in the field. These programs provide a supportive environment for students to delve into diverse areas of geoscience, from geology and hydrology to paleontology and geohazards. EarthScope Consortium, among others, is committed to connecting a diverse group of students, educators, and mentors, providing a network of support that extends beyond the summer programs.
The Value of Geoscience Internships
Internships are valuable experiences to highlight on your resume. They provide tasks directly related to projects and offer excellent experience. Internships are an excellent way to gain relevant experience working for an organization in the field of your interest. Many students find that internships solidify their career interests and provide a competitive edge when applying for graduate programs or jobs.
Building a Strong Resume
Internships are valuable experiences to highlight on your resume. They showcase practical skills, relevant experience, and a commitment to the field of geoscience.
Exploring Career Interests
Internships offer a firsthand look at various career paths within geoscience, helping students to clarify their interests and make informed decisions about their future.
Types of Geoscience Internships
A variety of internships are available, catering to different interests and academic levels. These include research-focused programs, field-based experiences, and internships with government agencies and private companies.
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Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
REUs, allow students to work closely with faculty, other researchers and students with similar interests. The REU Sites program is funded by the National Science Foundation and consists of a cohort of students working on a specific research project hosted by institutions across the country. REU participants have reported that their experience prepared them for the research expectations of graduate school.
Geo-Launchpad Program (GLP)
The Geo-Launchpad Program (GLP) is a paid summer internship program open to community college students that have an interest in geoscience. No research is required.
Environment for the Americas
Environment for the Americas and its partners are committed to connecting racially and ethnically diverse students with careers in conservation, natural resources, history, and geology. Topic areas include geology, hydrology, paleontology, mapping and GIS, minerals, soils, glaciology, geohazards, karst, education, and interpretation. There are partial scholarships available for this program.
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
SCA interns are placed individually with a partner agency.
USGS Cooperative Summer Fellowship Program
USGS has been hosting summer interns for decades. We now partner with four different organizations to bring skilled, nominated interns to the Cooperative Summer Fellowship Program: the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), the Ecological Society of America (ESA), the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), and The Wildlife Society (TWS).
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Featured Internship Programs
Several prominent programs offer structured geoscience internships, providing students with unique research and professional development opportunities.
RESESS (Research Experiences in Solid Earth Science for Students)
RESESS is a research-focused undergraduate summer internship and support program in the Earth Sciences based in Boulder, CO, dedicated to increasing diversity in the geosciences. citizens who are sophomore or junior undergraduates, or in a graduate program.
SOARS (Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science)
SOARS is an undergraduate-to-graduate bridge program designed to broaden participation of historically underrepresented communities in the atmospheric and related sciences. SOARS Protégés can participate for up to four (4) summers conducting research in atmospheric and earth-system sciences.
Unidata Summer Internship Program
The Unidata Summer Internship program offers graduate students and upper-level undergraduates the opportunity to work closely with Unidata’s professional staff on projects.
PEP (Preparation in Earth Physics) Program
PEP is a 10-week mentored research internship for primarily juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups who are majoring in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics or geosciences and earth system sciences).
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NASA Internships
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement provides, annually, more than 2,000 students the opportunity to impact the agency’s mission through a hands-on internship. NASA offers internships for non-STEM majors. Even if you are not a science or engineering student, you can get an internship at NASA! OSTEM internships offer students an opportunity to gain practical work experience while working side-by-side with mentors who are research scientists, engineers, and individuals from many other professions. Internships may be full time or part time on a NASA center or facility.
How to Find and Apply for Internships
Identifying and securing a geoscience internship requires research, preparation, and a proactive approach.
Networking
Networking can provide valuable insights into available internships and increase your chances of getting selected.
Online Resources
Numerous websites and databases list geoscience internships, allowing you to search for opportunities based on your interests and qualifications.
Application Tips
Crafting a strong application is essential for standing out from the competition.
Success Stories
Former interns have gone on to achieve remarkable success in their fields, demonstrating the transformative impact of these programs.
Aaron Yazzie
Aaron Yazzie, a former intern at JPL, inspires a new generation of Diné scientists and engineers, proving their voices have an essential place in the story of the cosmos.
Clare Luckey
Former intern Clare Luckey was selected as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30. Her hard work and determination has landed her at the forefront of space exploration as she helps plan how the first astronauts will land on Mars.
Vivian Li
Vivian Li is remotely operating NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover from millions of miles away.
Developing Key Skills
Geoscience internships help you develop key skills.
Technical Skills
Internships offer opportunities to develop technical skills relevant to the field of geoscience.
Soft Skills
In addition to technical skills, internships also foster the development of essential soft skills.
Financial Support and Scholarships
Financial constraints should not be a barrier to pursuing a geoscience internship. Many programs offer stipends, scholarships, and other forms of financial support to help students cover expenses.
Intern Housing
Interns are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. This includes locating their own housing options and paying for their housing. Your center location and housing options will determine if you need a car. At most centers, unless you find housing within walking distance, you will most likely need a car.
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