U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

General Information Product 114

(Supersedes General Information Product 80)

Internships, Employment Opportunities, and Research Grants

As an unbiased, multidisciplinary science organization that focuses on biology, geography, geology, geospatial

information, and water, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is dedicated to the timely, relevant, and impartial study

of Earth’s dynamic processes that affect the landscape, our natural resources, and natural hazards that threaten us. 

Opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty to participate in USGS science are available 

through the selected programs described below. Please note: U.S. citizenship is required for all positions.

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Undergraduate and Graduate Opportunities

NAGT-USGS Cooperative Summer Field Training Program

The USGS partners with the National Association of 

Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) to provide summer internship 

opportunities for college students who have completed a 

field-based course. Established in 1965, this program is one 

of the longest, continuously running science internships 

in the country. Field camp directors nominate their top 

students. This nominated group is then invited to apply for 

summer positions with the USGS doing field, laboratory, or 

scientific office work. Over 2,000 students have participated 

in this program, with many participants proceeding on to 

have distinguished careers with the USGS, with academia, 

or with industry. Additional information is available at 

http://education.usgs.gov/docs/NAGT2010.pdf. 

National Institutes for Water Resources-USGS Student 

Internship Program

The State Water Resources Research Institutes, organized as the National Institutes for Water Resources, collaborate with the USGS in operating a student internship 

program. Located in each State, the District of Colombia, 

the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam, these 54 

institutes provide undergraduate and graduate students 

with career-enhancing field, laboratory, and research 

experience through participation in USGS activities as 

interns. Interns are employees of participating universities and colleges. Funding is derived from USGS projects or programs that support student interns as part 

of the mix of efforts required to carry out program or 

project activities. Additional information is available at 

http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/internship.html.

National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program/EDMAP 

Program

Established to recognize the importance of geologic 

mapping for our Nation’s well-being, a primary objective 

of the educational component of the National Cooperative 

Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP/EDMAP) is to train 

the next generation of geologic mappers. Faculty advisors, 

together with graduate students or upper level undergraduate 

students, submit a proposal that requests support for mapping 

projects. Each student is expected to produce a new geologic 

map at a scale of 1:24,000 or larger that covers a 7.5-minute 

quadrangle or part of a quadrangle. Projects are funded on 

a year-by-year basis and are matched 1:1 by the universities. Each year since 1996, the NCGMP has funded EDMAP 

projects at dozens of colleges and universities in 20 to 30 

States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In 2010, 

EDMAP trained 59 students working in 32 funded projects at 

29 universities in 20 States. Additional information is available at http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ncgmpabout/edmap.

USGS Student Interns in Support of Native American 

Relations Program (SISNAR) 

The goal of this program is to encourage students 

to pursue careers in geological, biological, hydrological, 

geographical, geospatial information management, or 

related sciences that may be helpful in natural resources 

management for Native American Tribes. Applicants are not 

required to be Native American; the USGS considers any 

research proposal that potentially benefits American Indian 

or Alaska Native governments. Students who are interested 

in participating in this internship opportunity should review 

the USGS projects described in the series of annual reports 

on the Web at http://www.usgs.gov/indian/reports/index.html. 

The most recently published reports will provide examples 
of potential opportunities. To be considered, students should 

contact the person listed in the report for the project of 

interest and ask whether that USGS employee would be 

willing to have a student intern. If the USGS employee is 

interested, the USGS sponsor should submit a proposal 

during the SISNAR solicitation period, usually in November and December. As many as six to eight interns are 

funded each year. Additional information is available at 

http://www.usgs.gov/indian/activities/.

USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 

Program

This prestigious and competitive program provides an 

opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to conduct concentrated 

research with members of the USGS professional staff, 

linking current science expertise to the science strategy of 

the USGS and its programs. Often, the research is a culminating element to the fellow’s formal career preparation. 

Each year, dozens of research opportunities spanning the 

wide range of USGS science are advertised during July 

and August. The application closing date is November to 

January. Positions are filled depending on the availability of 

funds. Candidates must have successfully completed a Ph.D. 

in an area described in the research opportunity by the time 

employment starts. Mendenhall Fellows are appointed to the 

USGS for 2 years. Appointments typically begin between 

October and March. Additional information is available at 

http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc.

USGS Water Science Center Programs

Many USGS Water Science Centers provide support 

for students. For example, the Oklahoma Water Science 

Center supports Native American student internships through 

some Oklahoma universities, with the goal of placing these 

students in permanent positions after graduation from the 

university. Additional information on Water Science Centers 

is available at http://water.usgs.gov/district_chief.html. 

Opportunities at Specific Institutions (Representative)

•	 University of Puerto Rico.—The USGS has a memorandum 

of understanding with the University of Puerto Rico to provide an average of 10 students each year with advanced work 

and training in different areas, such as biology, chemistry, 

hydrology, geography, geology, and related fields, during the 

summer. Students’ résumés are solicited, and interviews are 

conducted at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Mayaguez 

campus job fair event in October. The students are then 

matched with scientists’ projects. The résumés are forwarded 

to the project scientists, who make final selections. For more 

information, contact Yolanda Fong-Sam [telephone (703) 

648–7756].

•	 City College of New York (CCNY), Harlem, NY.—The 

USGS/CCNY Internship Program seeks to recruit highachieving students of diverse backgrounds in order to create 

a pool of highly qualified graduates for the USGS permanent 

workforce. Students applying for the program are matched 

with USGS scientists and placed in summer internships.

In recent years, students were placed in USGS offices 

and invited back to their project sites for another summer. 

For more information, contact Rafael “Willie” Rodriguez 

[telephone (518) 285–5659], or Bill Schwab [telephone (508) 

457–2211]. 

•	 California State University Sacramento (Sacramento and 

San Diego) (CSUS and SDSU)—The USGS/CSUS and 

USGS/SDSU Internship Programs seek to recruit highachieving students of diverse backgrounds (underrepresented 

minorities) in various scientific fields to create a pool of 

highly qualified graduates for the USGS permanent workforce. Students are matched with USGS scientists and placed 

in summer internships. For more information, contact Charlie 

Alpers [telephone (916) 278–3134].

•	 Other Partnerships.—The USGS is committed to developing 

the science skills of underrepresented groups by providing 

opportunities to pursue careers in hydrologic technology. 

Through partnerships with a number of community colleges 

and technical schools, the USGS provides input on curricula 

and training to school advisory boards. Such essential skills 

provide needed opportunities for both the USGS and State 

and local management agencies. Programs currently exist 

with the following:

•	 GateWay Community College, Phoenix, AZ; contact Jim 

Kircher [telephone (303) 236–4882, ×258] or Deborah 

Lowe [telephone (303) 236–9562];

•	 Vermilion Community College, Ely, MN; contact Jeff 

Stoner [telephone (651) 379–2744] or Vanessa Chambless 

[telephone (303) 236–9584]; and

•	 Western Dakota Technical Institute, Rapid City, SD; 

contact Joyce Williamson [telephone (605) 394–3219] or 

Jennifer Farrell [telephone (303) 236–9566].

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Federal Career Intern Program

The USGS Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP) 

is designed to enable managers to recruit and attract 

exceptional individuals to a variety of occupations. The 

program was created under Executive Order 13162. In 

general, individuals hired into the program will receive 

excepted-service appointments not to exceed 2 years, unless 

extended by the USGS with the concurrence of the U.S. 

Office of Personnel Management, for up to 1 additional 

year. Interns will be hired at grades GS-5 through GS-9. 

The intern program must include a 2-year training component designed and approved by the USGS. Individuals 

who successfully complete the program are eligible for 

conversion to career or career-conditional appointments 

with the USGS. Additional information is available at 

http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/fcip/index.html.

Youth Hiring and Summer Internships

Following the Secretary’s Order establishing the Office 

of Youth in Natural Resources in 2009, the USGS’s appropriations now include additional funding to support an 

increase in youth hiring, particularly student internships. The 

USGS is focused on meeting the Department of the Interior’s 

goal of providing meaningful internship opportunities for 

youth. A number of authorities, particularly the Student 

Temporary Employment Program (STEP), the Student 

Career Employment Program (SCEP), and the Federal 

Career Intern Program (FCIP), allow the USGS to directly 

hire students for both temporary positions and potentially 

long-term conversion to permanent workforce status. These 

hiring authorities, described below, enable the USGS to 

encourage students who have a genuine interest in science as 

a career by providing hands-on work experience, mentoring, 

and engagement in our workplaces.

Student Employment

The USGS offers diverse employment opportunities for 

students in biology, hydrology, computer science, cartography, geology, administration, and many other fields. The 

Student Educational Employment Program has two major 

components: the Student Temporary Employment Program 

(STEP) and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). 

These programs are available to students at all levels who are 

enrolled at least half-time in an accredited educational program, are at least 16 years old, have a 2.0 or better cumulative grade point average, and are U.S. citizens.

•	 STEP.—Employment opportunities under this component do 

not have to relate to a student’s particular field of study. Paid 

positions range from summer opportunities to jobs that can 

last as long as one is a student (in 1-year increments or less).

•	 SCEP.—This appointment offers paid work experience 

directly related to a student’s academic field of study. It 

provides formal periods of work and study while attending 

school. The program is designed to be a partnership among 

the student, his/her school, and the USGS. The SCEP 

appointment may lead to permanent employment after the 

student successfully completes his/her educational program 

and meets work requirements.

Additional information on both STEP 

and SCEP employment is available at 

http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/student/apply/index.html.

USAJOBS

USAJOBS is the one-stop, online location for finding 

jobs at Federal agencies. You can create an account, store 

and update your résumé, and search and apply for jobs 

in one convenient center. To see current openings at the 

USGS, go to the “Search Jobs” tab and type “USGS” in 

the Keyword Search. Additional information is available at 

http://www.usajobs.gov.

Research Opportunities 

State Water Resources Research Institute Program

Currently, 54 Water Resources Research Institutes serve 

all States, the District of Columbia, and three territories of 

the United States. Located at designated universities and 

colleges, the institutes support over 200 research and information transfer projects with appropriated and matching 

funds. State advisory panels operate in cooperation with 

the USGS to set research priorities and select proposed 

projects. Virtually all projects provide for undergraduate and 

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graduate student training and support. Over 500 students 

have received training and support under this program 

in recent years. Additional information is available at 

http://water.usgs.gov/wrri.

Water Resources Research Act National Competitive 

Grant Program

This matching grant program, conducted in collaboration with the State Water Resources Research Institutes, is 

open to investigators at any institution of higher education 

in the United States. Proposals may be submitted for projects of 1 to 3 years in duration and may include requests up 

to $250,000 in Federal funds. Research priorities are in the 

general area of water supply and availability, including the 

physical dimensions of supply and demand, quality trends in 

raw water supplies, the role of economics and institutions 

in water supply and demand, institutional arrangements for 

tracking and reporting water supply and availability, and 

institutional arrangements for coping with extreme hydrologic conditions. Additional information about the program 

is available at https://niwr.net.

Earthquake Hazards Program External Research Support

Grants by the USGS support research for the National 

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program’s goal of mitigating 

the Nation’s earthquake losses by providing earth science 

data and assessments essential for land-use planning, engineering design, and emergency preparedness decisions. The 

program issues an annual announcement of funding opportunity for competitive proposals for grants and cooperative 

agreements to support research in earthquake hazards, the 

physics of earthquakes, earthquake occurrence, and earthquake safety policy. The application period is generally open 

from early March through mid-May each year. Applications 

are submitted through Grants.gov. Additional information is 

available at http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/nehrp/index.html.

Mineral Resources External Research Program

This research opportunity invites proposals from 

universities, State agencies, industry, or other private 

sector organizations to conduct research that will help 

ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for the Nation’s 

future, understand the relation between minerals and 

public health, provide information to make informed 

land-use decisions, and deliver mineral informion critical to national security. Additional information on this 

and previous years’ funded initiatives is available at 

http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/Minerals/index.html. To 

receive announcements about future grant opportunities, 

please send a request to mrerp@usgs.gov.

AmericaView Program

AmericaView is a nationwide program that focuses 

on the science of remote sensing in support of applied 

research, K-to-16 education, workforce development, and 

technology transfer. AmericaView is comprised of university-led, State-based consortia working together to build a 

nationwide network of State and local users. AmericaView 

supports its goals by further expanding communications 

networks, facilities, and capabilities for acquiring and sharing remotely sensed data among AmericaView members. 

AmericaView projects are funded on a number of university campuses and offer the possibility of research and 

(or) employment to students. Additional information on 

AmericaView is available at http://www.americaview.org/. 

To view AmericaView members by State, go to 

http://www.americaview.org/currentmembers.htm.

Cooperative Research Units Program

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique 

collaborative relationship among the USGS, States, universities, and the Wildlife Management Institute (a nonprofit 

organization). The mission of this program is to provide 

scientific research for understanding and management of fish 

and wildlife and other natural resources. Operationally, the 

program provides technical assistance to natural resource 

managers in the application of scientific information to 

natural resource policy and management. The program 

also focuses on the development of future natural resource 

professionals through graduate education and training at 

host-affiliated universities. The program presently consists 

of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units located 

on university campuses in 38 States. The USGS provides 

two to five Federal research scientists for each cooperative unit. Cooperating universities provide office space, 

administrative support, and access to university facilities. 

Additional information about the program is available at 

http://www.coopunits.org.

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

General Information Product 114

(Supersedes General Information Product 80)