Student and recent graduate opportunities

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research is dedicated to the timely, relevant, and impartial study of the health of our ecosystems and environment, our natural resources, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the natural hazards that threaten lives and property. USGS science includes, but is not limited to, the following fields:

Water Resources Please note: U.S. citizenship is required for Federal government positions. Student Employment Opportunities at USGS

Are you a current student, recent graduate, or accepted for enrollment in an educational program?

The USGS hires several hundred students and recent graduates annually to fill temporary and entry-level positions to assist with science research and science support through internship programs and other opportunities. USGS student positions are publicly advertised year-round on USAJOBS. The student positions can be viewed at https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads by clicking the button for “Search Internship Jobs” or “Search Graduate Jobs.” Refine your search results under “Department and Agency” by selecting “Geological Survey” (listed under Agency). All full-time positions are advertised on USAJOBS. For more information about USGS internships and application tips, visit https://www.usgs.gov/studentopportunities.

Internships and Fellowships

USGS Cooperative Summer Fellowship Program

Are you a geoscience student headed to summer field camp, a student being trained in biological or ecological field methods, or a candidate for geographic information systems (GIS) Certification?

Top students nominated by their geoscience field camp director, ecology or biology field course professor, or the GIS Certification Institute will have the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with the USGS. The USGS partners with the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the Ecological Society of America, and the GIS Certification Institute to provide summer internships for nominated students. Established in 1965 through a partnership with the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, this program is one of the longest continuously running Earth Science internships in the country. Nominations are solicited in the fall, and students are invited to apply for summer positions with the USGS doing scientific work in a field, laboratory, or office setting. More than 2,600 students have participated in this program, with many participants continuing on to distinguished careers with the USGS, academia, or industry. For more information visit https://www.usgs.gov/undergradintern.

USGS Internship Opportunities for National Science Foundation (NSF)- Supported Graduate Students

Are you a Ph.D. student funded by an NSF grant?

The NSF has created a grant program that supports student internships at the USGS and other Federal agencies. The Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students program provides supplemental funding to an existing NSF grant to support students for up to 6 months. The goal is to give student researchers the opportunity to work at a Federal science agency. Internships can be arranged for up to 6 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to an additional 6 months. Current USGS/NSF internship opportunities and application requirements are posted at https://www.usgs.gov/gro.at.usgs.

USGS Postdoctoral Research Programs

Do you want to take on the challenge of scientific research at a Federal agency?

The Mendenhall Research Fellowship is a highly selective program that brings together excellent postdoctoral researchers and USGS scientists to answer exciting and challenging research questions. Mendenhall Fellows work in USGS offices across the United States on research topics that span the wide range of USGS science. Research opportunities are advertised on the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program website throughout the year; most of the opportunities are posted in October with a January application deadline. 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 no earlier than 5 years from the application opening date and by the time employment starts. Mendenhall Fellows are hired into the USGS for a 2-year appointment.

In 2018, USGS launched a new interagency postdoctoral program in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Based at the NASA–USGS joint facility in Moffett Field, California, this 2-year program is jointly supported by the USGS’s National Innovation Center and NASA’s Ames Research Center. Fellows explore innovative, cutting-edge science with an orbit-to-core approach. For more information visit https://www.usgs.gov/postdoc.

USGS Partnerships with Universities

Have you asked your faculty advisor about USGS research opportunities on your campus?

The USGS maintains close ties to universities throughout the country with several types of collaborative research efforts. In many cases, USGS offices are on or near campus and USGS scientists work closely with faculty. In some cases, USGS scientists are faculty members. Student opportunities include internships, research collaborations, specialized course work, and jobs. Many of these collaborations are forged between faculty and USGS researchers simply by mutual interest. Students are encouraged to ask faculty about opportunities to become involved in these efforts. Additionally, three nationally integrated collaborative programs address fisheries and wildlife (Cooperative Research Units [CRUs]), climate science (Climate Adaptation Science Centers), and water science (National Institutes for Water Resources).

Cooperative Research Units

The CRUs are collaborations among the USGS, universities, State agencies, and the Wildlife Management Institute. The research of the CRUs is focused on fisheries and wildlife sciences and provides graduate students an opportunity to participate in scientific training and applied work experience. There are 40 CRUs in 38 States. For more information visit https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/.

Climate Adaptation Science Centers

The USGS National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawai’i, Affiliated Pacific Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Each Climate Adaptation Science Center is based out of a host university in their respective region. The Climate Adaptation Science Centers work in collaboration with additional university partners, Tribal colleges, and State and Federal research labs to provide the science that helps communities and resource managers understand adaptation to climate change. Opportunities for students include internships, fellowships, workshops, training, and volunteer work on everything from supporting research projects to program operations. For more information visit https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers/.

National Institutes for Water Resources

Operating in all 50 States, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia, the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) facilitates partnerships among the USGS, local stakeholders, and universities that focus on addressing State and regional water problems. The NIWR facilitates and conducts research to examine the science and regulatory issues surrounding water. The NIWR has a national internship program and other opportunities for student engagement. For more information visit https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php.

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