Erie County Times

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is offering three paid summer internship opportunities for undergraduate students seeking to gain experience in the areas of outreach, education and economics. Applications are now being accepted.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is a cooperative agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Penn State Behrend. The program is one of 34 programs of the National Sea Grant College Program, whose mission is to promote the sustainability of ecological and economic coastal and watershed resources through research, education, and outreach. The Pennsylvania program began in 1998 and was initially focused on the 76.6 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. Over the past 25 years, the program has expanded to include the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basins — elevating the approach and the work to a statewide level.

The purpose of the internships is to contribute to a diverse ocean and Great Lakes workforce that understands technical and social challenges facing coastal communities and the natural environment. The experience will help prepare undergraduate students for graduate school and careers in science, policy, management and outreach focused on oceans, Great Lakes and watersheds. Full details about the internship opportunity are available online at the Sea Grant website.

Opportunities include evaluating the economic impacts of the program’s activities; assisting education-program planning focused on climate literacy, educator professional development and action-oriented stewardship projects; and assisting with aquatic invasive species (AIS) outreach materials and resources, including general outreach efforts to advance AIS education.

“We are excited to offer this opportunity for undergraduate students whose career paths involve ocean, Great Lakes and watershed-related concentrations,” said Sarah Whitney, Pennsylvania Sea Grant Director. “Internship opportunities like this support undergraduate students, help individuals be better prepared for their next academic or professional step, and serve as a window into the variety of career paths within the broad field of science.”

The internships are offered in Pennsylvania as part of the Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program, which is offered by Sea Grant programs across the country. This program encourages applicants from groups historically underrepresented in the sciences, including African American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Hispanic and Latino; female; first-generation college students; veterans; LGBTQ+; and students with disabilities. In addition, the program welcomes applications from students who have worked to overcome educational or economic disadvantages or who have personal or family circumstances that may complicate their career paths.

Interviews will begin after March 6. The positions would begin early June 2023 into August. Apply electronically here — applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant also offers graduate level fellowships, early-career fellowships, research, and regionally based fellowship opportunities. Details about these opportunities are available online.

Original source can be found here.