Internship OPPORTUNITIES
Internships that will advance your career beyond the coast!
Whether you are a current undergraduate or graduate student looking for research support, or a soon to be graduate looking for exciting opportunities that will set the course for your career; Virginia Sea Grant offers a range of internships aimed at helping you achieve your goals while giving you the professional skills to be a leader in your field.
No opportunities are currently available. Please check back soon!
Virginia Sea Grant Internships for Undergraduate Students
Up to two (2) summer positions will be filled for this opportunity (see eligibility requirements for more information)
This is a paid internship - each intern will receive a $7,000 stipend for participating in the program
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025
Virginia Sea Grant is offering the following paid opportunities for Undergraduate Students interested in working on projects with our Virginia Sea Grant affiliated Graduate Students. Students must be willing and able to work at the specified location and understand that this opportunity does not provide housing or additional funding to support housing.
Up to two fellowships, each with a $7,000 stipend will be offered to enable selected students to conduct research under the guidance of a Graduate Fellow mentor.
Deadline & How to Apply:Â Interested students should submit a resume (2 page maximum, 12 pt font), cover letter (1 page maximum) for each project applied for and completed online form on the Virginia Sea Grant applications website at https://applications.vaseagrant.org/vasg-undergraduate-internships/Â by March 7th 2025.
Funding: Interns will be paid a stipend of $7,000. Students will work full-time (40 hours/week) for nine weeks during the summer (May-August depending on the selected project).
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- Enrolled undergraduate students at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university located in Virginia.
- Have completed at least one year of study towards a bachelor’s or associate degree.
Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated by a panel of Sea Grant staff members and project mentors on the basis of the student candidate’s application materials and other programmatic factors.
Expectations: Interns funded by Virginia Sea Grant are expected to collect information regarding their experiences and research to share at a VASG conference in the fall, or at an alternative VASG event. Each student will be responsible for a different deliverable as outlines in the project description. Students will take part in professional development activities offered by VASG throughout the course of the internship. The interns will also work with the Virginia Sea Grant communications team to share stories about their work.
Inclusivity statement: People of color, indigenous people, US Veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals with disabilities, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and/or individuals from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply for these opportunities.
These positions are contingent on available funding. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to fill all project positions. The number of positions filled will depend on the number and quality of eligible applications, the amount of funding available, and other programmatic needs.
Questions about these opportunities can be directed to Lisa Eddy, VASG’s Competitive Research and Education Coordinator, at lmeddy@vaseagrant.org
Timeline:
January 16: Call for applications
March 7: Application Deadline
April: Applicant Interviews
April: Internship selections announced
May: Internship Begins
Late August: Internship Ends
Available Internship Projects
Project #1
Shellfish Aquaculture Technology Research Intern
Location: William & Mary’s Batten School, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia
Duration: 10 weeks – 40/hrs per week
Graduate Student Mentor: Matthew LaGanke
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bill Walton
Description: This internship offers a unique opportunity to blend technological and engineering skills with marine science, specifically in the field of shellfish aquaculture. Key responsibilities include working closely with the graduate student mentor to design and build a prototype RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader for automating inventory data collection on shellfish farms. Additionally, the intern will gain hands-on experience working on other shellfish aquaculture research projects, processing oysters in the lab and in the field. The ideal candidate will have a background in computer science, engineering, or a related field, along with a general interest in marine science and/or sustainable food production systems. Professional development opportunities include engagement with the Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Lab & Team (CSALT) and VIMS through professional and social activities, a first-hand look at the challenges and opportunities in domestic shellfish aquaculture, and an opportunity to present their work at the 2025 Virginia Aquaculture Conference in Newport News, VA. Candidates should be comfortable with being on a boat, enjoy problem-solving, and excel in collaborative environments.
Deliverable: The intern’s work will contribute directly to advancing the shellfish aquaculture industry. Currently, data collection on farms relies on labor-intensive methods that are imperfect. While off-the-shelf RFID products exist, they often face issues with waterproofing, durability, and proprietary restrictions. Developing an RFID scanner compatible with affordable waterproof RFID tags will support ongoing efforts to automate large-scale data collection, enabling farmers to make more data-driven decisions to enhance operational efficiency in a sector with slim profit margins.
Project #2
Salt Marsh Carbon Monitoring Internship
Location: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Duration: 10 weeks – 40/hrs per week
Graduate Student Mentor: Zlatka Rebolledo Sanchez
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Erik Yando
Description: This internship offers a unique opportunity for the selected student to work closely with a VASG Graduate Fellow, tracking carbon through salt marshes. The student will gain hands-on experience by completing sediment, stem, and root analysis, as well as carbon fluxes across different salt marshes in coastal southeastern Virginia. The selected student needs to be comfortable with full days of outdoor fieldwork, including some extended walking to locations. The student will also have the chance to work alongside the graduate student in the lab processing the collected materials. The student will also have the opportunity for additional research, professional development, and field-based experiences through a hands-on research experience in plant biology based at ODU and will be able to interact with other students and faculty in the program in professional and social activities. This position will be about 50% field work and 50% lab work.
Deliverable: The student’s work will have a tangible impact. They will have the opportunity to create a poster or prepare a presentation for a conference. If interested, the student can also engage in outreach activities to communicate and connect with diverse audiences. The student will also be able to present their findings at a VASG event in the fall, thereby contributing to the ongoing research and enhancing our understanding of salt marsh carbon monitoring.
Related Documents
Internship Announcement(PDF)
The Application Process
If you plan to apply, Virginia Sea Grant (VASG) strongly recommends registering for eSeaGrant at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline. Please review the 2022 Community Engaged Intern from a Virginia Tribe or Underrepresented Community announcement and refer to these instructions as a guide to submit your applications using eSeaGrant. VASG requires that applications be submitted by mail or through eSeaGrant by May 31, 2022 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
Your application package should include:
Full Name
Major/Degree program
College or university
Anticipated year of graduation
Tribal or under-represented community affiliation
Resume (1 page max.)
A one-page resume or list of past work, volunteer and community experience (position title, organization, employment start and end date, short description of responsibilities and accomplishments).Â
Personal Statement (limit of 1,000 words)
Virginia Sea Grant is a multidisciplinary organization and values individuals from a wide range of academic disciplines and career paths. Please describe:
- How this internship contributes to your broader career ambitions;
- Your motivations for participating; and
- Two professional skills you want to gain or refine as part of this program.
Engagement and Experience Statement (limit of 1,000 words)
Based on your experience or knowledge of past projects/partnerships you have seen, learned about, or contributed to directly:
- What opportunities do you see for gathering input from historically marginalized communities concerning natural and cultural resource challenges or climate change impacts to inform community leadership and their local, state or federal partners?
Other Experience
Please include a list of up to four college or university courses, professional development trainings, and/or volunteer or professional experiences that you feel align with this opportunity.
