Short-term or Temporary Opportunities for Students or Recent Graduates

The Office of Water provides valuable career experience to about 60 interns and fellows per year. Programs last for the summer or year long. Participants are assigned projects that make a substantial contribution to the work of the Office of Water. Intern and fellows are obtained though a number of EPA partnerships with outside organizations. Each summer the Office of Water offers an enrichment program for summer and year-long participants including an orientation, brown bags, field trips and a closing session.

• Internships
• Fellowships

Student Internships

Environmental Careers Organization (ECO)

The Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) is a private, non-profit organization which offers a wide variety of paid, short-term environmental training experiences for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral college students. Projects can last a maximum of nine months but most students participate in the program only for the summer. For more information, including a list of deadlines and application forms, visit the ECO website (http://www.eco.org ).

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is a private, non-profit organization that matches student skills and goals with internship opportunities in the Office of Water. Both undergraduate and graduate students may participate but you must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Travel and a weekly salary are offered, and students are encouraged to explore eligibility for academic credit with their academic organization. For more information, including a list of deadline and application forms, visit the HACU website (http://www.hnip.net).

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO)

The NAFEO internship arranges for placement of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Nation’s 120 historically and predominantly black colleges and universities in various government and industry positions. Besides placing students, NAFEO provides an allowance for housing and round-trip travel to Washington, DC. NAFEO also provides an orientation session and seminars on a wide range of topics. For more information, including a list of deadlines and application forms, visit the NAFEO website (http://www.nafeo.org/intern.htm).

Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC)

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) is a private, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. Through TWC, the Office of Water provides financial assistance for summer participation in TWC’s program. For more information, including a list of deadlines and application forms, visit the TWC website (http://www.twc.edu).

Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS)

The Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) sponsored by American University offers students of sovereign American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) nations the opportunity to build leadership skills while living, studying, and interning in Washington, DC. This enriching program offers qualified students full scholarships funded by American University and the Office of Water. Participating students will gain professional paid work experience through an internship in the Office of Water, take for-credit courses focusing on Native American public policy concerns at American University, and enjoy engaging social and cultural extra-curricular activities. For more information, including a list of deadlines and application forms, visit the WINS website (http://www.american.edu/wins).

Internships for Recent Graduates

Oakridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)

In partnership with the Department of Energy’s Oakridge National Laboratory, the Office of Water sponsors year long internships in various Water programs at the undergraduate, graduate and post doctoral levels. Applications are often accepted on a year-round basis and the stipend varies based on experience. Internships are renewable. Available internships are posted on ORISE’s website (http://see.orau.org).

National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS)

The Office of Water, along with other EPA offices, participates in the NNEMS program for undergraduate and graduate students. Students work full-time in the summer or part-time during the school year on projects in the following areas: Environmental Policy, Regulation and the Law, Environmental Management and Administration, Environmental Science, Public Relations and Communications, and Computer Programming and Development. The NNMES program is managed by EPA’s Office of Research and Development. The application deadline for the NNMES Program is in the winter of each year for the next summer. More information is available on the NNMES Website (http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/NNEMS/index.html).

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellowships

The Office of Water participates in the AAAS Science and Engineering Fellows Program in cooperation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The AAAS program provides the opportunity for accomplished scientists, economists, statisticians and engineers to participate in and contribute to the public policymaking process in the Office of Water. The fellowships are highly competitive and use a peer-review selection process. Review is followed by individual interviews in Washington, DC. Following selection, Fellows come to Washington, DC, in September of each year and participate in a comprehensive eight-day orientation program before beginning their fellowships in the Office of Water. Applicants must have a PhD or an equivalent doctoral-level degree at the time of application. For more information, including a list of deadlines and application forms, visit the AAAS website (http://www.fellowships.aaas.org).

Programs with Select Universities

The Office of Water has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with two universities to offer summer opportunities to students that can lead to permanent employment. If you are a student from one of these universities, talk with the contact listed below:

Florida International University

OW’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water and Florida International University’s Environmental Sciences Department have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for student career opportunities. The MOU provides undergraduate and graduate students majoring in areas such as biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, hydrology, public health, and related science disciplines with practical experience in their academic majors of study, as well as, exposing them to career opportunities in the public sector. For more information, contact Tracey Ward (ward.tracey@epa.gov), the OGWDW/Human Resource Coordinator.

Hampton University

OW’s Office of Wetland, Oceans, and Watersheds and Hampton University’s Marine and Environmental Sciences Department have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enable both undergraduate and graduate students to gain practical career experience in the Federal Government. For more information, contact Regina Thompson (thompson.regina@epa.gov), OWOW/Human Resources, or Dr. George Burbanck, Hampton University, at (757) 727-5783.