Internships

Marine and Environmental Sciences

As students progress in the Marine and Environmental Sciences major, they discover an exceptional interest in a particular field of science and desire to extend their learning through an internship or independent research. MES interns spend six weeks during their 1/c (senior) summer working with practicing professionals applying the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired during their course of study.

Impact today – several opportunities exist to work directly with operational Coast Guard units.

Future impact – what you study today will inform how the Coast Guard and maritime entities operate in the future!

Internship Opportunities

Description: International program centers on scientific exploration of the seafloor launched from aboard Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus, a 64-meter research vessel. In addition to conducting scientific research, the Nautilus Exploration Program offers its expeditions to explorers on shore via live video, audio, and data feeds from the ship. It trains students studying ocean science, engineering and video/film at-sea working aboard E/V Nautilus as Data Loggers, ROV Pilots, or Video Engineers. The intern will gain underway experience standing two 4-hour watches per day. The intern will work with a Nautilus Science liaison and Navigator aboard Nautilus prior to departure for internship.

Location: Variable

Description: The intern will have the opportunity to gain in-depth exposure to selected mission of the National Strike Force. After selecting an area of concentration, such as oil spill, hazardous materials, or radiological/weapons of mass destruction response, the intern will focus on the equipment, protocols, and skills necessary to achieve mission success in that area. The intern will be given the opportunity to lead team briefs, conduct research to support response scenarios, and participate in physically demanding exercises.

Location: Fort Dix, New Jersey

Description: The intern will work with program coordinators at NGA on a variety of projects. NGA is “a unique combination of intelligence agency and combat-support agency, delivering world-class geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) that provides a decisive advantage to policy-makers, war fighters, intelligence professionals and first responders (www.nga.mil).”

Location: Springfield, VA, or St. Louis, MO, depending on pre-arranged project focus

Description: Intern will work with physical oceanographers from the IIP on a variety of projects. Cadet may have an opportunity to go on a recon detachment (RECDET) to St. Johns, Newfoundland. A potential directed study with IIP can follow in the Fall Semester.

Location: Groton, CT

Description: Intern will participate in a leadership program that focuses on climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction with an emphasis on Coast Guard missions. In addition, intern will help run the Marine Science Camp for middle and high school students in Gugeegue, Marshall Islands. The aim is to introduce cadets, along with other students from University of Hawaii and cadets from other service academies to the impacts of climate change in the Pacific Islands.

Location: Honolulu, HI & Ebeye, Marshall Island

Description: Intern will gain experience in a marine research environment to include shipboard and submersible operations. Interns will be working with students and faculty with areas of study in: aquaculture, biomedical marine research, marine biology, marine mammal research, marine natural product chemistry, marine microbiology, ocean engineering, ocean technology, and oceanography. One additional week possible during spring break for required orientation.

Location: Harbor Branch, FL

Description: The U.S. Naval Academy Polar Science and Technology Program (USNA PS&TP) will lead a collaborative team of scientists and students from the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory to conduct field studies on the North Slope of Alaska. Base camp for these studies will be hosted out of the National Science Foundation’s Toolik Lake Field Station. Focus of study is to identify material sources and quantify fluxes of freshwater, heat, and materials in select representative, small river systems on the U.S. NorthSlope of Alaska. To accomplish, an integrated approach involving low-cost, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), custom-built, unmanned fixed monitoring stations, in situ data collection, and discrete sample collection for biogeochemical analysis.

Location: Toolik Lake Field Station on the Alaskan North Slope and Fairbanks, AK at Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Description: Cadets will learn about corrosion prevention and control efforts in both the USCG and DoD. Topics covered include atmospheric (breakwater, inland, and jungle) and submerged (Pacific ocean) corrosion testing, accelerated laboratory corrosion testing, design and execution of test protocols, hands-on corrosion prevention and remediation work in the Surface Force Logistics Center yard, and observation of pier-side maintenance of a Navy DDG. Ideally, this internship will provide the foundation for a subsequent CAPSTONE/Directed Studies/Research project.

Location: Washington, DC/Baltimore/Norfolk/Panama

Recent Internships

Other affiliated organizations that provide internship opportunities include: