Internship and job resources
Writing CVs and Cover Letters
Be sure to check out WWU's Career Services website. It has information on jobs and internships, career fairs, graduate school, and resume and cover letter advice.
Resumé help - WWU Career Services
Cover letter help - WWU Career Services
Difference between a resumé and a curriculum vitae (CV)
Local internship opportunities
List of places where WWU students have participated in marine-related internships in the past:
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
RE Sources (North Sound Stewards)
NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam)
SeaLife Response, Rehab, Research (SR3)
San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
The National Science Foundation supports a number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. REU sites are scattered at universities and research institutions around the country (in fact, SPMC hosts an REU program). At each of these sites, a group of ten or so undergraduates from across the country are selected each year to work on specific research projects, working closely with faculty mentors and other researchers. Students are given stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Some REU programs can be found and applied for on the NSF ETAP portal, which makes applying for multiple programs easy. Unfortunately, REU programs are not required to use this portal, so some programs will not be listed there. See the full list of REU programs in the ocean sciences.
Other similar programs
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Summer Student Fellowship
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology Internship Program
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Summer Internship Program
Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Sciences (CICOES) Summer REU program
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Internship Programs (yes! NASA does employ marine scientists)
Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes Summer Internship Program
Pacific Northwest Research Institute - Summer Undergraduate Research Internship
Federal agency jobs and internships
Opportunities at federal agencies (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA, etc) can be found at usajobs.gov. Use additional search terms (e.g., "marine", "environment") to narrow your search.
Students (internships)
Informational how-to video on applying for federal jobs
State agency jobs and internships
Opportunities at state agencies (e.g., WA Dept. of Ecology, WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) can typically be found at each state's jobs or human resources website. West coast states are listed below, but students are encouraged to search beyond our region.
Useful internship and job boards
The job boards listed below post opportunities from a variety of sources - government, NGOs, universities, etc.
Texas A&M Natural Resources Job Board (listings from around the world, not just Texas)
Aquatic Network (mostly fisheries and aquaculture listings)
Pathways to Science (STEM education and training opportunities for students)
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Job Board
American Fisheries Society Job Board
Conservation Job BoardLinks to an external site.
Indeed.com - Marine Science listings
SeaGrant Marine Careers - Resources Page (comprehensive lists of job and internship resources)
NOAA Student Opportunities Page