Internships

Internships provide short-term, supervised professional experience that allows you to explore potential career pathways. They offer opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to authentic workplace tasks, develop communication and teamwork skills, and strengthen your résumé for future employment or graduate study.

EBIO awards upper-division course credit for these internship categories:

  • Off-campus internships:ÌýThese positions are hosted by environmental consulting firms, government agencies, nonprofits, and related organizations. Responsibilities may include conducting ecological surveys, monitoring species, assisting with wildlife rehabilitation, collecting samples for restoration projects, or supporting public outreach efforts. Such experiences are valuable preparation for careers in applied science or public service.
  • Research internships (on or off campus):ÌýThese internships involve assisting a professor or research team with ongoing scientific work. Duties may include collecting and processing specimens, organizing and analyzing data, or preparing and testing samples. Research-focused internships provide strong preparation for careers in scientific research, graduate school, or future independent study projects.
Applying for Internship Credit (EBIO 3930)

Internship credit is awarded through EBIO 3930, which counts as upper-division EBIO elective credit. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 9 credit hours in EBIO coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.50.

Please note:

  • EBIO 3930 does not satisfy the upper-division EBIO laboratory requirement.
  • Credit cannot be granted for independent research projects (e.g., Honors, UROP).
  • Retroactive credit cannot be awarded for internships previously completed, including those with a current employer.
  • Internship credits earned at other institutions do not transfer.

Apply only after securing an internship. Credit is awarded at a rate of 1 credit per 40 hours of work, up to a maximum of 6 credits.

Your application must include:

  1. Contact information for both you and your internship supervisor.
  2. A brief description of your internship position.
  3. A summary of what you’ll do on the job.
  4. An explanation of how what you’ll do you EBIO major.

Email this information to Internship Faculty Sponsor Dr. Harrison Carpenter for preliminary review. Upon approval, a formal Application for Course Credit will be issued to you, your supervisor, and departmental administration via DocuSign for signatures.

Applications must be submitted by:

  • Fall semester: Week 10 (mid-October)
  • Spring semester: Week 10 (mid-March)
  • Summer session C: Week 6 (mid-July)
Local Internships
  • EBIO faculty research internships (contact Dr. Carpenter for available opportunities)
Nationwide Internships

:ÌýAdvertises internships in wildlife conservation, ecology, environmental stewardship, and natural-resource management.

Handshake: CU’s career-services platform which includes filters for internship-specific listings; set alerts for new postings that match your interests.

:Ìý A rotating catalog of internships and summer field-research opportunities at National Science Foundation LTER sites, covering ecosystems from wetlands and forests to coastal and marine habitats.

:ÌýNationally competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) full-time summer internships at universities, field stations, and laboratories across the country, including mentoring and professional development. (°¿³¦³Ù´Ç²ú±ð°ù–F±ð²ú°ù³Ü²¹°ù²â). Before applying, verify each REU’s status by checking the program webpage for (1) its application deadline, (2) an open application portal, and / or (3) recent award dates. ForÌýhelp in applying for REUs, contact Dr. Carpenter.

:ÌýA comprehensive database of funded internships and summer research programs. Search the list for programs in Biology, Ecology & Evolution, Genetics & Genomics, Plant Sciences or Zoology.

:ÌýFederal internships in wildlife biology, habitat restoration, conservation policy, field research, and environmental education.

:ÌýPaid internships for undergraduates nationwide through Research Learning Centers (RLCs);positions often emphasize ecological research, science communication, resource monitoring, and environmental education.Ìý