Ever wonder what it is like to work as a USGS intern? Dive into these intern stories of how students are making science their superpower while studying earthquakes!
GHSC Student Internships
The USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center (GHSC) has a vibrant student internship program that employs undergraduate and graduate students from all over the country for in-person internships in Golden, CO, and Albuquerque, NM.
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GHSC primarily hires student interns through two mechanisms:
1.) The Pathways Internship Program
2.) The Cooperative Summer Fellowship Program
Other mechanisms are also possible both within the USGS (such as seasonal field assistant hires) and with internship programs from partner groups (such as EarthScope, NSF, other government agencies, and academic partners).
Project opportunities with GHSC scientists cover a range of hazard science and engineering topics that are compatible with a variety of majors in the physical sciences, engineering, computer science, and social science fields.
View the previous internship projects and instructions: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
GHSC Internship Application Info
2025 Applications are now closed.
We are seeking temporary field assistants to work in our earthquake, landslide, and geomagnetic monitoring groups located in Golden, Lakewood, or Albuquerque. Duties may include field work, instrumentation, data collection, sample analysis, and related hands-on activities. Some project needs include:
- Seismic station field maintenance and data quality analysis
- Seismic reflection imaging instrumentation and field work
- Landslide instrumentation and field work with seismic and remote sensing methods
- Geomagnetic instrumentation and observatory operations
- Seismic data acquisition, data flow, and data center operations
The expectation is for full-time work during summer 2025, with the potential for continuation within the constraints of the temporary appointment type for this hire.
We recommend that you go to USAJOBS.gov in advance to set up your account, create your online resume, and upload the required documents to your account. Then, when the application opens, you'll have everything ready to go. Required documents that must be uploaded to USAJOBS.gov by the application deadline include:
- Resume showing relevant education and experience. We recommend using the resume builder rather than uploading your own document. In your resume or in an optional cover letter, we also suggest highlighting the specific areas of interest you have in working at the USGS, including if you have any specific mentors in mind.
Optional documents include:
- Transcripts (needed if you are using education to quality) showing proof of enrollment.
- Cover letter
The Internship Experience
Annual Intern Research Symposium
Towards the end of summer, interns have the opportunity present poster or oral presentations to the GHSC community. The symposium gives interns the chance to practice and refine their presentation skills while also sharing their contributions to USGS science with their colleagues.
The symposium is organized jointly by interns and full-time GHSC employees. Thank you to our previous organizers:
2023: Marísa Macías (Colorado School of Mines), Luis B. Martinetti (Michigan State University), Gina Belair (GHSC)
2024: Elijah Knodel (Colorado School of Mines), Luis B. Martinetti (Michigan State University), Marísa Macías (GHSC)
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New Hire Summer Seminar Series
Every summer, an intern organizes a seminar series for new hires that highlights a different employee and their science each week. This seminar series serves to inform new hires of the variety of work at GHSC and emphasize the diversity in career paths.
Thank you to our previous organizers:
2022: Marísa Macías (Colorado School of Mines)
2023: Marísa Macías (Colorado School of Mines)
2024: Elijah Knodel (Colorado School of Mines)
Peer Mentorship
Interns can sign up for the GHSC peer mentorship program. The program matches them with a GHSC colleague that they do not directly work with, providing an opportunity for interns to meet more colleagues and have someone else to ask for advice and guidance.
Learn more about the programs within the Geologic Hazards Science Center:
Related
Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition!
Ever wonder what it is like to work as a USGS intern? Dive into these intern stories of how students are making science their superpower while studying earthquakes!
Related
Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition!
Ever wonder what it is like to work as a USGS intern? Dive into these intern stories of how students are making science their superpower while studying earthquakes!
Ever wonder what it is like to work as a USGS intern? Dive into these intern stories of how students are making science their superpower while studying earthquakes!