Student and Youth Opportunities

Are you interested in botany or ecology? The AISES Indigenous Voices project will support college students and professionals interested in attending the Botanical Society of America (BSA) or Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual conferences in 2025. Funding can be full or partial and includes registration to the conference, travel, lodging, and per diem. The review committee will prioritize Indigenous applicants, and secondarily, those who work with Indigenous communities. This is a great opportunity to network, present your research, or simply learn more about working in the field! Each conference (focused on Botany, Entymology, or Ecology) has separate instructions and deadlines – see details here.

Sponsored by the USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC) and NC State University, the Global Change Research Fellows program is designed to provide financial, scientific, and professional-development support for graduate students who are incoming or currently enrolled at a Consortium university of SE CASC or a citizen of a USET member Tribal Nation in the Southeast. Participants receive one year of support through a stipend, tuition, and health insurance, while participating in in-person and virtual team-building and research experiences. The mission of the SE CASC is to provide science and tools to help fish, wildlife, water, lands, and people adapt to changing climate and land use. We invite applications from students who are interested in interdisciplinary research related to climate and global change (the various changes connected to the rapid increase in human activities which started around the mid-20th century), and especially those students who seek to do work that informs or directly addresses challenges associated with global change.

The Science to Action Fellowship program supports graduate students in developing a product that puts science into action, directly applying scientific research related to climate change impacts on fish, wildlife, or ecosystems to decision making about natural resources. This opportunity is open to graduate students at any CASC Consortium Institution who are students for the entire fellowship year (justified exceptions will be considered in special cases). Applicants may be master’s or doctoral students at any stages of their research program. Preference will be given to applicants with a clear research-management/policy link.

The Diverse Knowledge Systems for Climate Adaptation Fellowship supports graduate students for one year as they use their diverse experiences, viewpoints, value systems, and cultural knowledge to strengthen their climate adaptation efforts. The CASC culture is to advance diversity, inclusion, and empowerment for traditionally underrepresented communities. This opportunity is open to graduate students at CASC Consortium Institutions OR any Minority-Serving Institution such as HBCUs and TCUs.

The NARA Program is intended to support Native undergraduate or graduate students and to expand our collective understanding of the natural world through elevating ITEK within federal research projects. The Program will facilitate student mentoring opportunities with USFS R&D scientists and promote student advancement and training for careers in natural resource and conservation-related fields. A paid stipend of at least $6,500 will be provided to participating students. Additional funding may be available to assist with professional development experiences.

Through the short-term research assistantships, Native students will have an opportunity to learn and work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers on projects related to wildlife ecology and natural resources. A list of the four 2025 proposed projects, their project descriptions, and information on how to apply can be found on The Wildlife Society website. Only a limited number of projects will be funded and are dependent on a suitable student/mentor match.

UCAR is excited to announce the application opening of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program. This paid opportunity is open to current undergraduate students from freshmen to juniors who are working toward a degree in atmospheric science or related fields (e.g. Earth sciences, STEM, or social sciences, interested in pursuing a career in Earth or atmospheric sciences). NSF SOARS is dedicated to broadening participation in the atmospheric and related sciences. NSF SOARS is an undergraduate-to-graduate program created to include multiple summer research opportunities, mentoring by expert scientists, engineers, and science professionals; and a supportive learning community. The summer research experience includes opportunities to engage in original scientific research, written reports and presentations, seminars, as well as peer and community mentoring. Additionally, NSF SOARS includes year-round support, funding to attend conferences, and an engaged network. Successful Protégés are eligible to participate in the program for up to four (4) years.

College or graduate students, apply for a paid 10-week summer internship through the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Indigenous Climate Change Program. Spend your summer working to address Indigenous environmental issues. The internships have a research, technical, educational or policy focus. ITEP plans to hire for 8 positions and each student can apply to up to 5 sites/projects (see potential hosts). The internship program provides each student intern with a $8,000 stipend.  There are travel and housing stipends for those who relocate for the internship.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is seeking a post-doctoral researcher specializing in the application, integration and/or incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems to coastal and marine science, governance, and research paradigms. Potential research areas are broad, with several options listed on the application site. The position is connected to the Ladd Thorne Indigenous Knowledge Program and will be placed with the science department or policy center depending on their research project. 2-year position. Contact Natalie Nevarez (natalie.nevarez@whoi.edu) or Rob Evans (revans@whoi.edu) with questions.

EPA is seeking a candidate with a recent Master’s Degree (completion before the appointment begins or in the last 5 years) for a research internship in climate sciences and community resilience education and outreach through the ORISE program. The individual would work with the EPA Office of Research and Development’s INtegrated Climate Sciences Division to build the capacity of EPA program and regional offices to respond to climate change through adaptation actions and improved resilience. The position will last 1 year and report to offices in either Washington, D.C., or Research Triangle Park, NC. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may close prior to Feb. 28.

Teams of 3-5 Native high school students (especially current HS juniors) are invited to apply to participate in the 2025 Native Youth Climate Adaptation Leadership Congress, or NYCALC, which will be held from June 21-26. Join students from across the country to discuss community adaptation and related environmental issues impacting Native peoples. The mission of the Native Youth Community Adaptation Leadership Congress (NYCALC) is to develop future conservation leaders with the skills, knowledge, and tools to address environmental change and conservation challenges to better serve their schools and home communities. Travel, lodging, and meals will be provided for accepted teams and one mentor from their home community. Student participants must be citizens of federally-recognized Tribal Nations.

The Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science & Forestry is recruiting students for graduate study in diverse environmental sciences from ecology, sustainability, conservation biology to restoration and environmental engineering. As a member of the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership, the program provides funding for full tuition and stipends for Native American students pursuing MS and PhD degrees. Applications are open so please join us in this exciting initiative. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and interested students must also apply to (or be enrolled in) a graduate program at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). Contact cnpeinfo@esf.edu for more information.

The center for Tribal Research and Education in Ecosystem Sciences—TREES—provides internship opportunities and support to tribal students and professionals looking to advance their careers in Natural Resource fields. Our programs place college students in science-based internships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Forestry and Fire Depts., and other qualified partners. We also provide opportunities for continuing education to technicians and other working professionals.

On average, we offer 7-8 positions every year across both our programs in Forestry and Wildland Fire management. Forestry interns must enroll in a 4-year Forestry major to qualify. Wildland Fire interns can be enrolled in either a 2-year or a 4-year program in any Natural Resource major.

TREES works in cooperation with the Department of Forestry at Salish Kootenai College and many other academic institutions across the U.S.

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TREES also provides coordination and management of Pathways internships and professional development opportunities for Native American students for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in both forestry and wildland fire participation. This program not only offers students paid employment, while they continue their education, but also gives them valuable and unique work experiences. Placements are rotational summer assignments within different programs and work environments, where students can train and job shadow with industry professionals. This partnership allows Native American students to get real world training, federal experience, as well as $5,000 in annual tuition assistance.