Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Internship

Accepting Applications

Description

Michigan Sea Grant’s undergraduate internship program coordinates and funds undergraduate students from any accredited community college, college, or university in Michigan to work with private businesses, local government, state and federal agencies, environmental non-profit organizations, or university faculty to plan or implement environmental stewardship projects in the Great Lakes.

Some examples of partner organizations include:

  • State agencies, such as Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) or Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • Campus sustainability offices
  • Parks and recreation departments
  • Watershed or river protection groups
  • Tribal natural resources departments
  • Museums, libraries, nature centers

In addition to students proposing their own projects, applicants will also have the opportunity to apply for a project that was submitted by a sponsor organization. Please see announcement for additional details.

Applicants can also apply separately for travel funding (up to $1,000) to directly support project work for situations where support is not provided by the host. Requests will be reviewed and approved by MISG and will be distributed as a reimbursement for itemized, approved expenses (with receipt documentation).

Eligible Applicants

Applicants should be enrolled undergraduate students at any level of study. Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue a career in environmental science.

Michigan Sea Grant encourages applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Michigan Sea Grant is committed to diversity and multiculturalism through staff training and organizational development for employees to help them provide effective and inclusive programs for the diverse residents of Michigan’s communities.

Community Engaged Internship

MISG participates in the National Sea Grant’s Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program, which aims to broaden participation in coastal, ocean, and marine sciences to college students from under-resourced, underrepresented, and/or indigenous and tribal populations. Eligible MISG interns who identify as being from an underrepresented group or are working on a project that helps an underserved community, can participate in the CEI program alongside their internship project.

How to Apply

Contacts and Questions

Michigan Sea Grant
(734) 764-8678
msgfellowships@umich.edu

2023 Symposium

This video showcases the 2023 interns and their project findings as presented during a virtual symposium on August 9, 2023. Click the “YouTube” icon in the bottom of the player to access timestamps for easy navigation to specific portions of the event.

2022 Symposium

This video showcases the 2022 interns and their project findings as presented during a virtual symposium on August 8, 2022. Click the “YouTube” icon in the bottom of the player to access timestamps for easy navigation to specific portions of the event.

2021 Symposium

This video showcases the 2021 interns and their project findings as presented during a virtual symposium on August 18, 2021. Click the “YouTube” icon in the bottom of the player to access timestamps for easy navigation to specific portions of the event.

2020 Symposium

This video showcases the 2020 interns and their project findings as presented during a virtual symposium on August 4, 2020. Click the “YouTube” icon in the bottom of the player to access timestamps for easy navigation to specific portions of the event.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What are some organizations that have worked with interns in the past?

A. In addition to the Sponsoring Organizations mentioned in the internship announcement, interns have worked with the Grayling Fish Hatchery, Palmer Park in Detroit, Plaster Creek Stewards in Grand Rapids, many faculty within college/university departments, and more.

Q. I want to work in a particular area for the summer; can MISG help me find a partner organization there?

Q. Michigan Sea Grant staff live and work in communities all across Michigan, from the Upper Peninsula to Detroit. If you have a specific region in mind, let us know, and we can put you in touch with our Extension educator in or near that area. They may be able to point you toward organizations to contact.

Q. Do I need to propose a new project in order to qualify for funding?

A. You can apply for internship funding to support work you or a partner organization is already doing. Just make sure your project narrative reflects which milestones or tasks you plan to pursue during the summer and how your activities fit into the overall goals for the organization and for your own education/career. 

Q. How many interns do you support each year?

A. The total number of interns changes each year, depending on our funding availability and the size of the applicant pool. 

Q. Do you have similar funding for graduate students?

A. Every two years, we release a request for research proposals (RFP) that includes funding for graduate students. The RFP has passed for 2023. Watch the “Research” tab on michiganseagrant.org for upcoming information.

Q. Is this internship limited to U.S. citizens only?

A. As long as the student is enrolled in an accredited university/college in Michigan and can receive work sponsorship from that institution, they are eligible for this opportunity. They do not necessarily have to be a U.S. citizen. The University of Michigan can only provide work sponsorship to internship applicants that are enrolled at UM.

Q. What are some ways to meet the "match" requirement?

Students are not responsible for providing or figuring out the match. The 50% match can come from many sources and can be paid “in-kind” (in other words, by assigning financial value to services the organization provides). For example, the partner organization might pay for you to travel to Ann Arbor for the August internship symposium or other travel opportunities. Match funds can also include office space for you, or the time a mentor spends working on the project with you. Contact msgfellowships@umich.edu for more ideas. 

Q. Can multiple students apply from the same school?

A. Yes; however, depending on how many schools are represented in the application pool, we will likely try to distribute the funded internships broadly across institutions. If multiple students apply from the same school, they should plan to work on different projects so each intern has a chance to learn and grow. 

Q. How will I receive my stipend?

A. Our fiscal officer will work with each intern to verify financial details for the stipends. The University of Michigan requires undergraduate stipends to be processed through the Financial Aid office. As a result, when your stipend is direct-deposited into your account, it should state “financial aid type” or something similar from U of M. 

Q. Will I receive a W-2 or other tax form for my stipend?

A. For MISG stipends, the University does not provide any tax forms relating to taxable income. It will be your responsibility to self-report the income. If you have questions, contact the University of Michigan Payroll Service Center at (734) 615-2000 (select option 2, prompt 1) or (866) 647-7657 (select option 2, prompt 1).