Science Education Internship

Project Description

The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) and Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) seek a summer intern for late May through mid-August 2026 (12 weeks) to develop a series of resources to support science teaching. The resources will focus on phenomena-based learning, which is a core element of the Next Generation Science Standards and is being integrated within high quality instructional materials (curriculum). The Science Education Intern will work alongside the Environmental Literacy Team to create a public-facing and interactive catalogue of locally and regionally relevant phenomena. This effort will build on the results of regional workshops, NOAA science products and interviews with educators. Additionally, the intern will support summer Environmental Science Training Center (ESTC) programming, including educator professional development workshops that provide support for the implementation of environmental literacy programming in K-12 education.

Opportunities:

 In this position, the intern will work side-by-side with professionals at the forefront of STEM and environmental education planning and program development. The intern will develop and hone research, analysis, and product development skills. There is potential for developing expertise with content management systems while supporting revisions and updates to the Bay Backpack website. While supporting ESTC programming, the intern will develop skills useful in communicating, learning, and working with large and diverse audiences. They will have the opportunity to strengthen planning and public speaking/presentation skills throughout the summer workshops. The intern will work both independently and as part of a team to create practical tools in support of regional environmental literacy efforts.

Deliverables 

  • Research and develop an interactive catalog of local and regional phenomena suitable for K-12 classroom and field programming.
  • Conduct professional outreach to understand how phenomena-based learning opportunities are being implemented and develop at least one blog post.  
  • Serve as an active team member supporting the planning and implementation of summer teacher professional development workshops by developing learning activities, facilitating workshop components, and helping with workshop logistics (both in-person and virtual).
  • Presentation to NCBO staff at the conclusion of the internship summarizing the experiences gained and work conducted 

Eligibility

  • Must be a resident and/or attend a college/university within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (NY, PA, MD, DE, DC, VA or WV)
  • Must be a college-level student entering sophomore, junior, or senior year of undergraduate study
  • Must be a U.S. citizen and willing to undergo a security background check

Required Qualifications 

  • Strong writing and communication skills
  • Strong independent research skills
  • Experience developing, working with, and synthesizing complex information 
  • Motivated self-starter with the ability to work proactively and reason independently, consistently share progress updates, and recommend or inquire about next steps toward project completion
  • The ability to work well with others and incorporate feedback into work products.
  • Familiarity with Google workspace (GoogleDocs, Sheets, Slides)

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience (work or study) in environmental science or education 
  • Interested in education or environmental education related careers

Work Location and Duration 

We envision that this position will be an in-person position and will be based out of the Environmental Science Training Center in Oxford, Maryland. 

The position will begin in mid-May and conclude in mid-August and will be in place for 12 weeks. We plan on providing interns with access to a NOAA computer and access to the NOAA Google Products Google Drive, gmail, etc.).

Compensation 

The intern will be reimbursed at the end of each month, for a total of up to $6,500 for the equivalent of 12 weeks (422 hours). Funds are available to compensate interns for occasional work-related travel. Additionally a $1000 housing allowance is available upon request and with demonstrated need. Candidates should expect to follow a normal weekday work schedule (roughly 9-5, M-F) with occasional variations for possible field work or other activities. No benefits are provided. 

Application Instructions 

Applicants are instructed to register with the Chesapeake Jobs online application website: https://chesapeake.org/ncbo/ to apply. You will be instructed to submit a resume detailing your education and work experience and a cover letter that details your interest in this position and describes how your skill set will contribute to the work described above. Please include your first and last name in the file name for both your resume and cover letter. You will also be asked to provide the review team with three references. The deadline for applications is February 8, 2026.

Application Form