Opportunities Board
See below for a list of opportunities the iDigTRIO team has curated for paid research experiences, scholarships, and employment for undergraduate and graduate students. Want to add something to the list? Contact us.
UF Resources
iDigBio Summer Internship Program
The iDigBio Summer Internship program will provide funding for undergraduate students from accredited institutions to work within a partnering natural history collection over an 8-week period during the summer of 2022. Interns will be expected to help with the digitization, curation, and research efforts in their lab, with options to complete their own research project. Interns will participate in virtual and in-person meet-ups with their cohort to build professional skills including, but not limited to: grant writing, scientific poster designs, and scientific writing throughout their cohort year (April - December 2022). Interns will also receive funding to attend a professional meeting in 2021 to disseminate their research and experience to the greater science community. Interns will also have the option to participate as peer mentors for subsequent cohorts. Opportunities at UF and three other institutions!
Application period is open until March 11th. Learn more and apply!
University of Florida Biology Department
The Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program (URAP), as part of the Biology Graduate Students Association (BGSA), aims to introduce undergraduates to research opportunities at UF. This is an important learning experience that will prepare our students for professional service or future graduate programs. Research in the Biology department ranges across all levels of life, from cells and molecules to the entire biosphere, and aims to understand the evolution, structure, maintenance, and dynamics of biological systems.
We continuously post advertisements for research projects in the Biology department from faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students who are looking for undergraduate students. Any undergraduate with an interest in developing or improving their research skills is welcomed to apply to these research projects. URAP also supports the BSC 3911 Entering Research course where students will hone their scientific communication skills and become effective, independent researchers.
URAP further sponsors two undergraduate research grants of $250 yearly, which can be used to purchase lab equipment and reagents or fund travel to field sites or conferences. Students engaged in research in the Biology departments are strongly encouraged to apply! Students interested in applying should develop and send a scientific research proposal for research expenses, fieldwork, or travel conferences to the URAP committee at urapsymposium@gmail.com.
We encourage all our undergraduate students to visit our webpage (https://biology.ufl.edu/undergraduates/urap/) for further information.
McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 151 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
UF Fellowship Opportunities for New Graduate Students (pdf)
University of Florida Center of Undergraduate Research
Non UF Resources
iDigBio Summer Internship Program
The iDigBio Summer Internship program will provide funding for undergraduate students from accredited institutions to work within a partnering natural history collection over an 8-week period during the summer of 2022. Interns will be expected to help with the digitization, curation, and research efforts in their lab, with options to complete their own research project. Interns will participate in virtual and in-person meet-ups with their cohort to build professional skills including, but not limited to: grant writing, scientific poster designs, and scientific writing throughout their cohort year (April - December 2022). Interns will also receive funding to attend a professional meeting in 2021 to disseminate their research and experience to the greater science community. Interns will also have the option to participate as peer mentors for subsequent cohorts. Opportunities at the University of Michigan, the Field Museum, University of California Berkeley and the Florida Museum.
Application period is open until March 11th. Learn more and apply!
2022 Biocollections Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Scholars Program
Participants will earn a stipend of $2,200 over six weeks (May 31 - July 8, 2022) to work with mentors and peers on a collaborative biodiversity research and outreach projects using the start-to-finish approach routinely taken by natural history collections scientists. This process will include:
Conducting field surveys of local plants, insects, and vertebrates
Preparing and preserving your own specimens in the ASU Natural History Collections
Publishing your specimen and observation data online, including images
Creating and linking your own scientific profiles to published data
Learning and using basic programming and data management skills
Leading a collaborative project aimed at biodiversity science outreach
Students will contribute to open biodiversity science, providing a valuable resource for future scientists and learn how to formulate specimen-driven research questions. In addition, scholars will explore potential career paths involving botany, entomology, zoology, and biodiversity informatics and network with scientists of diverse backgrounds.
Applications are due March 1, 2022. Top applicants will be contacted shortly thereafter regarding an interview, and accepted applicants will be notified in mid-March. The fellowship program will run from May 31, 2022 to July 8, 2022.
Learn more and apply: https://biokic.asu.edu/2022_Biocollections_JEDI
Public Health Entomology for All
Are you interested or curious about entomology? Do you want to explore the intersection of entomology and health equity? Do you want to engage in social justice work and science? Would you like to learn about Public Health Entomology as a profession and learn applied entomological strategies to prevent and control vector-borne diseases that are transmitted to people by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas? As an intern you will help find solutions to diseases such as dengue, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.
If this sounds like something you would like to explore, then you should consider applying for an internship or fellowship through Public Health Entomology For All, an exciting new opportunity for current students or recent undergraduate graduates of a Minority Serving Institution.
Learn more and apply: https://www.entsoc.org/public-health-entomology-all
Virtual Internship Program for Science Communication
We are currently taking applications for VIP SciComm! Applications are due April 2.
Now more than ever, it is critical that scientists at all career stages and educational levels learn and practice effective science communication to K-12 students, public policy makers, voters, and the general public. It’s equally critical that science communicators are able to communicate through a justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (JEDIA)-centered lens. The Time Scavengers Virtual Internship Program for Science Communication is designed to increase and hone undergraduate students’ skills in science communication, effectively training the next generation of science communicators. Learn more and apply: https://timescavengers.blog/virtual-internship-program-for-science-communication/
Morton Arboretum REU Program
Participate in a paid, intensive, 10-week summer program, with housing and travel provided, conducting an independent research project under the guidance of a PhD-level mentor. Gain direct experience on all aspects of a research project, from reading the primary literature, experimental design, collecting and analyzing data, to presenting the results at a final symposium. Develop critical thinking, independence, self-confidence, perseverance, and collaborative skills. Interact with REUs from other Chicago institutions, and benefit from workshops on science communication and professional development. Learn skills you can apply anywhere. The Center for Tree Science also offers opportunities to return to continue your work. Learn more and apply: https://mortonarb.org/science/opportunities-in-science/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-program/#!
Ray Diversity Fellowship
Inspired by efforts to increase diversity in environmentally-related sectors, the Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Diversity Fellowship Program supports two cohorts of Fellows per year: RAY Conservation Fellows and RAY Clean Energy Fellows. The RAY Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy-related career pathways for emerging leaders of color. The RAY Fellowship Program is a two-year paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors—one that, in our visions of the future, fully represents, includes, and is led by the diverse communities, perspectives, and experiences of the United States.
Managed by the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), the RAY Conservation Fellowship and RAY Clean Energy Fellowship provide first-time career access opportunities for recent college graduates who do not have previous professional experience or a graduate degree. RAY Conservation Fellows are placed within one of our 'Conservation Member Organizations' for a two-year paid fellowship position, with the resources and support to develop experiences that will launch them onto a path of career growth in conservation. Likewise, RAY Clean Energy Fellows are placed within one of our ‘Clean Energy Member Organizations’ for a similar two-year paid fellowship position, with similar resources and support to develop experiences that will launch them onto a path of career growth in energy-efficiency or renewable energy.
All Fellows work with mentors, grow their networks, and forge lasting relationships within and between the Conservation and Clean Energy cohorts of Fellows. RAY Fellowship positions are full-time paid positions with competitive entry-level salaries plus benefits. All Fellows will also receive a stipend of $1,000 to go towards professional development opportunities, in addition to coordinated professional development through RAY Member Organizations and ELP.
More info and apply here: https://rayfellowship.org/program-overview
SEEDS Partnerships for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Fellowship
The SPUR Fellowship is the highest honor in the SEEDS program, and fellows are encouraged to be the outstanding leaders in the future of ESA. The award supports the undergraduate student in designing and conducting an ecology research project of interest. SEEDS has established partnerships with field stations and mentors to offer exciting summer opportunities that will be tailored to meet your interests, career objectives and growth as a scientist. For most opportunities, no prior research experiences is necessary.
Learn more here: https://www.esa.org/seeds/fellowship/ and find more opportunities here: https://esa.org/seeds/opportunities/partnerships/
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at UCSC exposes early-career college students to the field of environmental conservation through field research, leadership and professional training. Each year, we select 20 students from around the U.S. and its territories to participate in our two-year conservation leadership program. https://conservationscholars.ucsc.edu/about/
SVP Futures Award
Vertebrate paleontology, like many geoscience fields, has poor representation of scientists who are Black, Indigenous, or members of other racial and ethnic minority groups. Research shows that this underrepresentation is not due to a lack of interest, but rather a lack of opportunities and resources and that this disparity is amplified at later career stages. In recognition of our need to increase access for underrepresented groups, SVP has established the Futures Award, a new grant program that supports summer research experiences for undergraduates from underrepresented minority backgrounds. Learn more here and apply here.
REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) in Ecology and Evolution
Black in Natural History Museums
Texas A&M Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Job Board
Society of Conservation Biology Job Board
National Science Foundation Special Programs for Graduate Students
National Science Foundation Special Programs for Undergraduate Students