Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research (SBC LTER) internships are for students interested in kelp forest ecology, marine science and/or scientific SCUBA diving.

If helping run laboratory experiments and participating in field research, including beach surveys and scuba diving, is something of interest to you, apply at SBC LTER Volunteer Application and Waiver.

We encourage all motivated students to apply if you hope to gain invaluable hands-on experience in a marine science lab!

The Schmidt Family Foundation is once again generously funding research and mentorship awards for research in any field with clear links to environmental sciences for UCSB students. Strong emphasis for these awards is placed on advancing science that has direct applications to environmental problem solving, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in environmental sciences. These awards are open to UCSB-affiliated undergraduate and graduate students from all departments and is intended to support research primarily occurring before August 30, 2026.

Research Accelerator Awards

These awards facilitate graduate student research by covering salary, tuition, or fieldwork or laboratory costs. ($9,000 per student).

Apply

Research Excellence Awards

These awards provide support to advanced graduate students to improve the overall quality of their research program, such as launching new experiments, carrying out needed field research, and performing additional analyses. Successful applicants are typically at a more advanced stage of their research than the Accelerator Award recipients. ($18,000 per student).

Apply

Research Mentorship Awards

These awards support the development of graduate and undergraduate research pairings through a mentoring program that pairs an undergraduate with a graduate student mentor. Graduate and undergraduate students may apply jointly if a partnership has already been identified, or students may submit applications separately and will then be matched by the Fellows Program. ($9,000 per pair).

Apply

Please note that while a student may apply for multiple Schmidt Awards, no student may receive multiple awards in a given award cycle. Previous Schmidt Award recipients are eligible if they are applying for an entirely new project and must state explicitly how this work is different. Funding is flexible and can be used, for example, to support field costs, or directly support both graduate and undergraduate students (e.g., through GSR, work-study, or hourly wages) to enable them to focus their time on research.

Funding is flexible and can be used, for example, to support field costs, or directly support both graduate and undergraduate students (e.g. through GSR, work-study, or hourly wages) to enable them to focus their time on research. Please note that this year for the mentorship awards undergraduates and graduate students may submit applications separately (and will then be matched by the fellows program) or jointly (if a partnership has already been identified).

The Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory in the Marine Science Institute is seeking UCSB undergraduate and graduate students for a science communications internship.

Summary: The science communications intern will have the unique opportunity to develop and implement the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory's internal- and external-facing science communications strategy while learning about the array of marine-related issues and solutions in the Lab’s diverse portfolio. The intern will build upon previous efforts to improve the reach, messaging, and impact of the Lab’s brand and communications. This includes, but is not limited to, managing the Lab’s social media, e-newsletters, and website. The intern will also take ownership over a self-driven and longer-term communications capstone project.

Timing: This is a part-time internship (10-15 hr/wk) for the Fall 2025 quarter with the potential to extend into the Winter and Spring 2026 quarters. An early start date in Summer 2025 would also be available for up to 20 hr/wk. 

Compensation: $20/hr (undergrad) / $22/hr (graduate)

Learn more and apply: https://bosl.ucsb.edu/jobs/

Internship Flyer

The Benioff Ocean Science Lab is seeking UCSB undergraduate or graduate students with interest in software engineering, marine science, and artificial intelligence for an internship for the winter 2026 quarter.

Summary: The intern will work with Benioff Ocean Science Lab staff engineers and scientists to build software tools that will support the various ocean research projects and the lab's technology infrastructure. This internship will have full-stack engineering work consisting of API development, data infrastructure buildout, and front-end user interface implementation. This internship will provide valuable experience to students actively pursuing graduate school or a career in computer science, marine science, and/or technology.

Timing: This is a part-time internship (approximately 10-15 hr/wk) for the Winter 2026 quarter (flexible start/end dates), with the potential to extend into the Spring 2026 quarter based on performance and project needs.

Compensation: $22/hr (undergrad) / $24/hr (graduate)

Learn more and apply: https://bosl.ucsb.edu/jobs/

Internship Flyer

Marine geologist, Professor James Kennett, is seeking a junior undergraduate for a student assistant position starting in May at up to 10 hrs/week then going to up to 20 hrs/week in the summer. The student assistant position would continue at 10hrs/wk in the 2025–26 school year and possibly beyond.

Compensation: $32/hr

Duties

Perform (after initial training) a variety of analytical laboratory procedures involving separation of various sediment particles and aliquots using light microscope and preparing samples for Scanning Electron Microscope analysis. Ensure accurate identification of specimens separated for analyses. Compile data from lab experiments, and plot quantitative data. Maintain laboratory and equipment.

Assist Professor Kennett with e-mail communication, literature searches, and computer support. Assist with preparation of new papers, tables and graphs for publication as needed. Skill with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and graphics required.

To apply, please send a brief cover letter and resume to Professor James Kennett kennett@geol.ucsb.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity:
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.