IRIS Summer Internship Program

Opportunity Description:


Once selected, your summer experience will begin with a one-week orientation held on the campus of an EarthScope institution the last week of May (for those students whose quarter has not yet completed, alternative arrangements can be made). The goal of the orientation period is to develop a strong sense of community among interns, provide training in distance collaboration and introduce you to some of the most exciting aspects of modern seismology.

Following this week you will spend 8 to 10 weeks working on a seismological research project with researchers at an EarthScope member intuition. Research projects may involve the deployment of seismic instruments in the field (within the US or internationally), and/or analyses of seismic data in a lab setting with the ultimate goal of producing results to be presented at a national scientific meeting. Each project will provide you with ample opportunities to:

  • conduct research with state of the art geophysical data and leading researchers at EarthScope institutions
  • develop an understanding of scientific inquiry, including designing and conducting scientific investigations, defending scientific arguments, and preparing publications
  • gather, manage, and convey information, using various skills, strategies, resources, and
  • learn, use, and evaluate technologies for the collection and study of geophysical data

Your summer research project will culminate with the opportunity to experience the exciting atmosphere of a professional meeting, while presenting your results. In the past, most interns and their hosts have chosen to present at the Fall American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting held in San Francisco in early December.

As a URISE Intern you will receive…

  • A weekly stipend ($600/week for 9 - 11 weeks + $200/week for subsistence)
  • Free student memberships in the American Geophysical Union
  • Funding for travel to the orientation as well as room and board
  • Funding for travel to the home institution of your research host
  • Assistance securing housing at the host institution
  • Funding for any additional expenses related to fieldwork
  • Funding for travel to a professional meeting to present your results along with the associated meeting costs (travel, registration, abstract submission fee and per diem)

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

As a result of funding from the National Science Foundation, this program is only available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. Applicants must have completed their freshman year but may not graduate the spring semester prior to the summer internship (sophomores and juniors are strongly encouraged to apply).

Minimum requirements for applicants:

  • Excitement to apply your math and physics skills to study Earth and beyond!
  • 3.0 GPA
  • Two semesters of both Math & Physics
  • Prior experience or coursework in seismology or geophysics is not a requirement
  • Computer programming (Matlab, Mathmatica, C++, Java etc) is a plus

*While a list of minimum qualifications for the program is provided, there is no single path to geophysics. Thus, the selection committee is interested in your training in physics, math, geoscience and computer skills and takes holistic approach to the selection process.

Application Process: 

Applicants must complete the following steps:

  1. Download the application as a .doc file, and COMPLETE IT OFFLINE FIRST.
  2. Download an unofficial version of your transcript for upload into the application system (.pdf or .doc only are accepted by the system). An unofficial transcript should list your coursework for all terms, the number of credits earned, and the grades for each course.
  3. Once your offline application is completed, navigate to the online application to cut and paste your responses into the form and upload the .pdf or .doc of your transcript.
  4. Send the custom URL generated when you complete your application to your 2 references so they may submit letter of recommendation electronically.

The application deadline typically falls around early February. 

For more information on this opportunity, please contact: