2025 Project Descriptions
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Enhancing Fish Habitat and Species Diversity in Invasive Cattail-Dominated Shorelines Intern (Summer 2025)
Summer 2025
How to apply
- Read the project descriptions before applying. Identify which of the positions you are most interested in.
- To apply go to the University of Minnesota Student Position - MN Sea Grant Student Intern webpage.
- Select the "Apply for Job" button in the upper right of webpage and follow the instructions.
- Cover letter: Include the name of the project you are interested in and describe the skills you have that are relevant to that project.
- Deadline: March 16, 2025
- Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
- Questions? Contact Minnesota Sea Grant Extension Leader and Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator Amy Schrank, [email protected]
Intern project description
Invasive, hybrid cattails have expanded into Minnesota’s nearshore lake zones and are altering habitat for fishes and displacing native plant species. The objective of this project is to understand how to best manage invasive hybrid cattails to benefit nearshore fish and plant communities. The project team will compare regional effects of cattail removal on nearshore lake ecosystems in lakes across Minnesota by measuring water quality variables, identifying plants, and sampling and identifying fishes.
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Minnesota Sea Grant Aquaculture and Fisheries Intern (Summer 2025)
Summer 2025
How to apply
- Read the project descriptions before applying. Identify which of the positions you are most interested in.
- To apply go to the University of Minnesota Student Position - MN Sea Grant Student Intern webpage.
- Select the "Apply for Job" button in the upper right of webpage and follow the instructions.
- Cover letter: Include the name of the project you are interested in and describe the skills you have that are relevant to that project.
- First review of applications: March 12, 2025
- Deadline: March 16, 2025
- Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
- Questions? Contact Minnesota Sea Grant Extension Leader and Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator Amy Schrank, [email protected]
Minnesota Sea Grant Aquaculture and Fisheries Intern
Project description
Minnesota’s fisheries and aquaculture industries are vital to the state's culture, economy, and communities. The Aquaculture and Fisheries Intern will support Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) staff in the implementation of MNSG’s Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture program and focus area.
Interns will assist with field and lab data collection, data analysis, and outreach and communication efforts for several MNSG projects including, but not limited to:
- Increasing Production of Golden Shiner Bait Production in Minnesota
- Egg-to-Market Yellow Perch project that raises food fish in a recirculating aquaculture system
- Minnesota Aquaculture Market Study
- Steelhead or Salmon? Which Did You Catch? Analyzing angler survey data. Aquaculture and fisheries field site visits
Primary tasks
- Collect, enter, analyze, and visualize data (preferably using R and Excel).
- Record accurate and detailed field/lab data.
- Ensure quality control in all aspects and at all stages of data manipulation.
- Measure, weigh, sort, and identify fish species in lab and field settings.
- Visit aquaculture farms and help with outreach.
- Assist with science communication and newsletter content.
Desired skills
- Organized, highly responsible, detail oriented, and able to work independently and in a team.
- Positive attitude with a commitment to staying on schedule and meeting deadlines.
- Training in scientific research, including lab and field data collection.
- Basic math skills and experience with simple statistical analysis and software.
- Experience entering, proofing, manipulating, summarizing, and analyzing data.
- Experience making charts and graphs using MS Excel and R.
- Ability to work rotating weekends as necessary.
- Ability to travel occasionally.
- Ability to swim.
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Minnesota Sea Grant St. Louis River Water Safety Intern (Summer 2025)
Summer 2025
How to apply
- Read the project descriptions before applying. Identify which of the positions you are most interested in.
- To apply go to the University of Minnesota Student Position - MN Sea Grant Student Intern webpage.
- Select the "Apply for Job" button in the upper right of webpage and follow the instructions.
- Cover letter: Include the name of the project you are interested in and describe the skills you have that are relevant to that project.
- Deadline: March 16, 2025
- Location: Duluth, Minnesota
- Questions? Contact Minnesota Sea Grant Great Lakes Transportation Extension Educator Kelsey Prihoda, [email protected].
St. Louis River Water Safety Internship
June 2, 2025 to August 8, 2025
The St. Louis River, spanning Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, was once a pollution hotspot but has seen major restoration. The river is cleaner now than it has been in decades and with more people coming to the river for recreation, water safety education is more important than ever.
In 2020, Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) created the Paddle Safe Twin Ports (PSTP) project to help alleviate potential incidents on the water while promoting mixed recreational use of the working harbor. Recently, MNSG and Wisconsin Sea Grant (WISG) have partnered to provide education and outreach on water safety in the St. Louis River.
Through this 10-week (June 2, 2025-August 8, 2025) internship, you'll work with the Minnesota and Wisconsin Sea Grant programs to expand the Paddle Safe Twin Ports project and, in collaboration with the St. Louis River Alliance, promote safe recreation on the St. Louis River National Water Trail.
- Stipend of $6,000, paid in two installments, from North Carolina Sea Grant to the intern.
- Mandatory field experience July 20-24, 2025, in North Carolina (expenses paid)
Community Engaged Internship Program Description
This is a Sea Grant Community Engaged Internship (CEI) position. The purpose of the CEI program is to provide undergraduates with opportunities for extensive field-based learning, and to expose them to interdisciplinary coastal and freshwater community issues.
Primary Tasks
- Complete a summer project.
- Attend CEI professional development and training.
- Receive mentorship from Sea Grant professionals and project partners.
- Complete a launch site safety sign inventory and provide website updates for PSTP.
- Examine field launch sites for features that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.
- Connect with community partners to improve water safety communication.
- Facilitate discussions with local organizations involved in water recreation safety education and outreach and work toward creating a unified communication strategy with identified central locations where interested parties can go for water safety information.
- Coordinate a safe water recreation practice photo contest in partnership with the St. Louis River Alliance and other local organizations.
- Provide water safety education at community events including Lake Superior Day (July 20, 2025 in Superior, Wisconsin), Concerts at the Pier (a weekly event frequented by paddlers), St. Louis River Alliance-hosted water recreation events, and events of opportunity for PSTP. launch sites.
Helpful Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to conduct field work under all outdoor conditions (rain, heat, wind, and bugs).
- Hold a valid driver’s license with a clean record.
- Confidence in/around water (paddlesports is a plus).
- Familiarity with the St. Louis River and/or water safety hazards associated with river environments.
- Experience with and/or enthusiasm for paddlesports, including stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and/or kayaking.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Interest in outdoor education, environmental education, and/or recreation safety.

Minnesota Sea Grant offers paid internships for undergraduate students from all campuses of the University of Minnesota. Interns work closely with Minnesota Sea Grant staff to help them develop, coordinate, and implement programs, events, research, and communications.
Overview:
Interns work directly with Minnesota Sea Grant staff and can gain valuable professional experience in areas including fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic ecology, emerging contaminants, climate resilience, environmental education, science communication, Great Lakes shipping, and outdoor recreation.
Timeline:
Our part- and full-time internships tend to occur in the summer from June through August. We try to post the summer opportunities in February. We also have opportunities during the academic year. We post our academic-year intern opportunities on this webpage and in Minnesota Sea Grant's monthly newsletter (subscribe) as they become available.
Hours:
The work schedule for undergraduate interns varies by position and is determined in conversation with the intern and their supervisor. Previous interns have worked part-time during the academic year and full-time during the summer.
Eligibility:
MNSG accepts applications from currently enrolled undergraduates from any of the University of Minnesota campuses and who are majoring in any discipline.
Opportunities:
Internship opportunities will be posted here when they are available.
Past projects:
Previous interns have worked on Minnesota Sea Grant's Egg-to-Market Yellow Perch Project, our Increasing Golden Shiner Bait Production in Minnesota project, our Invasive Cattail-Dominated Shorelines project, on projects supported by Sea Grant's Center for Great Lakes Literacy, and have worked with our communications team.
Benefits
- Learn and experience extension, communication, and related career paths.
- Participate in public outreach events.
- Gain experience in multimedia science communication skills.
- Access professional development and networking opportunities
- Be part of the National Sea Great and Great Lakes Sea Grant networks
- Gain experience in applied water science
Want to know more?
If you are interested in a Minnesota Sea Grant internship, we recommend doing three things:
- Fill out and submit the Minnesota Sea Grant Internship Interest Form
- Subscribe to Minnesota Sea Grant's Monthly Highlights newsletter
- Apply to any open opportunities
Other opportunities:
- Minnesota Sea Grant's employment postings
- Minnesota Sea Grant's Internship and Fellowship Program
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship