Communicating Water Resources Science Student Internships
Application Timeline
- Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Application issued
- Monday, December 9 – Applications due
- Tuesday, January 7 – Notification
- Program Timeframe – January 15 to August 31*
*USGS has strict limits on no-cost extensions for WRRI-funded projects. Project leaders should plan to spend awarded funds by the August 31, 2025 end date.
Purpose and Internship Focus
Information and knowledge transfer is central to the mission of the Maine Water Resources Research Institute (Maine WRRI). Maine’s universities and colleges produce knowledge that can help communities solve sustainability challenges related to water resources, but knowledge from the research is often difficult to interpret and efficiently adapt into science applications that benefit Maine communities.
The Maine WRRI seeks to improve the transfer of knowledge between researchers and their partners in Maine by establishing an internship program for undergraduate/graduate students to help develop resources focused on facilitating the adaptation of water science into practice. Based on a proposal developed by Sean Smith, students will work collaboratively with research teams and their partners to design communication tools to increase understanding of research outcomes and to develop a knowledge base to expand awareness of future water resources challenges from climate change and human activities. Research themes considered in this proposal include: 1) traditional water knowledge, 2) winter water budgets, 3) surface water features, 4) groundwater pathways, and 5) land-sea connections.
Roles and Responsibilities
This application process will select three to four water resources research projects where development of knowledge transfer tools can substantially benefit community partners. Each selected project will involve a student intern and a mentor with expertise related to at least one of the project themes. Teams will participate in coordinated activities such as information exchange, development of research and communication strategies, coordination of partner engagement and feedback, and development, refinement and rollout of science communication products. Student interns will highlight outcomes from their work at the 2026 Maine Sustainability and Water Conference and other events as appropriate. Archiving and hosting of final outcomes and products will be coordinated among project teams with final delivery planned for late summer 2025.
Available Funding
Faculty can request up to $4,000, including funding for interns at pay rates commensurate with UMaine’s Student Special Project Assistant III (Step 3) for undergraduate students; or, UMaine’s Graduate Student Assistant II (Step 10) for graduate students, and a maximum of $500 for faculty summer salary. Funding is available from January 15, 2025 to August 31, 2025. We strongly encourage matching partner support for students, but it is not a requirement to receive Maine WRRI funds. Please note that tuition credits for graduate interns cannot be covered.