MBARI Summer Internship Program

2022 Program dates: June 6 – August 12, 2022

MBARI’s Summer Internship Program provides an opportunity for talented college students (undergraduate and graduate) and educators to work directly with MBARI  scientists, engineers and communicators. MBARI’s state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including research vessels, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), offer educators and students unique opportunities to collaborate on advanced research and development projects. The program immerses interns in collaborative teams as they learn innovative research and engineering techniques and improve communication skills. Each intern will have an MBARI mentor who will supervise a specific project for a 10-week duration. Interns also serve as peer-mentors to each other.

When to apply:

Applications for the 2022 MBARI internship (June 6 – August 12) are no longer being accepted. Deadline was February 7, 2022 at 8 am (Pacific).
We are currently planning for an in-person internship but may have to switch to a virtual program if COVID issues are still prevalent. Summer interns are selected following a rigorous application procedure and merit review. Hailing from around the world, MBARI’s interns represent a variety of lived experiences and education levels. We encourage all students and educators interested in a STEM career to apply. 

How to apply: 

Application information can be found here. 

Interns are paid a stipend but housing, food, and travel are not provided. We will try and facilitate housing placement during the program.

We have been awarded a grant from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation to assist with these additional costs for interns from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. Please indicate if you are interested in learning more about this grant and how to receive funding. 

Program Details

The primary purpose of the intern program is for the specific educational benefit of the intern and to make a contribution to the general good of the oceanographic community. 

While the internship gives interns a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with world-class scientists, engineers, and communicators, participants also engage in a variety of activities to explore California’s central coast and establish camaraderie with their fellow interns. These activities may include: assisting with MBARI’s annual open house event; a “behind the scenes” tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium; and a kayaking trip on Elkhorn Slough.

The MBARI Summer Internship Program is generously supported through a gift from the Dean and Helen Witter Family Fund and the Rentschler Family Fund in memory of former MBARI board member Frank Roberts (1920-2019) and by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) include diverse roles that go far beyond the traditional scientist in a lab coat. Learn more about how our staff have navigated their careers on our Navigating STEM careers page. 

If you are interested in an informal look at this program, please check out the 2017 intern blog or this story about one of the 2017 interns featured by Google. Learn more about the intern program over the years in the 2019 MBARI Annual Report.