The Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program

The Potter Internship was established in 2022 thanks to a generous gift from the late Dr. Paul Edwin Potter, a former professor of geology at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Indiana. In addition to his notable contributions to the fields of sedimentology and stratigraphy, Dr. Potter believed strongly in mentoring the next generation of scientists. He continued to advise students even after his retirement, and worked closely with the state surveys of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky and served as a mentor to their research staff until his death in 2020. To honor and continue this legacy of developing early career geoscientists, the KGS Potter Intern Program provides mentorship and training experience to students interested in geoscience-related research. Participants collaborate with KGS scientists on 10-week, field-based research projects. Though each intern has ownership over their own project, projects will often overlap in method or application. In this way, interns will gain an understanding of how research institutions as a whole can best function as a team. Past project applications include geologic hazards, critical minerals, hydrogeology, landscape evolution, flooding, and cutting-edge geological research.

In addition to learning technical skills associated with their project, KGS Potter interns participate in various professional development opportunities and are provided the tools to expand their academic networks. The program concludes with the KGS Paul Edwin Potter Internship showcase, where each intern will share their summer research with the KGS-UK community. The following pages include information and answers to FAQs regarding the application process, summer experience, and outcomes of the program for interns.