2027 Program
May 17, 2027 - July 28, 2027
The Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program is designed to provide academic and professional development by equipping interns with the knowledge and resources required to excel in geoscience-related research.
Eligible Applicants
Education
- Incoming and current undergraduate and master's level students enrolled at a higher education institution.
- High school students are eligible to apply, and accepted on a skills basis.
- PhD students are not eligible to apply.
Field of Study
Students interested in geoscience and related fields such as environmental science, physics, engineering, public health, or geography.
2027 Program Key Dates:
- Application Period: December 14, 2026 - February 14, 2027
- Offer Letters: Week of March 8th
- Program Duration: May 17, 2027 - July 28, 2027
Application Coming Soon!
We're finalizing the application for the 2027 Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program. Please check back soon!
Questions? Contact us:
kgspotterinternship@uky.eduWhat to Expect
2027 Experience
This year, we will hire six interns to join a research team focused on projects at Floracliff Nature Preserve. Our 2026 program took place at Floracliff to plug into active collaborative research between several universities associated with the NSF EPSCoR initiative. The interns selected for 2027 will be able to further much of that work as well as explore new research avenues. Projects may include, but are not limited to, hillslope monitoring, hydrology, stable isotope geochemistry, structural mapping, flood modeling, vegetation analysis, and quantitative geomorphology. To ensure a valuable learning experience, each intern will work with mentors who will guide them through the 10-week program, which includes a final presentation and poster session. The results of each project will contribute to a better understanding of near-surface processes and landscape evolution in central Kentucky.
How is this different from a summer job?
Most summer jobs won't let you design your experience. This is an all-encompassing research and professional development experience. We will assign you a project topic, and you'll work with mentors to develop a research question and work plan for the summer, making tweaks along the way. Outside of your research tasks, we also provide public speaking training, mock interviews, and several field trips and seminars with UK faculty and staff.
Will I work independently?
Yes and no. We design the program to closely mimic a real-world research team, so each intern will be given their own project, but these will often overlap with other projects, and all interns will collaborate to learn techniques and complete field work.
What skills will I learn?
It depends on your project! However, most of our interns will work in standard GIS software packages and learn the basics of planning field work and note taking. Past that, some of our projects have allowed interns to build skills in:
| Software/Analytical | Field |
|---|---|
| ArcGIS Pro | Dye tracing |
| RStudio | Electrical resistivity tomography |
| QGIS | Water and soil sampling |
| Soil geochemistry | Drone lidar acquisition |
| TUFLOW | Soil infiltration testing |
| Lidar processing and interpretation | Field notes and measurements |
| Standard lab safety | Radon testing |
Intern Showcase
At the end of the internship, interns will present their work in a combined lightning talk and poster session. Short lightning talks provide interns the opportunity to concisely convey research products related to current and emerging KGS work. The poster session allows networking with future colleagues and requires the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in a visually appealing and compelling way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a paid experience?
Yes! This is a paid internship. Interns will be paid $15.75/hour (40hrs/week) as participants in the program.
Do I have to be a student at the University of Kentucky to apply?
No. Any interested incoming or enrolled undergraduate or master's level student at a higher education institution may apply.
Do I need to be a Geoscience major?
No, we welcome students with a wide range of related educational backgrounds. Our project topics vary from year to year and require skill sets from Environmental Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Public Health, Geography, Statistics, Communications, etc.
Do you have any tips about formatting our resume or cover letter?
We would like you to submit a one- or two-page resume and a one- or two-page letter of interest/cover letter.
We will use this information to get to know you and match you to a potential position.
Specific instructions are provided on the application form.
Don't stress too much about being the best or perfect.
We will have training exercises later in the program to help hone these skills.
If you would like your resume and cover letter reviewed before submission please submit a finalized draft version as a
Word document to kgspotterinternship@uky.edu
by February 1, 2027. Please include in your email, your name, and specific questions or
concerns you would like addressed.
Is housing provided?
Interns are responsible for paying for their local housing, transportation, parking, and food. The University of Kentucky provides the following campus options:
- Housing - Offers summer housing for students in a dormitory setting.
- Transportation - Provides information on public transit at the University of Kentucky.
- Parking - Details on parking permits at the University of Kentucky.
- Dining - Information on dining options at the University of Kentucky.
What is the time commitment?
The 2027 internship will run from May 17, 2027 to July 28, 2027. We expect interns to work 40 hours a week for the entire 10-week period and attend program seminars and field experiences.
Application Coming Soon!
We're finalizing the application for the 2027 Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program. Please check back soon!
Questions? Contact us:
kgspotterinternship@uky.edu