Why Participate?

“The mentor I worked with during my internship ended up taking me on as a master's student. My thesis was actually an extension of the project I had worked on as an intern. Now I'm employed at the KGS continuing my research on the same subject."

“I took my project to the Geological Society of America annual meeting and presented it to many others. This has helped my career as an up-and-coming geologist.”

“I’d tell them to go for it, even if they’re unsure – it’s absolutely worth it. The internship gave me valuable hands-on experience and opportunities I didn’t have in school. The mentors and other KGS employees were incredibly supportive and genuinely invested in helping interns learn and grow. I gained so much from the experience and am truly grateful I decided to apply.” 

“If you like being outside, hands-on learning, and fun adventures, then this internship is for you.”

 “Be open to working on a project outside of your main field of interest. The internship is the perfect opportunity to work with a lot of people with varying areas of expertise.”

 “The best word of advice I can give to people applying is to to relax and just be themselves! Don't be afraid to ask questions during interviews or show off your personality, and don't be worried if you don't have a concrete view of what you want to do. The mentors at KGS come from such diverse backgrounds and have diverse specialties, if you are passionate and driven but lack defined direction, this internship is immensely beneficial.”

“It's almost impossible for me to pick the most valuable part of my experience as a Potter intern, as I value each part of the whole experience. The mentors are such amazing support and spending 10 weeks with the other interns allows you to connect so much. You get feedback on your resumes and cover letters, advice from graduates on what to do and expect post-grad, and most importantly you get a strong support system that lasts a lifetime.”

 “Getting to hear from professionals at all different stages of their careers. It really helped me understand the different paths everyone takes and just how many opportunities are out there.”

“The Potter experience helped me gain confidence in my ability as a researcher, presenter, and team member. The experience gave me the opportunity and the guidance to push myself.” 

“My Potter experience gave me the insight into expanding my education into a field I never would have considered prior to my internship. I have been able to marry my passion of earth science and helping people impacted by hazardous exposure through environmental health studies.” 

“The poster development and presentation experience made me feel more confident in my work and allowed me to get outside my comfort zone. It also sparked a new interest in pursuing more research projects!”

“As an environmental science student who focuses on wildlife, it was scary coming into a building full of geologists. I couldn't even remember what a fault was from my first geology class. However, even when I felt silly for not knowing, nobody ever judged and were more than happy to teach anything we needed. Of my cohort, there were half of us that were geology majors, and the other half were environmental science; a diverse background will really help with the internship!”