Pioneer Trails Regional Museum

Pioneer Trails Regional Museum in Bowman, ND is seeking a summer intern o work in the department of paleontology. With preference to geology or biology students, the positions are open to all students with a genuine interest and knowledge of paleontology, especially those aspiring to further their experience outside the classroom. The intern will gain experience with leading field tours, specimen preparation for exhibit display and research, virtual engagement, and more. Click here for more information and to apply. Applications are due January 31st, 2024.

Paleontological Society Geoscience Policy Internship at the American Geosciences Institute (AGI)

Please note: This organization is not currently offering internships. Check again in the future!

The Paleontological Society will support two of its student members to become a Geoscience Policy Intern at the AGI.  The intern will be immersed in the policy-making process in Washington, DC, where they will observe, study, and report on how policy making intersects with and affects the geosciences. They will gain first-hand policy experience and improving their understanding of the legislative process.

Applicants must be current student members of the Paleontological Society and must be eligible to work in the U.S. and currently enrolled in or have recently completed an undergraduate or graduate geoscience-related degree program. The total salary for the 12-week internship is $13,000.

To apply, visit https://www.americangeosciences.org/policy/internships/paleo

iDigBio Natural History Collections Summer Internship

Please note: This organization is not currently offering internships. Check again in the future!

The iDigBio Summer Internship program will provide funding for undergraduate students from accredited institutions to work within a partnering natural history collection over an 8-week period during the summer. Interns will be expected to help with the digitization, curation, and research efforts in their lab, with options to complete their own research project. Interns will participate in virtual and in-person meet-ups with their cohort to build professional skills including, but not limited to: grant writing, scientific poster designs, and scientific writing throughout their cohort year. Interns will also receive funding to attend a professional meeting in 2023 to disseminate their research and experience to the greater science community. Interns will also have the option to participate as peer mentors for subsequent cohorts.

Wyoming Dinosaur Center

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center offers paid internship opportunities that include field work, fossil preparation, education, and research.  The position includes a stipend and housing facilities. Please see the internships page of their website for more information. Applications are due January 31st, 2024.

Makoshika State Park (Montana)

Makoshika State Park interns can gain experience in various fields of work. The program is open to any student currently enrolled in an accredited university/college. Positions typically range from paleontology, geology, outdoor recreation, and more with various state parks. Click here to view all currently available positions.

• Paleontology Intern

Great Plains Dinosaur Museum & Field Station

Please note: This organization is not currently offering internships. Check again in the future!

The GPDM museum has offered paid internship positions in recent summers, and may do so again soon.  In 2022, they offered internships in Museum Operations and Fossil Preparation. Check their website often for details. 

The Mammoth Site

The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota is offering paid summer internships positions in 2024. As a Mammoth Site Intern, you will work closely with Mammoth Site staff to learn excavation, preservation, curation techniques of Cenozoic fossils, and more. Click here for more information. Applications are due January 16th, 2024.

• Up to 40 hours per week for 10-16 weeks (may include some weekends).

• Compensation: $12.50/hour with onsite housing*.

Cleveland Museum of Natural HIstory

The Kirtlandia Research Internship Program at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History offers paid summer internship opportunities to college students in a number of fields. New opportunities are posted on this page in February, 2024.

• Compensation: $15 per hour, plus up to $200 for expenses for materials required by the project, minus payroll deductions.

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History has hosted a variety of internships in the past, including some focused on paleontology. All internship positions are 8 weeks long, unless otherwise stated. Check this page for all listed opportunities for 2024. Applications are due January 26th, 2024.

Paleontological Research Institute

Please note: This organization is not currently offering internships. Check again in the future!

The Paleontological Research Institute in Ithaca, New York offers flexible internship opportunities at the Museum of the Earth and Cayuga Nature Center. Check this page often for new opportunities or contact Amanda Kelly at volunteer(at)priweb.org for details.  

National Parks Service - Scientists-in-the-Parks

The National Park Service offers individuals opportunities for paid internships in various national parks and monuments. Check out their website or below for details. Summer positions start between May - September. Click this link to view a complete list of currently available positions. Application deadlines vary by position and season. The next application period will open in December 2023 for positions starting between May - September 2024.

Current paleontology internships include:

• Badlands National Park - Paleontology Assistant (x3)

• Geologic Resources Division - Paleontology Assistant

• Waco Mammoth National Monument - Paleontology Assistant

Latino Heritage Internship Program (NPS Youth)

Work alongside National Park Service historians, interpreters, archaeologists, architects, researchers, biologists, communicators, and other professionals in different national parks, offices, and historical sites throughout the nation! Throughout the 11-12 week program, you will have substantive assignments in your area of study, work closely with NPS staff day-to-day, and receive additional mentoring and support through the program partners. Click here to view all positions and apply. Applications are due February 5th, 2024.

Paleontological Society

The Paleontological Society will support two of its student members to become a Geoscience Policy Intern at the American Geosciences Institute. The intern will take on substantive work while at AGI. They will be immersed in the policy-making process in Washington, DC, where they will observe, study, and report on how policy making intersects with and affects the geosciences. They will hone their writing and web publishing skills while gaining first-hand policy experience and improving their understanding of the legislative process. Visit the website for more information. Applications are due March 15th, 2024.

Raymond M. Alf Museum - ACCESS Paleo

Through the Raymond M. Alf Museum, ACCESS Paleo is intended to recruit community college students from historically excluded groups and communities who seek to transfer to four-year institutions in pursuit of a degree in paleontology, museum science, and other related fields. This is a 7-week paid summer internship where participants will gain experience in paleontology, museum science, and science communication while networking with professionals in the field. Interns will work with museum staff and mentors to learn skills in fossil preparation, collections management, and curation. Students will also be provided an opportunity to participate in a summer research project. In addition, weekly field trips to other science institutions and universities will provide students an opportunity to meet and learn about career paths from professionals currently in the field. Applications are due by March 5th, 2024. Click here for more information and to apply.

Program duration: June 25 - August 8, 2024

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture

Apply for the 2024 Spring Internship Program at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture to gain hands-on experience and see what the museum field has to offer! You don’t need to be an anthropology, archaeology, or art student to apply - they welcome all majors. Assist in museum communications, build exhibition materials, conduct research in the Laboratory for Environmental Archaeology, learn fundraising fundamentals, and more as a McClung intern. Apply via Handshake. Applications closed on October 27th, 2023.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Apply for a Summer 2024 internship at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences! Work with scientists and educators to help fulfill the museum’s mission of “illuminating the natural world and inspiring its conservation”. There are several internships available in multiple locations and departments. The museum also has several positions posted on their LinkedIn page.

Spring applications are now closed, but summer applications will open February 2024.

• Downtown Raleigh

• Prairie Ridge Ecostation and Research Labs

• NCMNS at Whiteville

• Greenville/Grifton

Click here to check out internships with partners of NCMNS.

Montana Dinosaur Center

The Montana Dinosaur Center is looking for several summer field instructors to join our team for the summer of 2024. Summer staff will work with our staff to maintain and improve the museum, run public education programs, manage dig sites, and inspire the next generation of scientists. This is an entry level position with an emphasis on field work and public communication. Ideal candidates will be comfortable with public speaking, including telling stories about natural history to a variety of audiences. Click here for more details and to apply. Applications are due February 10th, 2024 or until all positions have been filled.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

AZMNH has launched a brand-new paid internship initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of museum and science professionals in a diverse and inclusive educational environment. The internship program will provide aspiring minds with unparalleled opportunities to explore the wonders of the natural world while fostering a passion for conservation and providing participants with behind-the-scenes knowledge of museum operations. AZMNH is offering Academic and Work Experience internships up to 40 hours per week for 12 weeks at $16 per hour. Opportunities are available for Spring and Summer 2024. Click here to apply.

Yorkshire Natural History Museum

The 6-week program over the summer provides real practical training to students wishing to pursue a career in paleontology. Components included in the itinerary are paleontological conservation, fossil preparation, museum curation, scientific communication, public outreach, fossil digitization, CT training, field work, research, and more. The Internship Program operates during the summer for 6 weeks, July - August. Applicants must be enrolled in or have recently graduated from a university in paleontology, geology, zoology, earth science or a related discipline. Click here for more information and to apply. Applications are due April 12th, 2024.

Utah State University Prehistoric Museum

This program offers 8 weeks of hands-on experience with field work, fossil preparation, and paleontology collections as an intern with the Prehistoric Museum in Price, Utah. Applications are due March 18th, 2024 via Handshake.

• Job #: 8732155

• Pay: $15 per hour

Volunteer Opportunities with Elevation Science Institute

The Elevation Science Institute has many excellent opportunities for students to gain valuable experience and build their resumes.  These are also opportunities which would be an enormous help in advancing our mission. Volunteer opportunities with the Elevation Science Institute may include:

• Fossil preparation

• Collections digitization

• Education & Outreach

• Marketing/Promotion

• Grant Writing/Development

• Social Media

• Fundraising

These opportunities are mostly available in Philadelphia or remotely. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.  

Looking to strengthen your resume?

As you can see below, paleontology internships are few and far between, and there are a lot of students and recent graduates out there looking for the same opportunities.  

Need an opportunity to strengthen your resume?  

Consider joining our field expeditions! Whether you join as an Expedition Crew Member or register for our 3-credit course, you'll get the experience needed to set yourself apart from the other applicants.