Help develop the next generation of leaders and diversify the environmental fields through hands-on, place-based, and culturally-responsive science outreach in local K-12 schools.
The Bio/Diversity Project offers internships hosted through the Women in Science and Engineering Program. These programs are open to University of Arizona undergraduate students in any major.
The Bio/Diversity Project provides students with a hands-on science outreach experience in local Title 1 K-12 classrooms. During the 2024-2025 academic year, we are partnering with local middle schools to facilitate outreach activities with 6th-8th grade students. Bio/Diversity Project interns have the opportunity to work alongside educators in delivering place-based and identity-based environmental science curricula to groups of underrepresented students. In addition, students will participate in a weekly 2-hour professional development seminar focused on developing science communication skills and broadening their understanding of environmental science, gender, and racial equity issues. This internship is a 1-semester commitment and requires 8 hours of work per week. It is an unpaid opportunity, but students are able to enroll in 3 units of academic credit through their home department. Applications for Spring 2025 are due November 24, 2024.
Apply for the Spring 2025 Bio/Diversity Project internship program
Download the Spring 2025 online application questions as a word document below:
The Bio/Diversity Project internship is unpaid.
Students can enroll in 3 units of academic credit through their department of choice! Many students are able to count the internship credit towards their major and graduation requirements. Weekly seminars contain professional development opportunities as well as networking potential to connect with local experts in the field.
The internship requires a commitment of 8 hours each week, including a 2-hour weekly seminar on Mondays from 3-5pm that takes place on campus. Interns are required to have at least 2 additional hours available Monday-Friday 8am-4pm when they can teach K-12 students. The rest of the time can be spent remotely preparing outreach activities, developing science communication skills, and researching relevant environmental topics.
Eligible applicants are undergraduate students in any major who are:
- Enrolled for at least 6 undergraduate units of credit at the University of Arizona.
- Living in Tucson during the 2024-25 academic year.
- Passionate about environmental conservation and teaching middle and high school students at local TITLE 1 schools
- Students with underrepresented identities are strongly encouraged to apply, including students of color, gender minorities, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and others.
Student interns can enroll in 3-units of academic credit through a number of UArizona departments, including, but not limited to the following:
- Agriculture and Resource Economics
- Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
- Biosystems Engineering
- Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies
- Family Studies and Human Development
- Gender and Women's Studies
- General Studies
- Geography and Development
- Geosciences
- Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
- iSchool
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Natural Resources and the Environment
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
- Optical Sciences
- Public Health
- Public and Applied Humanities
- School of Government & Public Policy
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Sustainable Built Environments
- Teaching, Learning, and Social Cultural Studies
- UArizona Honors College
Each academic department has different requirements for enrolling in internship credit. Students are responsible for connecting with their academic advisor in order to learn about the process for enrolling in credit.
Q: Who is eligible for the 2024-2025 Bio/Diversity Project internship opportunities?
A: The Bio/Diversity Project internship opportunities are open to University of Arizona undergraduates in any major
Q: What do Bio/Diversity Project Interns do?
A: Bio/Diversity Project Interns work collaboratively to gain and develop various professional skills as well as classroom skills that will help them become better teachers. They will learn many of these skills by attending a weekly 2-hour seminar but will also spend time physically in the classroom teaching environmental science lessons to K-12 students.
Q: What are the benefits for students?
A: The Bio/Diversity Project internship allows students to develop and grow various professional skills such as science communication, collaboration, public speaking, and more. They will also have the opportunity to develop teaching-specific skills such as classroom management, experience working with lesson plans, and more. Students are also able to enroll for up to 3-units of academic credit for their participation.
Q: Are the Bio/Diversity Project internship opportunities virtual or in person?
A: The Bio/Diversity Project internship takes place in person. There will be some tasks and work that can be done virtually, however in-person availability will be required for weekly seminar attendance and teaching in a local classroom.
Q: Can I do this program if I have another part-time job?
A: Applicants are encouraged to reflect on their workload when applying for these internship opportunities. You will be required to work 8 hours per week (depending on which Bio/Diversity Project internship you are accepted to) and will be expected to be available for that number of hours each week.
Q: What is the process for application review and internship matching?
A: The first round of the application process is applying to one of the Bio/Diversity internship opportunities through the online application. Once the applications are closed, they will all be reviewed by Bio/Diversity Project staff. If your application is accepted, you will receive an email to set up an interview. Once all interviews are done, we will reach out and let you know if you have been accepted into the program.
Please reach out to Dr. Stephanie Murphy at sumurphy@arizona.edu
The Spring 2025 Flyer is available below:
Thank you to our generous funders!
The Bio/Diversity Project is funded by the Campus Sustainability Fund and the National Science Foundation for the 2024-2025 academic year. Thank you to the Arizona Institute for Resilient Environments and Societies (2022-2024), the Department of Environmental Science, the Honor's College, the School of Geography, Development, and the Environment at the University of Arizona, the Arizona Institutes for Resilient Environments and Societies (AIRES), and the Office of Sustainability Campus Sustainability Fund (2021-2022), and the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice and the University of Arizona Green Fund for all of your generous support (2017-2021).
