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Careers: Opportunities for Students
Are you ready to accomplish something
really worthwhile in your career? If so,
consider joining the more than 17,000 men
and women of the EPA.
EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts, and works to protect our health and our environment.
Numerous opportunities are available within EPA for students to gain vital career experience while contributing to the mission of protecting human health and safeguarding the environment. Internships, fellowships and other opportunities are available in Washington, D.C., laboratories, and at regional EPA locations nationwide.
Agency employees interact with:
- industry;
- nonprofit organizations;
- state, local, and tribal governments; and
- other federal agencies.
EPA's employees are highly educated and technically trained. In fact, more than 50 percent are engineers, scientists and policy analysts. They are joined by many other talented individuals in scores of vital occupations, from legal and public affairs to finance and information technology.
Printable brochure: Internships, Fellowships and Other Student Programs at EPA (PDF) (2 pp., 115 KB, about PDF).
- For High School Students
- For College Students
- For Graduate Students
- Scholarships
- Other Student Opportunities
For High School Students
Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
The Student Career Experience Program in EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) offers career-related employment that will enrich your
academic experience through valuable work experience. To qualify, you
must be at least 16 years old and enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
More specifically, you must be taking at least a half-time academic
or vocational and technical course load at one of the following:
- accredited high school,
- technical or vocational school, or
- a two- or four-year accredited college or university at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional school level.
U.S. citizenship is required to be considered for a possible conversion to permanent employment.
Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
This program offers temporary employment that will enable you to earn
a salary while continuing your studies. The length of these positions
can range from three months during the summer to as long as you are
a student To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years
old and enrolled as a degree-seeking student. More specifically, you
must be taking at least a half-time academic or vocational and technical
course load at one of the following:
- accredited high school,
- technical or vocational school, or
- a two- or four-year accredited college or university at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional school level.
For College Students
National Network for Environmental Management
Studies (NNEMS)
A comprehensive fellowship program designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with
practical research opportunities and experiences. The projects are narrow
in scope to allow students to complete the research by working full-time
during the summer and/or part-time during the school year. Research
fellowships are available in:
- Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law;
- Environmental Management and Administration;
- Environmental Science; Public Relations and Communications; and
- Computer Programming and Development.
NNEMS fellows receive a stipend at a level determined by the student's level of education and the duration and location of the research project. Fellowships are offered to undergraduate and graduate students. Students must meet certain eligibility criteria.
The application deadline for the NNEMS Program is in the winter of each year with all projects beginning the following summer. Complete application information and materials can be obtained:
- in the Career Service Center (or equivalent) of colleges and universities;
- on the NNEMS Web site;
- by calling 1-800-358-8769; or
- by writing to Sheri Jojokian, NNEMS Program, US EPA (1704A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20460.
Student Services Contracting Authority
EPA's Office of Research and Development offers a unique and exciting career
opportunity for students seeking scientific or administrative services
experience in support of our mission. This opportunity is open to individuals
at least 18 years old who are currently enrolled in a degree program
at a recognized educational institution or are recent graduates (within
one year of graduation for BS and MS degrees and two years of graduation
for post docs). By means of flexible Personal Services Contracts, students
are hired as Student Services Contractors to work with our various laboratories,
research centers and offices located across the country. Student contractors
partake in an intensive hands-on employment experience over a 12-month
period (with an option for an additional 12 months) working side-by-side
with EPA mentors and/or scientists, who will provide day-to-day direction
and oversight. View more information and current openings.
Greater Research
Opportunities (GRO) Undergraduate Fellowships
The GRO fellowship program helps build capacity in universities with
limited funding for research by awarding undergraduate fellowships to
students in environmental fields. The purpose of the fellowship program
is to encourage promising students to obtain advanced degrees and pursue
careers in environmental fields.
Eligible students will receive support for their junior and senior years of undergraduate study and for an internship at an EPA facility during the summer between their junior and senior years.
For more information contact Georgette Boddie, USEPA Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Research or visit epa.gov/ncer/fellow.
Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) The Student Career Experience Program in EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) offers career-related employment that will enrich your academic experience through valuable work experience. To qualify, you must be at least 16 years old and enrolled as a degree-seeking student. More specifically, you must be taking at least a half-time academic or vocational and technical course load at one of the following:
- accredited high school,
- technical or vocational school, or
- a two- or four-year accredited college or university at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional school level.
U.S. citizenship is required to be considered for a possible conversion to permanent employment.
Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
This program offers temporary employment that will enable you to earn
a salary while continuing your studies. The length of these positions
can range from three months during the summer to as long as you are
a student To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years
old and enrolled as a degree-seeking student. More specifically, you
must be taking at least a half-time academic or vocational and technical
course load at one of the following:
- accredited high school,
- technical or vocational school, or
- a two- or four-year accredited college or university at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional school level.
Tribal Lands Environmental Science Scholarship
Program
This program enables Native Americans to work for the environmental
protection of tribal lands by assisting them in their pursuit of environmental
science degrees. Full-time junior, senior, and graduate students majoring
in an environmental discipline are eligible to compete for the scholarships.
Students compete based on grade-point average, knowledge of Indian culture,
commitment to environmental protection, character and leadership ability,
level of study, and work experience.
EPA works with the American Indian Science
and Engineering Society (AISES) 
to
select the scholarship winners. Students wishing to apply should do so
through AISES, which has chapters on many college campuses and may be
contacted at 1630 30th Street, Suite 301, Boulder, CO 80301 or by calling
(303) 939-0023. Applications must be postmarked by June 15 of each year.
For Graduate Students
National Network for Environmental Management
Studies (NNEMS)
A comprehensive fellowship program designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with
practical research opportunities and experiences. The projects are narrow
in scope to allow students to complete the research by working full-time
during the summer and/or part-time during the school year. Research
fellowships are available in:
- Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law;
- Environmental Management and Administration;
- Environmental Science; Public Relations and Communications; and
- Computer Programming and Development.
NNEMS fellows receive a stipend at a level determined by the student's level of education and the duration and location of the research project. Fellowships are offered to undergraduate and graduate students. Students must meet certain eligibility criteria.
The application deadline for the NNEMS Program is in the winter of each year with all projects beginning the following summer. Complete application information and materials can be obtained:
- in the Career Service Center (or equivalent) of colleges and universities;
- on the NNEMS Web site;
- by calling 1-800-358-8769; or
- by writing to Sheri Jojokian, NNEMS Program, US EPA (1704A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20460.
Student Services Contracting Authority
EPA's Office of Research and Development offers a unique and exciting career
opportunity for students seeking scientific or administrative services
experience in support of our mission. This opportunity is open to individuals
at least 18 years old who are currently enrolled in a degree program
at a recognized educational institution or are recent graduates (within
one year of graduation for BS and MS degrees and two years of graduation
for post docs). By means of flexible Personal Services Contracts, students
are hired as Student Services Contractors to work with our various laboratories,
research centers and offices located across the country. Student contractors
partake in an intensive hands-on employment experience over a 12-month
period (with an option for an additional 12 months) working side-by-side
with EPA mentors and/or scientists, who will provide day-to-day direction
and oversight. View more information and current openings.
Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study
EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program funds research grants and graduate fellowships in numerous environmental science and engineering disciplines through a competitive solicitation process and independent peer review. The program engages the nation’s best scientists and engineers in targeted research that complements EPA’s own outstanding intramural research program and those of our partners in other federal agencies.
This program awards graduate education fellowships for master's and doctoral level students in environmentally related fields of study. The purpose of the fellowship program is to encourage promising students to obtain advanced degrees and pursue careers in environmental fields. Master's level students may receive support for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students may be supported for a maximum of three years with funding available, under certain circumstances, over a period of four years. The application period starts in the summer and remains open for three months.
For more information contact Stephanie Willett, USEPA Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Research or visit epa.gov/ncer/fellow.
Tribal Lands Environmental Science Scholarship
Program
This program enables Native Americans to work for the environmental
protection of tribal lands by assisting them in their pursuit of environmental
science degrees. Full-time junior, senior, and graduate students majoring
in an environmental discipline are eligible to compete for the scholarships.
Students compete based on grade-point average, knowledge of Indian culture,
commitment to environmental protection, character and leadership ability,
level of study, and work experience.
EPA works with the American Indian Science
and Engineering Society (AISES) to
select the scholarship winners. Students wishing to apply should do so
through AISES, which has chapters on many college campuses and may be
contacted at 1630 30th Street, Suite 301, Boulder, CO 80301 or by calling
(303) 939-0023. Applications must be postmarked by June 15 of each year.
Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
The Student Career Experience Program in EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) offers career-related employment that will enrich your
academic experience through valuable work experience. To qualify, you
must be at least 16 years old and enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
More specifically, you must be taking at least a half-time academic
or vocational and technical course load at one of the following:
- accredited high school,
- technical or vocational school, or
- a two- or four-year accredited college or university at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional school level.
U.S. citizenship is required to be considered for a possible conversion to permanent employment.
Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
This program offers temporary employment that will enable you to earn
a salary while continuing your studies. The length of these positions
can range from three months during the summer to as long as you are
a student To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years
old and enrolled as a degree-seeking student. More specifically, you
must be taking at least a half-time academic or vocational and technical
course load at one of the following:
- accredited high school,
- technical or vocational school, or
- a two- or four-year accredited college or university at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional school level.
Scholarships
Marshall Scholarship
In recognition of the global nature of environmental challenges and
the need to pool the resources of many nations to solve environmental
problems, EPA has joined with the United Kingdom's Marshall Aid Commemoration
Commission, which has been administering the esteemed Marshall Scholarship
since 1953. Through an EPA Marshall Scholarship, up to three talented
individuals with strong backgrounds in environmentally relevant sciences
are selected each year to receive up to five years of graduate education
assistance. The first two years are supported by the UK, through a Marshall
Scholarship to a university in Great Britain. Successful candidates
may receive up to three additional years of support towards a doctoral
degree, either in England or in the US. Applications are due each year
on October 1. Visit the Marshall Scholarship Web site for more information.
Other Student Opportunities
All of the links below will take you out of the EPA Web site.