Students at Texas A&M University are gaining professional research field work experience thanks to a new water internship program by the Texas Water Resources Institute and Texas A&M’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“The goal is for these students to get hands-on experience with going out and collecting surface water quality data, flow data and more” explained TWRI Associate Director Lucas Gregory, Ph.D.
“I’ve had to think through how best to create opportunities for students and enhance what they’re getting in the classroom,” said Wendy Jepson, Ph.D., director of the college’s Environmental Programs and Environment and Sustainability Initiative and a previous associate director at TWRI. Students pursuing degrees in environmental programs can apply for the TWRI internship.
Trinity Jones, a sophomore in environmental programs, and Kaiya Haines, a junior in the program, are the first two TWRI water quality interns.
“These students are going to get experience in all of the techniques we use for sampling in the field,” Gregory said.
The interns will learn how to monitor water quality by collecting the following data in streams and creeks around central Texas: flow data, instream conditions, sample collection and ambient conditions.
Both Gregory and Jepson are excited to continue collaborating on new ways to help students gain skills and build networking connections in the water world.
“We want to really instill in students the importance and necessity of getting these internships and these high-impact educational experiences,” Jepson said.
Applications are now closed for the Summer and Fall semester internship program, applications for Spring 2025 are expected to open later this year.
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