OneSTEM Hub
The OneSTEM hub is a central nexus of available STEM education, training, and capacity building opportunities in the Arctic. This virtual platform includes information pertaining to STEM programs in the Arctic or STEM programs relevant to the Arctic. The general focus is on undergraduate internship programs, but other opportunities are included.
STEM is commonly used to refer to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines. Education in and about the Arctic comes in other forms, however, such as through art and through Indigenous ways of knowing. Thus we endeavor to consider STEM as inclusive of science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, and Indigenous ways of knowing. Together these are complementary means of knowing and understanding the Arctic.
The OneSTEM hub is not intended to be a repository of all things STEM in the Arctic but as a place where those interested in STEM education opportunities can learn about available STEM programs, and where students and community members can offer suggestions and ideas for STEM programming that meets community needs. As resource capacity allows, we envision expanding the scope of information and interaction. The hub is maintained by the Education, Training, and Capacity Building Collaboration Team.
Please help us continue to improve this resource by sharing your feedback. If you have questions, please contact web@iarpccollaborations.org.
Federal Programs
Centers for Disease Control
- Lewis/Ferguson Internship/Fellowship: ’s Office of Health Equity (OHE) supports the John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (Lewis Scholars) Program and the Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases (Ferguson) Graduate Fellowship. These programs provide internship and fellowship opportunities for qualified undergraduate and graduate students to gain meaningful experiences in public health settings.
- Epidemic Intelligence Service: The Epidemic Intelligence Service is a long-standing, globally-recognized fellowship program, renowned for its investigative and emergency response efforts.
- Other fellowships and internships: has many fellowship, internship, training, and volunteer opportunities for students and professionals.
Denali Commission
Introduced by Congress in 1998, the Denali Commission is an independent federal agency designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure, and economic support throughout Alaska. With the creation of the Denali Commission, Congress acknowledged the need for increased interagency cooperation and focus on Alaska’s remote communities.
From time to time grant opportunities through the Denali Commission make student programming available.
(Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program
is an international science and education program that focuses on promoting scientific literacy and building connections between people passionate about the environment. has three primary goals: increasing environmental awareness, contributing to increased scientific understanding of the Earth and supporting improved student achievement in science and mathematics. By participating in , students, teachers, researchers and lifelong learners can connect with the program’s global community.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration ()
- DEVELOP program: The DEVELOP program offers internships in various locations, including the Arctic, focusing on Earth science and remote sensing applications.
- Internship Program: These seasonal internships can be in-person or virtual. MUREP offers some funding for Tribal college students.
National Institutes of Health ()
- Fellowships: provides individual research training opportunities (including international) to trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels.
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS): NIGMS’ Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD) supports individuals and institutions that foster research training and the development of a strong and diverse biomedical research workforce through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and faculty levels.
- National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities (): The National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities () includes training and career development programs. These programs may be especially relevant for students interested in biomedical research on health issues faced by Alaska Native populations:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ()
hosts a variety of internship and fellowship programs, some of which are relevant to the Arctic.
has opportunities for students of any level—from kindergarten through high school, undergraduate and graduate, and even recent graduates. Opportunities include one-day events, summer internships at , multi-year fellowships, and more. Use the filters to narrow your search and find the opportunities that work for you.
IN FISH: An Inclusive Fisheries Internship Program is an undergraduate internship program in the marine science and resource management fields designed to support students under-represented in the marine sciences.
National Science Foundation () Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program
funds various REU programs at universities and research institutions, some of which may include Arctic-focused research opportunities. These programs specifically focus on the Arctic:
Smithsonian Institution Arctic Studies Center
The Smithsonian offers internships and graduate, pre-, post-, and senior fellowships administered through the Office of Fellowships. Successful Arctic candidates are supervised by staff of the Arctic Studies Center in Washington or its regional office at the Anchorage Museum.
The Smithsonian’s Department of Anthropology has a Repatriation Office that works with Alaska Native groups concerning their interests and claims.
The Natural History Museum offers fellowships for its Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA) for students interested in studies of museum collections.
U.S. Department of Energy ()
While not specific to the Arctic, the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program offers internships in various laboratories, some of which may conduct research relevant to Arctic science.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ()
The US Fish and Wildlife Service offers a range of internship and career opportunities.
U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Region ()
- Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program Summer Bridge: Alaska Regional Office has a formal partnership with the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) at the University of Alaska to provide research opportunities through the ANSEP Summer Bridge program. Several of these internships have been in the Arctic and others are in sub-arctic areas of Alaska.
- STEM Educational Partnerships: The Alaska Science Center, Volcano Science Center, and the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center all have their primary offices located in Anchorage and on the campus of Alaska Pacific University (APU). and APU have a long history of providing science opportunities for students in Alaska. These have typically been through volunteer agreements that allow students to work on projects, gain experience and training in science fields, and find opportunities to turn some of their work into material for their required junior year practicum and senior projects at APU. Those volunteer opportunities will continue, but there is now an additional program available to staff and APU students: the STEM Educational Partnerships. This national program provides students who attend minority-serving institutions (MSI), including Alaska Pacific University, with training opportunities at the . More information about the national STEM Educational Partnerships Program can be found here.
Nongovernmental Organization Programs
Alaska Conservation Foundation
- Ted Smith Conservation Internship Program: The program is specifically targeted toward students who plan a career path in conservation and are willing to make a long-term commitment to preserving and protecting the pristine environment and diverse cultures of Alaska.
- Arctic Youth Ambassador Program: This program provides opportunities for young people interested in Arctic issues to engage in diplomacy and international cooperation.
Alaska Aerospace Corp.
Alaska Aerospace regularly offers paid and unpaid internships for college students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or business fields. Internships are conducted during the summer and are also available throughout the academic year for Anchorage and Kodiak-based students.
Alaska Fellows Program
The Alaska Fellows Program (AFP) is a fall-to-spring residential fellowship program that nurtures the next generation of Alaska-based leaders by pairing talented young people with strong communities and professional mentors.
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program
The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) provides inspiration, guidance, and opportunity for students from over 100 Alaskan communities.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium () Alaska Indigenous Research Program
offers paid internships to those interested in health research with the desire to gain hands-on, in-person research skills and experience in Alaska.
The goal of the Alaska Youth Stewards program is to provide youth from rural Southeast Alaska with a well-supported pathway to becoming productive, empowered, and happy contributors to our region’s cultural vibrancy, economic prosperity, and ecological resilience.
American Indian Science & Engineering Society ()
’s internship program offers an exciting opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and explore potential STEM careers while working with top-notch partner agencies.
Anchorage School District
The Anchorage School District Gifted Mentorship Program is for exceptional Anchorage School District high school juniors and seniors who are self disciplined and interested in pursuing an independent study under the direction of a professional/expert in a field of great interest to the student. The program gives motivated, mature high school students an idea of what it is like to work in a field of their interest by being teamed with a professional who acts as their mentor. Students spend 45-60 hours with their mentor and earn half an elective credit for the mentorship when they successfully complete several assignments, including a final project. Students have been placed with a variety of businesses and agencies in Anchorage, including work on Arctic topics.
Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat (IPS) Internship Program
IPS offers internships for individuals interested in Arctic Indigenous issues and policy.
Arctic Research Consortium of the United States ()
supports a number of student opportunities and has relevant resources for students.
- Arctic Indigenous Scholars Program: The objective of this opportunity is to create a space for Indigenous scholars to educate and inform policy- and decision-makers engaged in Arctic issues from the nation's capital, Washington DC.
- Early Career Conference Funding Award: The Early Career Conference Funding Award supports US-based early career researchers and students to participate in meetings and events relevant to Arctic research.
- ArcticInfo: ArcticInfo is a moderated mailing list maintained by . The list provides subscribers with timely information about Arctic meetings, publications, position announcements, funding opportunities, and other useful news that would be of interest to students. This is a ‘must’ mailing list for students looking for career opportunities, funding, and Arctic events.
- Connect the Arctic: Connect the Arctic is an online community site. There are several groups that can be joined where members can collaborate, share knowledge, and engage in discussions about various topics related to the Arctic. For students, the community site is a great way to connect with Arctic community members and Arctic focused researchers and educators, and learn about resources and opportunities.
- Conducting Research with Northern Communities: has a compilation of resources, recommendations, and "best practices" from a variety of organizations for conducting research with Northern Communities. This is a great resource for students starting their own research.
Caleb Scholars Program
A community based program in Alaska, the Caleb Scholars Program supports Alaska Native students from Arctic regions. Scholars continue Caleb Pungowiyi’s legacy of advocacy by stewarding our ancestral knowledge and protecting our Arctic communities and ecosystems.
Canada: Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship
The Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship is a nine-month fellowship funded by the Canadian Government to empower Arctic and Northern youth from three Arctic countries, including Greenland, the United States (Alaska), and Canada, to serve a direct role in sustainable development and benefit from the prosperity of resilient Arctic communities. Fellows will also travel to all three participating regions for hands-on learning experiences and workshops.
Earthscope Consortium
Earthscope Consortium operates the National Science Foundation’s Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (GAGE) and Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE).
Earthscope offers a variety of paid summer internships for undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates. These internships provide a spectrum of experiences ranging from research skill development, to full scientific research experiences, and others that provide professional work experience.
Through their student-focused programs, they commit to providing a safe, engaging, supportive and connected learning environment to enable students to explore career possibilities within geoscience. Students are welcomed into a large community of diverse students, educators, and mentors, providing a network of support that extends beyond the summer programs.
Greenland Ice sheet Ocean Science Network ()
is an international, open network of scientists interested in working together to address the large, complex questions associated with recent changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet, and its impact on the surrounding ocean (including the marine ecosystem), the atmosphere and communities living around Greenland's coastal margins. Some internships may be available.
Ilisagvik College
From time to time Ilisagvik College has student intern opportunities funded through research grants from other institutions.
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska offers unique, tuition-free science, art, and outdoor programs for 16-18 year-old youth with identities marginalized in STEM and outdoor fields.
Joint Science Education Project (JSEP)
The Joint Science Education Project is a program for high school students from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark, and graduate students from the U.S., participating in a 3-week geoscience field course in Greenland, or a one-week remote Arctic science course. provides funding for U.S. participants via a grant to Dartmouth College.
Juneau Icefield Research Program (University of Maine and University of Alaska Southeast)
The Juneau Icefield Research Program's mission is to provide an unrivaled educational and expeditionary experience in the stunning Coast Mountains of Alaska and British Columbia. We give students a wide range of training in Earth sciences, wilderness survival, and mountaineering skills, and provide unique opportunities for team building and personal growth.
Permafrost Engineering Education Program (PEEP) of the U.S. Permafrost Association (USPA)
PEEP aims to advance the knowledge of permafrost engineering for K-12 and college students and the public. PEEP particularly provides educational opportunities and experiences for students and early career professionals to better understand the permafrost system, engineering applications and solutions, and societal impact.
Research Experiences in Solid Earth Science for Students
RESESS is a summer internship program dedicated to increasing the diversity of students entering the geosciences. RESESS supports interns in summer research experiences as well as provides professional development opportunities and graduate school application support.
University of Alaska Fairbanks
- GEOFORCE: GeoFORCE Alaska is a four-year program. Each summer, the cohort of students reunites to attend a two week academy in a different region of the U.S. Over four years, students will practice field geology at destinations including Denali National Park, the Grand Canyon, Crater Lake, Dinosaur National Monument, and Yellowstone. The four-year model of our program is designed to spark interest in the geosciences at a young age and maintain that interest throughout high school and into college.
- Alaska Sea Grant Community Engaged Fellowships: The Sea Grant CEF program seeks students interested in marine and coastal science, policy or related fields as well as science communication and education. The program’s goal is to broaden participation in coastal and marine sciences and related fields in order to make them inclusive and representative of the many cultures, ethnicities and identities of students in Alaska by providing training and mentorship to early-stage university and community college students as well as recent graduates from high school or college.
- Teaching Through Technology (T3 program): The Teaching Through Technology Alaska program, “T3” Alaska, is an alliance of students, educators, and community partners who are dedicated to collaboration, empathy, and equity in learning. In high school, T3 Alaska students explore STEAM studies through focused curriculum, problem-based learning, and service projects of relevance to their communities. In post-secondary education, T3 Alaska connects students with community partners’ research, career and internship opportunities. Statewide, T3 Alaska students gain access to curricula, mentorship, peer and professional networks, training workshops, travel opportunities, project funding, and STEAM technology. The T3 Alliance Alaska program is open to all students at participating schools. There is no cost for students to participate. Some students may be eligible to join Upward Bound for additional opportunities.