Position Overview
The Geohydrology Section of the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kansas (KU) invites applications for multiple KGS Geohydrology Summer Research Assistantship positions for the summer of 2025. The positions are available for upper-level undergraduates, recent graduates, or graduate students with an interest in interdisciplinary water science, including biogeochemistry, ecohydrology, and hydrogeology. Established in 1997, positions in the KGS summer internship program have been held by students from a variety of institutions across the US and abroad. Many past participants have co-authored articles or conference presentations based on the summer work, and students would be encouraged to continue work on projects as part of an undergraduate or graduate thesis following the conclusion of the internship if interested.
About the KGS | Kansas Geological Survey (ku.edu)
In 2025, we anticipate hiring between 2-4 interns. Interns can apply for one of two tracks:
- Ecohydrology Track (led by Sam Zipper): These interns will conduct research on the characterization and analysis of groundwater and surface water resources, and interactions between water resources, ecosystems, and society. Projects on this track will primarily be data science and modeling-focused.
- Biogeochemistry Track (led by Erin Seybold): These interns will conduct research focused on understanding the drivers of groundwater and surface water quality in various settings. This may include collecting and analyzing water quality samples, working with high-frequency water quality sensor networks, and synthesizing and analyzing long-term water quality data. Projects on this track may include both lab work and data science approaches.
Interns in both tracks will work closely with collaborating KGS scientists, staff, and students to complete summer research projects that meet project needs and align with intern career goals and interests. While the interns will specialize in one of these two tracks, they will have opportunities to work together and with other students to gain interdisciplinary experience and exposure to a variety of methods.
More information on the internship program is available here: https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Hydro/gipIndex.html