The Experience You Need to Make a Difference for the Planet

Wrigley Institute internships aren’t about making coffee: they’re about getting into the field and making a meaningful difference in the world.

We offer several types of internships each year, for both USC and non-USC students. All internships are paid, and all include professional development and mentoring alongside hands-on professional experience.

Applications for our 2024 internships are currently closed, but complete our interest form to be notified when applications open for 2025 internships.

Complete the interest form
undergraduate student Audrey Stavish, dressed in olive green cargo pants and a tan sweater, holds a radio antenna overhead as she stands on a scrubby hillside

Gaining Confidence in the Field

Environmental studies major Sedona Silva has known from a young age that she wanted to work in a zoo. Thanks to a Wrigley Institute-sponsored conservation internship with the L.A. Zoo, she’s one step closer to realizing her dream.

Learn more about Sedona’s experience

“It’s been so meaningful to feel a true sense of belonging within the conservation community. Through my work [at the L.A. Zoo], I’ve gained more confidence in my identity as a scientist and environmentalist. The connections I made with my mentors and fellow interns will surely be invaluable as I continue on my career path in the conservation field.”

Sedona Silva, 2023 conservation intern
Sedona Silva, a student wearing a gray-blue T-shirt, peers at a tiny camel cricket perched on the edge of her fingers

Choose the Right Internship for You

Whether you want to research novel solutions to environmental and sustainability problems, sway public opinion on climate issues, or help protect vulnerable ecosystems, we have an internship tailored to your ambitions. We also provide financial support to enable students to pursue outside internships that are unpaid or underpaid.

Research Internships

The Wrigley Institute’s summer research internships are 10-week, paid experiences that pair interns with USC faculty and graduate students to advance existing research in coastal ocean processes. Projects may have a natural or social science focus and take place in L.A. or on Catalina Island. Internships are open to students from both within and outside USC.

Environmental Communications Internships

This unique summer program trains undergraduates who are interested in environment- and sustainability-focused careers in journalism, marketing/PR, graphic design, filmmaking, and similar fields. Priority is given to students from USC Dornsife’s Environmental Studies Program, USC Annenberg, and USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Conservation Internships

Our conservation internships place USC undergraduates with Los Angeles-based organizations focused on conserving Earth’s vulnerable species and ecosystems. Past placements have included the Catalina Island Conservancy, L.A. Zoo, and Natural History Museum of L.A. County.

Environmental Summer Awards

Found your dream internship, but it doesn’t pay (or doesn’t pay enough)? We can help! Environmental Summer Awards provide competitive supplemental funding for USC students completing environment- or sustainability-focused unpaid, underpaid, or costly experiential learning opportunities during the summer. (2024 applications are currently closed, but please check back in January 2025)