Real Research, Real Impact

Study the coastal ocean with some of the world’s leading scientists!

Our Zinsmeyer Summer Research Program gets you into the lab and the field for hands-on, life-changing experiences. Help advance real research projects led by USC faculty as you prepare you for a career in environmental or sustainability science.

We also regularly connect USC undergraduate students with Wrigley Institute-affiliated faculty who have school-year openings in their labs.

Applications for 2025 research internships are now closed. Fill out the interest form below to stay up-to-date about next year’s opportunities.

Complete the Interest Form

How it Works

Zinsmeyer Summer Research Program internships are 10-week residential experiences focused on scientific investigations of the coastal ocean. Students contribute meaningfully to research projects led by faculty from USC, with additional mentoring and professional development provided by USC graduate students and Wrigley Institute staff. Research projects and cohort activities take place at the Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC) on Catalina Island.

The experience includes:

  • Hands-on research
  • Laboratory and field training
  • Introductory lectures and special seminars on oceanography and marine science
  • Professional development workshops, networking, and science training opportunities
  • Cohort-building activities

Award Details

Zinsmeyer internships are open only to USC continuing undergraduate students. All Zinsmeyer interns receive a $6,000 stipend, plus room and board at WMSC. Transportation is provided between WMSC and USC’s Los Angeles campus for all scheduled program activities.

Program Dates

2026 program dates will be announced soon.

Note: Beginning in 2026, the Wrigley Institute REU program will no longer be offered. We encourage non-USC students to seek out REU experiences elsewhere. See the National Science Foundation website for a full directory of opportunities.

2023 Wrigley Institute Graduate Fellow Inessa Chandra, wearing a blue lab coat, and 2023 REU student Miguel Sanchez, wearing a navy blue shirt and blue bandana, smile as they stand together in a science lab. The wall behind them is covered in shelves and small bottles of chemicals.

Research Projects

Zinsmeyer internship research projects vary from year to year. Projects may include lab work, field work and/or largely be computational, depending on the topic. The list below provides examples of past or typical projects for this internship.

    • Marine Microbial Ecology
    • Harmful Algal Blooms
    • Kelp Microbiomes
    • Kelp Ecology and Development
    • Coral Development
    • Thermal Stress Response in Corals
    • Thermal Stress Response in Phytoplankton
    • Marine Vertebrate Behavior, Ecology and Development
    • Marine Biogeochemistry
    • Phytoplankton and Carbon Cycling
    • Microbial Enzymology

Eligibility & How to Apply

Applications for 2025 research internships are currently closed. Details below are available for informational purposes. Program details, eligibility, and application requirements or process may vary from year to year.

Complete our interest form to be notified when 2026 applications open, or when school-year research opportunities are available.

    • Applicants must be continuing USC Dornsife undergraduate students (not graduating in May of their internship year).
    • Projects take place at WMSC, so applicants must be willing to spend the summer on Catalina Island.
    • All Dornsife undergraduates are eligible to apply, but priority will be given to majors and minors from the Environmental Studies Program.

  • You will need the following information and materials to complete your application:

    • Biographical and educational information
    • Research interests:  You will be asked to select two research interests on the application for matching purposes.
    • Academic transcript(s): Unofficial copies are acceptable.
    • One reference: The reference you list on your application will receive an e-mail request to upload a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Please be sure to contact your reference prior to listing them on your application. You will receive a notification when we receive your letter of reference.

    Please write at least 200 words and no more than 400 words to answer the following questions. 

    • Please tell us why you are interested in the USC Wrigley Institute’s Zinsmeyer Summer Research Program in Coastal Ocean Processes. Please include how participating in this program will help you meet your career goals.
    • Please review the list of available research topics. Describe the areas of research in ocean/marine sciences that interest you the most. Please indicate if you have a preference for lab, field and/or computational work. What previous academic, work, research, volunteer and/or other experiences have helped prepared you for the program?
    • Is there anything else you would like us to know?

  • See the following external resource for tips on crafting a strong application for your research internship.

    How to obtain a strong letter of recommendation >>

    How to write a strong essay or personal statement >>

     

2025 Interns

  • Kevin Antoine

    School: San Francisco State University

    Mentors: Mark Steele, Ph.D., Karal Stella

    Project: Kelp and marine ecology

    Elyssa Baker

    School: California State University, Long Beach

    Mentors: Naomi Levine, Ph.D., Hagen Buck-Wiese

    Project: Carbon cycling by algae or marine bacterial enzymology

    Kathryn Bancroft

    School: University of California, Berkeley

    Mentor: Rita Mehta, Ph.D.

    Project: Marine vertebrate behavior, ecology, and development

    Veronica Britton

    School: Pitzer College

    Mentor: Devaleena Pradhan, Ph.D.

    Project: Social behavior, sexual plasticity, marine fish

    Isabelle Gragg

    School: The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

    Mentors: Carly Kenkel, Ph.D., Maya Gomez, and Daniel Olivarez-Zambrano

    Project: Coral developmental biology, symbiosis, and thermal tolerance

    Calvin Harding

    School: California State University, Monterey Bay

    Mentors: Julia Schwartzman, Ph.D., Danny Osorio, Kurt Castro, Thomas Day

    Project: Marine microbial ecology, kelp microbiome

    Mikayla Harris

    School: Heritage University

    Mentors: Julia Schwartzman, Ph.D., Danny Osorio, Kurt Castro, Thomas Day

    Project: Marine microbial ecology, kelp microbiome

    Brandon Koehn

    School: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

    Mentors: David Hutchins, Ph.D., Feixue Fu, Ph.D., Bradley Mackett

    Project: Harmful algal bloom dynamics

    Mateo Monteiro

    School: University of California, Santa Cruz

    Mentor: Rita Mehta, Ph.D.

    Project: Marine vertebrate behavior, ecology, and development

    Emily Paslick

    School: Salisbury University

    Mentors: Carly Kenkel, Ph.D., Maya Gomez, and Daniel Olivarez-Zambrano

    Project: Coral developmental biology, symbiosis, and thermal tolerance

  • Annika Harusadangkul

    School: University of Southern California

    Mentor: Rita Mehta, Ph.D.

    Project: Marine vertebrate behavior, ecology, and development

    Natalia Shahril Ridza

    School: University of Southern California

    Mentors: Julia Schwartzman, Ph.D., Danny Osorio, Kurt Castro, Thomas Day

    Project: Marine microbial ecology, kelp microbiome

    Sedona Silva

    School: University of Southern California

    Mentors: Sergey Nuzhdin, Ph.D., Bernadeth Tolentino

    Project: Kelp ecology, restoration, and genomics

    Jesus Venegas

    School: University of Southern California

    Mentor: Devaleena Pradhan, Ph.D.

    Project: Social behavior, sexual plasticity, marine fish

     

Past Research Interns and Projects