Water Resources Center Undergraduate Internships in Water Resources provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate students and faculty to become directly involved in research and education programs that address water resources related issues of critical importance to Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region. (Please note that these internships are limited to students enrolled in a university or college in Delaware)
DWRC Undergraduate Internship Program 2020-21 Application
DUE: June 15, 2020, 5:00 PM
Eligibility: For the spring 2020 application period, all undergraduate students enrolled at any institution of higher learning in the State of Delaware may apply, except for those graduating at the end of the spring 2020 semester. All students must have the active support of a faculty or scientist advisor and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Program Details and Deadlines:
Supported by the Water Resources Research Act of 1964 and 1984 and the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Geological Survey, the DWRC will pay up to $3,000 per undergraduate intern, paid as hours worked at $10 per hour, up to a maximum of 300 hours. Internship projects are expected to start in September 2020 and will be paid through May 31, 2021, with the final research report and poster presentation presented to the DWRC Advisory Panel by May 2021.
In order to apply for this program you must establish a research topic and project with a faculty member or scientist and come to an agreement to work together on this research topic over the 2020/2021 fall/spring semester. . The application deadline is June 15, 2020, 5:00 PM. The application materials must include:
1. Completed application
2. Copy of current unofficial transcript
3. Current resume mentioning any special skills or experiences such as prior internships, research or education projects and laboratory or technical experiences
4. Brief description (1 page) of the research project proposal
Water faculty and scientists who may wish to advise your research are listed at https://www.wrc.udel.edu/faculty-and-staff/ and http://www1.udel.edu/watersciencepolicy/faculty.html.
For questions, please contact Ms. Martha Narvaez at mcorrozi@udel.edu
[DWRC Water Research Internships 2018-2019 / Research Projects]
[DWRC Undergraduate Interns 2017-2018 / Research Projects]
[DWRC Undergraduate Interns 2016-2017 / Research Projects]
[DWRC Undergraduate Interns 2015-2016 / Research Projects]
[DWRC Undergraduate Interns 2014-2015]
[DWRC Undergraduate Interns, 2000-2015]
DWRC interns conduct a project consistent with the DWRC’s priority research and educational interests (listed below) with the support of a faculty/scientist advisor from one of our co-sponsor organizations. The types of DWRC internships are subject to availability of funds or a specific project. Project partnerships include:
- UD Water Resources Agency – Internships with a focus on water resource policy and management are supported.
- UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Projects are supported to work with faculty in the departments of Animal and Food Sciences, Entomology and Applied Ecology, Applied Economics and Statistics, or Plant and Soil Sciences.
- UD College of Arts and Sciences: Students can conduct internship projects in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Political Science, Public Policy, or other subjects closely related to water resources.
- UD College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment: Internships are supported in the areas of Geography, Geology, Marine Biology and Biochemistry, Marine Policy, Oceanography, or Physical Ocean Science and Engineering.
- UD College of Engineering: Projects can be developed in areas such as Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
- Delaware Geological Survey: Researchers offer internships focusing on hydrogeology, groundwater supply, and water quality.
- Delaware State University: Faculty support internships in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, aquaculture, and aquatic ecology.
- DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control): Staff in DNREC offices related to water resources occasionally offer internships on topics such as soil and water conservation, water quality, and climate change.

Undergraduate intern, Naomi Chang investigates the use of biochar to treat stormwater.
Water resources research and education topics of interest to the DWRC include:
- Water quality (nutrients, pathogens, and public health)
- Stormwater runoff (management and control)
- Water pollutants (sources, fate, cycling, and transport)
- Water supply, demand, and conservation (infrastructure/technology)
- Water policy (governance and economics)
- Climate change, sea level rise coastal flooding (variability)
- Groundwater (remediation and treatment)
- Watershed management
- Wetlands (protection and restoration)
- Wastewater management (treatment and reuse)
- Water, food, and energy nexus
Interested in a water-related topic not listed here? Questions? Contact Martha Narvaez, Policy Scientist, mcorrozi@udel.edu or 302-831-4931.