Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Guidelines for USGS Researchers

By John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis

To participate in any of the NSF Intern Programs, USGS researchers need an approved USGS proposal. It is important to bear in mind the National Science Foundation’s goals for the programs as you draft your proposal. NSF’s core value for these programs is the professional growth of the student. The proposed collaboration should offer the student professional experiences they cannot get at their home institution, such as access to USGS facilities, field sites, or data they would not otherwise have, new skill development, or collaboration in a new scientific direction. Exposure to a different work culture was also important, so the students are expected to come to the USGS, rather than collaborate from their home institution.

Proposing an Opportunity

Use the online form to submit your project proposal. Of course we expect it will be well written and good science. Beyond that, the internal evaluation process will focus primarily on two criteria: Does it represent a unique opportunity for the student and can it be accomplished in the timeframe proposed (2-12 months)? Note that approval from your Center Director is required. Pay particular attention to the Creative Summary and the Fields of Study. These will be posted online and will help students find opportunities and decide which to pursue.

Assisting with the NSF Application

Students applying to these program will submit a short supplemental funding request to NSF. It is expected that the student will contact the USGS researcher prior to preparing the application, and that although the student will take the lead in writing and submitting the application, you will collaborate on the description of the project, term, and budget. The supplemental request must also include a letter of invitation from the agency investigator (you). This may be in the form of an e-mail acknowledging that the student is a suitable candidate for the internship opportunity.

How to Find Students

NSF links interested students to this USGS website where they can view posted opportunities. However, reaching out through your own networks to identify students who might be interested in your opportunity will improve your success. To be eligible, students must be pursuing a PhD, supported by an NSF grant, and a U. S. citizen. Here are some strategies:

  • Reach out to researchers who are working in your field, friends and colleagues, or through professional societies that you are involved in, and ask them if they have an NSF supported student who would be interested.
  • Directly approach students you know, or students who presented interesting papers at the last meeting you attended.
  • Use the NSF website to search for active grants in your field, and approach the PIs. NSF Grant Search – all awards
  • You can narrow your search by NSF Directorate by using the formatting at NSF-GEO awards.
  • Search the list of NSF Graduate Research Fellows (GRIP Only). The list is sortable by field of study. Focus on award years 2013-2015.

What About the Cost?

The cost to the USGS should be minimal for this opportunity. Students are supported by NSF and are engaged by USGS on Volunteer Agreements managed by the sponsoring Science Center, so there is no salary requirement. There is some cost associated with background checks and ID’s. NSF provides funds ($5000 for GRIP and possibly a little more for GSP) that go directly to the student’s home institution to help support the research. They can be used in a variety of ways per NSF guidelines such as travel, field expenses, meeting costs, etc. You should talk this over with your perspective student during budget preparation.

Steps for GRIP and GSP Collaborations at USGS

  • USGS researcher submits proposal through online form
  • Proposal is reviewed, and then posted on USGS/NSF Internship Opportunity site.
  • Student is identified in one of several ways
  • Student and USGS researcher talk and agree on project goals, budget, etc.
  • Student writes and submits application to NSF by posted deadline.
  • NSF conducts eligibility review, merit review, and makes awards.
  • If selected, NSF notifies USGS and confirms acceptance by USGS Researcher. Upon acceptance NSF notifies the student who then contacts USGS researcher and arranges start date.
  • USGS researcher informs YES office of arrangements
  • At the end of the internship student submits report to NSF with a copy to YES office

The USGS/GRIP and GSP Internship Opportunity is managed by the Youth and Education in Science (YES) Office.