Ten student interns are spending their summer studying Illinois geology as part of the Paul Edwin Potter Internship at the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS).

The internship is a 10-week paid program designed for participants pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It gives students hands-on research experience in applied geoscience.

This year’s cohort includes students from Illinois and other states, with four from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These Illinois interns are pursuing degrees in Earth Sciences & Environmental Change and Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences.

“The internship has allowed me to broaden my knowledge, develop new skills, and connect with professionals who share my personal research interests,” master’s student in ESEC Sabrina Hinz said. “The opportunity to work on Quaternary glacial deposits of Illinois and learn from my mentors has been an amazing experience thus far.”

The interns work on collaborative research projects alongside ISGS scientists focused on topics such as paleontology, sedimentology, and coastal erosion, among others. Interns will also visit Starved Rock State Park and take part in a variety of workshops.

ISGS scientists provide one-on-one mentoring for interns throughout the program. They conduct research at the Urbana campus and the ISGS facilities in Champaign, Winthrop Harbor, and Carbondale. This year’s mentors give interns access to a range of professional experience and scientific expertise.

“Being a mentor is highly fulfilling because it allows me to provide support that a younger me could’ve valued from,” coastal geologist Liz Spitzer said. “Programs like these are very important because they offer students real-life experiences and help build confidence that will transcend into their future academic and professional careers.”

A bequest from the late Paul Edwin Potter funds summer internships at the State Geological Surveys in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, where Potter worked during his career. Potter began his academic career studying geology at the U. of I. and eventually joined geology departments at Indiana University and, later, the University of Cincinnati, where he retired in 1992.

Potter envisioned the program to inspire future geologists through direct engagement with geologic research, mentorship, and public service at state surveys such as ISGS. The first Potter Internship took place in 2022.

The internship term runs through August 2026. Interns will present the results of their summer research at a symposium at the end of the term.

 Applications for the summer 2027 program will open at the end of the year.

The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

To support scientific research and hands-on learning opportunities like this internship, consider a gift to the ISGS Research Fund.