Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland, offers undergraduates, recent graduates, and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education. The program enables students to work on specific projects while gaining experience in valuable lab techniques, all under the direction of the center’s professional staff. The program is tailored to provide the maximum educational benefit to each participant.

SERC is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change for marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Interns at SERC conduct independent projects over 12-16 weeks utilizing our 2,650-acre research site on the shores of Chesapeake Bay to provide novel insights into some of the most profound issues challenging our world today, including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has maintained an REU site since 2001, and the students sponsored have used our professional-training programs as a stepping stone to pursue advanced careers in the environmental sciences.

Application to the SERC  Internship Program consists of a registration form, personal essay, resume, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation using the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointments (SOLAA) system at: https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/#/public

Bryn Mawr Students must also apply through the LILAC Summer Funding Application: https://brynmawr.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0N9ERJXCNEEkiOx

Students selected as SERC interns must participate in the LILAC Summer Funding Program



The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply