The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) has led the continuous investigation and monitoring of Lake Tahoe for over 50 years. Known for its beauty and remarkable transparency, Lake Tahoe is a natural jewel in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. However, the lake and its watershed continue to face numerous challenges from eutrophication, food web alterations, aquatic invasive species, wildfires, population pressures, and more. TERC’s research is directed toward finding solutions for these and future challenges as well as working with government agencies and other partner organizations to see these solutions implemented.

The TERC Internship for Scholars program offers a cohort of students a unique opportunity to be a part of this applied research experience. This program runs for eight weeks beginning late June and ending in late August. Interns are required to be present during the entire period. This competitive and highly selective program is limited to a maximum of 8 participants. Interns will be chosen based on a combination of their academic records, their career aspirations, and the needs of the TERC program. Interns will work with TERC faculty, staff and graduate students on current projects in the following subject areas/fields/disciplines: 

• Limnology
• Hydrology
• Aquatic chemistry
• Forest ecology
• Botany
• Entomology
• Science education
• Data analysis
• Modeling
• AUVs
• and more

In addition, each Intern will be expected to complete an independent project related to their work tasks.

After selection, Interns will be assigned a TERC mentor. Mentors will provide an outline of the summer work that will be completed by the end of the program. Each week will include a professional development day featuring an expert guest speaker seminar as well as designated time for collaborative project development. Interns can attend the Annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Presentation and the Annual Lake Tahoe Federal Summit, where State and Federal elected leaders convene at Lake Tahoe.

Summer Stipend: $3,500 per student

Expectations:

• A minimum of 32 hours/week, timing will be determined with the mentoring researcher.
• Adhering to an established work schedule.
• Attending all Program events (seminars, events, final poster presentations, etc.)

Learn more about the intern experience from our Summer Intern blog and testimonies.

2026 Eligibility Information:

• Must be available June 23 - August 14
• Minimum age requirement: 18
• U.S.A. Citizenship or Permanent Residency

2025 Internship documents (2026 documents coming soon):

• 8-week draft agenda
• Program Overview Presentation
• Orientation agenda
• Letter of commitment
• Paperwork
• Self-Evaluation Survey
• End of the Program Survey
• Extracurricular Activity Ideas

More info at https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/interns