Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program
The Illinois State Geological Survey is looking forward to the 5th Annual Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program for the Summer of 2026.
Preparations have begun! Projects will be announced in mid-December and applications will be available in early January. Stay tuned!
The 2025 summer cohort was incredibly successful! We had a great time mentoring and learning from our interns. With their help we pushed forward several research objectives and explored unanticipated research avenues. Some of our interns contributed to maps, presented their research at geoscience conferences, and incorporated summer research into their academic programs. Their impact continues beyond the duration of the internship. Our staff at the ISGS is preparing for another enriching summer of hands-on learning, collaborative research, and meaningful contributions to our ongoing projects. We look forward to reviewing your applications.
About the Internship
This prestigious program celebrates the remarkable legacy of Paul E. Potter (1925–2020), a pioneering sedimentologist and stratigrapher whose contributions have shaped our understanding of sedimentary basins. His early career began at ISGS, where he mentored colleagues and advanced geological research. He later taught at the University of Cincinnati, leaving an enduring legacy as an educator and researcher. The Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program, funded by his generous bequest, continues his mission to inspire and equip the next generation of geoscientists.
The Potter Internship offers students hands-on experience in geologic research and fieldwork, focusing on issues relevant to Illinois. Over 10 weeks, interns will collaborate with ISGS professionals on cutting-edge projects, gaining valuable skills and contributing to meaningful research.
Eligibility
Open to undergraduate and master’s students enrolled at any accredited U.S. higher education institution.
Timing
The internship must be completed in 10 continuous weeks, full-time (40 hours per week). Start and end dates of the internship are flexible to accommodate the varied academic schedules of our applicants. As deemed appropriate by project managers, interns may start as early as May 18, 2026, and may complete their internship as late as August 14, 2026.
Compensation
Stipend
$7,500 total, distributed in three monthly payments of $2,500 on June 16, July 16, and August 16, 2025.
Breakdown
- $5,000 for full-time participation (40 hours/week)
- $2,500 to support housing, meals, and travel to and from Champaign-Urbana.
- Interns are responsible for arranging their accommodation and transportation.
Previous Internship Highlights
In recent years, interns have worked on diverse and impactful projects, including:
2025: Geophysical mapping, REE exploration, modern impacts on urban soils, carbon sequestration, and environmental geology.
2024: Aquifer mapping, REE exploration, paleoenvironmental tracers, carbon sequestration, and environmental geology.
2023: Geophysics and stratigraphy.
2022: Coastal geology, wetlands research, geochemistry, and hydrogeology.
For specific inquiries, contact us at PotterInternship@isgs.illinois.edu.