Internships bridge academic achievement and professional employment by providing students with the opportunity to build and gain practical experience. While the experience does not guarantee employment after graduation, students will find that their internship experiences will count toward locating employment and establishing a foundation for networking.
Student Spotlight
Māhealani Yen — NOAA National Weather Service
Major: BS Atmospheric Science
From Maunalua, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

Click here to read past Student Spotlights.
Internship Opportunities
Interested in applying to an internship? Check out our Student Opportunities and Scholarships Google spreadsheet for relevant research opportunities!
Research at SOEST and UH
- Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) cruises
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB)
- Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE)
- Hawaii Space Grant Consortium (HSGC)
Get Credit for Your Research Hours
ATMO/ERTH/OCN 395
Students may choose to receive college credit for certain internships and research initiatives through ATMO/ERTH/OCN 395. The student’s internship must be affiliated with an employer or advisor outside of UH Mānoa and must be unpaid.
395 can count towards 1-3 college credits. One credit is considered the equivalent of 4 hours of work per week (and 64 hours over a 16-week semester).
For example, a student that enrolls in 2 credits of 395 is expected to work 2 credits x 4 hours/week x 16 weeks = 128 hours over the semester.
SOEST will provide information on available internships on a regular basis. Students are required to apply for the internship and submit necessary requirements. The host employer will make the final selection and placements are not guaranteed.
- View current internship opportunities.
- Visit the guidelines for host agencies.
For more information, contact Heather Saito at 808-956-8763 or hsaito2@hawaii.edu.
Forms to download:
- General Syllabus 395
- Internship Evaluation Form (updated 05-19-23)
- Internship PreApproval Form
ATMO/ERTH/OCN 499
For students completing internships and research affiliated with an employer or advisor at UH Mānoa and if the project corresponds with the student’s research thesis, they may receive college credit through ATMO/ERTH/OCN 499. The Earth Science: Basic Sciences and Research (BS) and the Global Environmental Science (BS) programs both have required research dissertations as the last step to awarding the student’s degree.
For more information, contact your department advisor.
Past Student Research Experiences
Mariko Quinn – Hagedorn Lab at HIMB (YouTube):
Gisele Henry – Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (YouTube):
Emma DeBenedictis – STEMworks (YouTube):