USGS/NAGT Cooperative Field Training Program

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Started in 1965, the NAGT-USGS Cooperative Summer Field Training Program is the longest continuously running internship program in the earth sciences. Over the past forty years, more than 1500 students have participated in this program with an impressive number of these individuals becoming full-time employees of the USGS.

This cooperative program was launched at the Geological Society of America meeting in Kansas City in early fall of 1965 when William "Bill" Pecora, then the newly appointed Director of the USGS, held a meeting with a small group of distinguished professors and officers of the NAGT. Pecora felt strongly that the USGS needed to be more engaged in geological education. He had a plan for how this might be accomplished and wanted to get the professors' reactions to an initiative that would provide better linkage to academia while, in the process, providing better summer field assistants for the USGS. Pecora suggested that the USGS would provide support by way of internships for outstanding undergraduate geoscience majors, while NAGT would advertise the program to faculty and students, solicit nominations, distribute applications, and assist in processing all materials.
Needless to say, "Pecora's Plan," as it became known, met with instant approval.

With active participation from the highest levels of both organizations (including the Director of the USGS), a joint committee oversees the program. The program "year" begins in September with all field camp directors being provided information about the program. Field camp directors can nominate students whose field course was at least 4 weeks in duration and completed in the year they are nominated. In addition, nominees must be US citizens or Resident Aliens. After talking with potential nominees to ascertain interest and availability, field camp directors can nominate:

the top student if the camp is 15 students or less
the top 2 if the camp is 30 students or less
the top 3 from camps with greater than 30 students.

Nominated students apply by sending their resume to the USGS Education Office along with a letter of interest and transcripts. At the same time, USGS scientists interested in working with an intern send information about field, laboratory, or office-related scientific projects to the Education Office. Candidates are then matched by skill and interest with up to five projects. The listing of candidates and accompanying academic information are sent to USGS scientists for review, interviews, selection, or possible further discussion. USGS personnel make final selections. As interdisciplinary, system science is a cornerstone of our science, all disciplines are encouraged, and do take advantage of, this program's support and available talent. Students hired through this program have continually received outstanding reviews from our managers; and, over the decades, many of these individuals have become full-time colleagues. Interns employed through this program are hired at a rate commensurate to their educational level and experience, typically at a GS-5 Grade, Step 1, with an adjusted locality payment.

Over the years, NAGT has succeeded in identifying top-flight students for the program, and the USGS has succeeded in garnering the interest of competent and enthusiastic supervising mentors. Evaluations of the program by the students have been strongly positive, and the interns have continually received outstanding reviews from our managers. The NAGT-USGS Cooperative Summer Field Training Program continues Pecora's vision
of greater educational involvement, and provides a first-rate professional experience to students early in their careers.

2009 Internship Recipients

USGS/NAGT Cooperative Field Training Program

2009 Internship Recipients

Past Year Interns

1994 Interns

1990 Interns

1989 Interns

Deadline for Nominations is October 31, 2009.