Are you an undergraduate at the University of Florida looking to enhance your connection to Florida’s environment?
The University of Florida (UF) Thompson Earth Systems Institute (TESI) is hosting an Environmental Leaders Fellowship where students can gain hands-on experience in research, education, and civic engagement, all while fostering a sense-of-place in our own backyard.
Funded with support from the National Academies, TESI will select up to ten fellows to participate in this internship program for the Fall 2025 semester.
Benefits of the Program
Selected Fellows will leave the program with the following:
- Stipend of $1,200 awarded upon completion of the internship
- Enhanced understanding of the ecology, uniqueness, and importance of Florida’s environment
- Hands-on experience in science communication and education
- Network of peers and colleagues interested in the environment
- Opportunity for class credit if desired
Program components
- Cohort meetings: Fellows will meet and connect with peers to exchange ideas and work on professional skills.
- Seminars: Fellows will have opportunities to engage and connect with professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders connected to Florida’s environment.
- Field days: Through guided tours and hands-on activities, Fellows will learn about and connect with nearby places in north-central Florida.
- Communication: Fellows will take part in outreach about Florida’s environment and co-develop a resource for the UF community about impactful places in north-central Florida.
- Independent research and exploration: Fellows will be supported in learning more about the people and places that contribute to Florida’s environment through site visits, interviews, and more.
Program expectations
The fall 2025 Environmental Leaders Fellowship begins on August 18, 2025 and ends on December 5, 2025. Fellows will contribute approximately 80-100 hours of time to the program over the course of the semester. Students will be able to complete the required hours around their class schedule. Interns are required to participate in all program components which include:
- Program orientation: August 18, 2025
- August field days: August 19-20, 2025
- October field day: October 11, 2025
- Monthly cohort meeting: TBD
- Monthly seminar: TBD
- Independent project time
- Final presentations and celebration: TBD
Fellows will write a final reflection of the internship in the form of a blog post and deliver a final presentation to the TESI team.They will also complete a program evaluation about their experience.
Minimum qualifications
- Strong writing skills, with attention to appropriate spelling, grammar, and mechanics
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Background or strong interest in science, or science communication
- Sense of curiosity about Florida’s environment
Program eligibility
Sophomore, junior, and senior University of Florida undergraduate students from any major (science, pre-law, communications, political science, etc.) with an interest in learning and communicating about Florida’s environment.
Selected interns must be in good academic standing in accordance with the University’s policies and must be enrolled full-time at UF. Interns must also comply with all University regulations, rules, and codes of conduct governing students on campus.
Deadline:
Applications will be considered as they are received, however the final deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
To apply:
Please apply online by visiting the following link: Fall 2025 ELF Application
*If you would like to first preview all questions, visit the following link to view a PDF version of the application: 2025 Fall ELF Application Preview