National Museum of Natural History Internship Opportunities
Through our internships, National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) staff share their time and talents with students who are seeking skillfully mentored internships crossing all of our areas of expertise including natural history research, collections management, education and outreach, information technologies, public engagement, communications, development, administration and management, and even facilities operation.
Currently offered positions, projects and possibilities for prospective interns are listed below. If you are interested in applying for one of our internships, reach out to the staff member listed as a contact. For most projects interns are selected by the host mentor and there is no formal application process.
Follow each internship project link for more information, including a descriptive project summary, contacts, hours and locations.
VIRTUAL Internship Project List
- No Virtual Projects at this time. Check back regularly for updates.
NMNH Internship Project List
- Aquarist Research Intern
- Archaeobiology Collection Management
- Arctic Studies Center Annual Newsletter
- Behind the Scenes at Natural History Internship
- Fly Collection Internship
- Health and Safety Internship
- Internship in Archival Reference Services
- Invertebrate Zoology Collections and Research Material Management
- Macrophotography of Marine Snail Shells
- NMNH Exhibits A/V and Lighting Internship
- NSF REU Site: Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE)
- Photo Processing Internship
- Plant Molecular Phylogenetics and Population Genetics Internship
- Tick-borne Diseases Database Development
- USDA Entomology Internships
- Winter Break Internships at Natural History:
Spring Break Internships at Natural History:
Create your own NMNH Internship Project
Didn’t find the perfect internship fit listed above? If you didn’t find what you are looking for in a listed position, additional opportunities may also be available. Contact staff separately to discuss other internship possibilities. Research staff directories can be found by following the links below:
- Anthropology(link to http://anthropology.si.edu/anthro_staff.htm)
- Botany(link to http://botany.si.edu/staff/)
- Entomology(link to http://entomology.si.edu/SIStaff.html)
- Invertebrate Zoology(link to http://invertebrates.si.edu/1IZstafflist.htm)
- Mineral Sciences(link to http://mineralsciences.si.edu/staff.htm)
- Paleobiology(link to http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/paleoStaff.html)
- Vertebrate Zoology(link to http://vertebrates.si.edu/vz_staff_index.html)
Applicants may also find it helpful to review Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study for additional information.
Academic Level: Graduate, post-graduate, undergraduate and even advanced high-school students may apply for internship positions.
Qualifications: Specific qualifications vary for each internship position. Students are encouraged to apply for projects that are relevant to their academic and professional goals and to the mission of the Museum. US citizenship is not a requirement; students from all corners of the world are encouraged to serve in an internship with us.
Award: Most NMNH internships provide no financial assistance, housing or travel compensation. Check individual project descriptions for exceptions.
Duration: Internship appointments generally last at least six weeks, although special week-long opportunities are occasionally available (such as Spring Break and Winter Break). Individual internships may last no longer than six months. Appointments may be full or part-time.
Application: To apply for an NMNH internship, follow guidance of each project. In general, interns are selected by the host mentor (project contact) and there is no formal application process.
Notification: Applicants under consideration for placement will hear back directly from a staff contact. Staff contacts are under no obligation to reply to all applications. Due to the inherent differences among project timetables, response times may vary.
Contact: For general NMNH internship inquiries send an e-mail to arc@si.edu. Inquiries into specific internship projects and requirements should be directed to the project contact.