Summer Internship Opportunity: Work with a NOAA Scientist and Learn to Integrate Mathematics and Fisheries Science

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the University of Washington request applications for students in the Mathematical Sciences for a summer internship at the NWFSC. Interns will spend summer (~16 June – 15 September) working on a research project that integrates mathematics with the science that informs fishery managers. A stipend of $6,400 will be provided from the Usha and S. Rao Varanasi SAFS Faculty Endowment for Student Support, the Usha and S. Rao Varanasi Student Support Fund in Mathematics, the NWFSC, and the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS). The successful applicants will also be provided with office space at the NWFSC or SAFS and a NWFSC mentor or mentors.

Although any projects related to sustainable management of west coast fish resources would be considered, the following projects are already available and mentors identified:

1. Improving Estimates of Fishery Impacts on Marine Mammals by Incorporating Industry-Reported Interactions
   1. Mentors: Kayleigh Somers, Eric Ward, and Kate Richerson
2. Development of machine- and deep-learning models for processing remote-sensing data.
   1. Mentor:Eli Holmes
3. Developing machine learning models to more rapidly estimate fish age from Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy of fish otoliths
   1. Mentors: Owen Hamel, Sabrina Beyer, and Melissa Monk
4. “Right-sizing” trawl sample processing: Reviewing survey protocols to balance sampling efficiency and sufficient data collections
   1. Mentors:Alicia Billings, Sabrina Beyer, Aaron Berger, Kiva Oken, Chantel Wetzel, Elizabeth Phillips
5. Leveraging state-of-the art ocean modeling for climate adaptation breakthroughs
   1. Mentors:Abigail Golden, Owen Liu, Megan Feddern, Brooke Hawkins, Darren Pilcher, Jameal Samhouri
6. Modeling the occurrence of an alternative male mating life history strategy in Chinook salmon with long-term data
   1. Mentors: Loren Stearman and Jesse Lamb

For more information on these projects contact the primary NWFSC mentors (Kayleigh Somers: [kayleigh.somers@noaa.gov]kayleigh.somers@noaa.gov; Eli Holmes: eli.holmes@noaa.gov; Owen Hamel: owen.hamel@noaa.gov; Alicia Billings: alicia.billings@noaa.gov; Abigail Golden: abigail.golden@noaa.gov.

ELIGIBILITY

Must be a currently enrolled UW (Seattle or Tacoma campus) undergraduate student graduating in Spring 2026 or after

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this internship, submit your application to this form https://forms.gle/fFAvrvxT3MGEF8nt9 by March 16, 2026.

• Application Materials (in one pdf). Save as “LastnameFirstname_MML2025.pdf” (where Lastname and Firstname are your name)

o Recent Resumé

o Unofficial UW Transcript

o Letter of Interest (maximum of four pages) – include the name of the project that most interests you and why; tell us about yourself and your research interests; explain how the internship will further your studies and career; include other information the selection committee should be aware of, such as what it means to you to have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

March 16, 2026

DECISIONS

Award notifications will be made by April 25, 2026

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.