Texas Sea Grant Accepting Applications for its Community Engaged Internship Summer Program

College Station, Texas (February 2026) — Texas Sea Grant is seeking four undergraduate students to participate in the 2026 Texas Sea Grant-Community Engaged Internship Program (TXSG-CEI). The application period runs from Monday, February 2, 2026, 8:00 AM CST until February 27, 2026, 5:00PM CST.

Created by the National Sea Grant College Program, the goal of the Community Engaged Internship Program, is to broaden participation in coastal and marine professions by providing training and mentorship to undergraduate students. 4 selected applicants will be paired with TXSG Extension staff to assist on summer projects.

Texas Sea Grant works in four primary focus areas aligned with the National Sea Grant College Program’s strategic initiatives: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Resilient Communities and Economies, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development.

This opportunity offers students a hands-on introduction to the four focus areas, providing critical context for how science, policy and outreach intersect to address real-world coastal challenges. Through on-the-ground projects, students gain practical experience working alongside communities, researchers and partners while developing the technical, communication and problem-solving skills expected in today’s workforce. The program mirrors a professional work environment, emphasizing collaboration, networking and stakeholder engagement. Mentorship from experts across disciplines brings real-world perspectives into the learning experience. By the end of the internship, students leave with a deeper understanding of Sea Grant’s mission and the applied skills needed to succeed in coastal and environmental careers.

“Direct engagement between students and coastal communities and industries provides invaluable experiential learning opportunities, enabling students to observe firsthand the role of science and education in addressing coastal and marine challenges and supporting community resilience and environmental stewardship,” said Texas Sea Grant Director Laura Picariello.

This year’s Texas Sea Grant CEI internship projects and locations:

• 1 intern will work in the Corpus Christi area, assisting on the Resilient Communities & Economies Project, for preparing coastal communities for natural hazards and disasters.
• 1 intern will work in the Galveston area assisting on Resilient and Healthy Coastal Ecosystems Project, for designing water quality and nature-based solutions programs.
• 1 intern will work in the Corpus Christi area assisting on the Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture Project to support the business and operations of fisheries and seafood industries.
• 1 intern will work in the Galveston area, assisting with the Galveston County Summer Youth and Adult Extension Programs.

Each internship is 10 weeks long with a $6,000 stipend to be used by the intern for living expenses and project needs in coordination with the Texas Sea Grant Extension Program mentor.The internship will begin Wednesday, June 3, 2026 and end August 11, 2026.  Texas Sea Grant welcomes applicants from all fields of study, with an interest in coastal and marine sciences.

Students must be currently enrolled at a 2-4 year college or institution in Texas. No coastal experience is required, but an interest in marine or coastal careers is preferred. Selections will be made based on the applicant’s cover letter, letter(s) of recommendation, skills and a brief virtual interview with the project’s respective mentor.

Applicants to the TXSG-CEI will be informed via email on April 15, 2026 of the results of their application. For full details on eligibility and application submission, visit texasseagrant.org/funding/txsg-cei.

The TXSG-CEI program is part of a National Sea Grant CEI program partnering with colleges and universities in all coastal states. For more information, visithttp://seagrant.noaa.gov/Community-Engaged-Internship.

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Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the state of Texas, universities and communities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant programs across the nation. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research and extension center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.