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Internship Opportunities with Clean Oceans International
Clean Oceans International’s Internship Program gives students hands-on experience in plastic pollution research, shoreline monitoring, and community outreach. Interns support real-world projects while building skills that translate directly into environmental and science careers.
Our internships are unpaid, part-time positions designed as resume-building opportunities (not for college credit at this time). Interns work closely with COI staff to support our Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) and related field and data projects.
Our internships are unpaid, part-time positions designed as resume-building opportunities (not for college credit at this time). Interns work closely with COI staff to support our Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) and related field and data projects.
What Interns Do
Depending on the season, intern projects may include:
Depending on the season, intern projects may include:
- Field Surveys & Beach Cleanups
- Supporting EPAP shoreline surveys (macro- and microplastic monitoring)
- Assisting with biannual community cleanups and Beach Adoption Program teams
- Data & Analysis
- Recording field data using standardized EPAP methods
- Entering and organizing survey results
- Supporting basic data summaries and visualizations for reports and outreach
- Education & Outreach
- Helping prepare materials for community events and presentations
- Supporting volunteer coordination for cleanups and survey days
- Assisting with social media and web content related to EPAP and plastic pollution
- Helping prepare materials for community events and presentations
Who We Work With
Over the past year, Clean Oceans International has welcomed student interns from multiple campuses:
*Our next EPAP Intern opportunity will be in January 2026. Students interested in coastal fieldwork, plastic-debris monitoring, data entry, and event support are encouraged to apply November 1, - December 15, 2025.
*Our next Social Media & Outreach Intern opportunity will be in July 2026. Students interested in environmental communication, nonprofit outreach, digital media, and public engagement are encouraged to apply May 1, - June 15, 2026.
Over the past year, Clean Oceans International has welcomed student interns from multiple campuses:
- Fall 2024 - UCLA Graduate
- Our first intern supported COI across data, research, and community engagement. She helped organize over 10 years of EPAP data, researched improvements and partnership opportunities for our PPWC program, and assisted with events including our Biannual Coastal Cleanup, International Coastal Cleanup Day, and the Blue Innovation Expo. Her work strengthened both our data systems and outreach efforts.
- Spring 2025 – Berkeley City College (Albany Beach)
- A cohort of Berkeley City College students (Peralta Community College District) supported EPAP surveys at Albany Beach along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Their work added new data to our multi-year record of plastic pollution in the Bay.
- Current Cohorts* – UCSC & Peralta Community College
- UCSC Interns: UCSC students are assisting with local shoreline surveys in Santa Cruz County, data entry, and science communication, helping connect classroom learning with applied coastal monitoring.
- Peralta Community College District Interns (SF Bay Region): Students based at Albany and Alameda Beaches are continuing EPAP surveys along the Bay shoreline, tracking macro- and microplastic trends and contributing to a long-term dataset for the region.
- Social Media & Outreach Internship: SMO Interns support our public-facing education and communication work. These interns help expand COI’s reach by assisting with social media posts highlighting COI's progress, creating outreach materials, spotlighting volunteer and field updates, and supporting event logistics and community engagement.
*Our next EPAP Intern opportunity will be in January 2026. Students interested in coastal fieldwork, plastic-debris monitoring, data entry, and event support are encouraged to apply November 1, - December 15, 2025.
*Our next Social Media & Outreach Intern opportunity will be in July 2026. Students interested in environmental communication, nonprofit outreach, digital media, and public engagement are encouraged to apply May 1, - June 15, 2026.
Who Should Apply
We invite applications from:
We invite applications from:
- Community college and university students studying:
- Environmental science, marine science, biology, geography, sustainability, or related fields
- Students interested in:
- Fieldwork and data collection
- Plastic pollution and marine debris
- Science communication and public outreach
- Comfortable working outdoors in variable coastal conditions
- Able to work independently and in small teams
- Reliable with communication and follow-through
Time Commitment
- Seasonal cohorts (e.g., fall, spring, summer)
- Typical commitment: 2–4 hours per week, depending on the season and project with a mix of:
- Scheduled field days (often on weekends or specific weekdays)
- Flexible hours for data entry or outreach tasks
How to Apply
If you’re interested in interning with Clean Oceans International, please email:
David Schwartz, Education Director – [email protected]
In your email, include:
If you’re interested in interning with Clean Oceans International, please email:
David Schwartz, Education Director – [email protected]
In your email, include:
- Your name and school
- Your major/area of study
- The semester or quarter you’re interested in (e.g., Spring 2026)
- Attach your resume with your name in the file name (e.g., JaneDoe_Resume2025).
- A brief paragraph (3–5 sentences) about:
- Why you’d like to intern with COI
- Any relevant experience or coursework (if applicable)
- Whether you’re comfortable with fieldwork, data tasks, or both