Applications due by Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8am Pacific.

The Schatz Energy Research Center has an opening for an undergraduate student research intern to join our offshore wind team on a project developing entanglement mitigation strategies for offshore wind turbines. This paid internship is expected to start in October 2026 and continue through the Spring 2027 semester. The internship is supported by the Philip & Yuriko Anton Climate Endowment.

This internship offers hands-on experience contributing to an applied research project and working as part of a collaborative research team. You will strengthen skills in technical communication, research documentation, and interpreting project results, with opportunities to gain experience with computational modeling and data analysis depending on project needs.

The position is expected to average approximately 8–10 hours per week during the academic semesters. Work hours are flexible and can be scheduled around the student’s class schedule and other academic commitments. The position is hybrid, with a combination of onsite and remote work.

Position Summary

As a student research intern, you will support our ongoing mooring line entanglement research. A significant portion of the project development has been completed, with important work remaining to support system integration, analysis, documentation, and final reporting. You will contribute to this phase of the project by helping develop technical reports and communication materials, organizing and interpreting research results, and supporting other project activities as needed.

Position activities may include:

Developing technical reports and public-facing communication materials.
Participating in discussions related to technical system integration.
Organizing, interpreting, and presenting research results.
Documenting project methods, assumptions, and findings for team review.
Maintaining organized records of project data, models, and analysis files.
Participating in team meetings, sharing progress updates, and adapting to new tools or tasks as needed.
Designing and running simulations of floating offshore wind platforms and mooring systems using computational software such as OrcaFlex, with training and support from the project team.
Processing simulation results and extract relevant performance and loading data.
Applying statistical methods to analyze simulation results and identify patterns.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Eligible applicants must be undergraduate students in good academic standing at Cal Poly Humboldt who are registered for at least 6.0 units in Fall 2026.
Experience using quantitative or computational methods, gained through academic coursework, projects, research, work experience, or other activities.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Interest in contributing to applied research related to offshore wind, marine systems, or environmental and engineering challenges.
Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and basic data management.
Skill in organizing, interpreting, and presenting quantitative results clearly.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts in plain language.
Ability and willingness to work respectfully and effectively in a collaborative team setting.
Willingness and ability to learn and use new tools, methods, and software to support research and collaboration.

Desired Qualifications

Desirable Skills and Knowledge

Exposure to basic mathematical or computational modeling.
Experience with programming, data analysis, or simulation tools.
Coursework in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field.

Important note about qualifications: The desirable skills and knowledge listed above are not required. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every desirable qualification.

Compensation and Internship Duration

The student research intern will receive a total stipend of $5,000 for contributions to the project during Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The stipend will be paid in monthly installments to the student’s university account and will first be applied to any outstanding university fees or charges. Any remaining balance will be refunded to the student according to the university’s standard refund process.

The internship is expected to begin in October 2026 and continue through the Spring 2027 semester. The intern is expected to complete approximately 250 hours of project work over the appointment period.

How to apply

Deadline

All application materials must be received by Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Materials

Applicants must submit all required application materials through the official application form.

The form will ask you to provide your contact information, indicate how you learned about the vacancy, and upload the application materials listed below.

Please prepare the following materials for submission:

Formal letter of application / cover letter: A formal letter of application (cover letter) addressed to the Schatz Hiring Committee that includes the following:
1. Describe your background and what motivates you to apply.
2. Describe your experience related to the qualifications above, including examples of relevant work, projects, research, and/or college or university coursework.

Note: Your cover letter will be used as a writing sample to assess the quality of your writing.

Resume: A resume of 3 pages or fewer is preferred; however, we encourage you to include all relevant and transferable experience and skills you wish us to consider.

Questions and inquiries

For assistance with the application process, please submit an Accommodation Request Form, which can be at https://forms.humboldt.edu/spf-accomodation-request-form, or contact the campus ADA Coordinator at (707) 826-3626 or confidential fax at (707) 826-3625. For more information regarding accommodation, you may also visit the Cal Poly Humboldt Campus Disability Resource Center at https://disability.humboldt.edu/employee-accommodation. Individuals in need of a telecommunications relay service may contact the California Relay Service at (877) 735-2929 TTY.
Learn more about our employment opportunities at schatzcenter.org/jobs.
For additional information, please email schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or call (707) 826-4345.

Opening for Paid Internship: Student Research Intern in Offshore Wind