Show Science and Engineering Internship Program

Ocean Exploration Trust engages in pure exploration of the seafloor from Exploration Vessel Nautilus. We offer our expeditions to explorers on shore via live video, audio, and data feeds. We also bring educators and students aboard during expeditions, for hands-on experience in ocean exploration.

The Nautilus Science and Engineering Internship Program (SEIP) aims to train and provide real-world experience for community college, undergraduate, and graduate students studying ocean sciences, technology, engineering, and video in the at-sea environment. Intern positions entail 3-5 week periods working aboard E/V Nautilus as Data Loggers, Seafloor Mappers, Navigators, ROV Pilots, or Video Engineers. All interns spend their time on Nautilus working with a wide array of scientists, engineers, students, and educators.

Applications for the 2025 Science and Engineering Internship Program are now open! Please review the Application Packet for more information on how to apply.

OET offers five types of paid internships through SEIP: Ocean Science, Seafloor Mapping & Hydrography, Video Systems Engineering, Navigation, and ROV Engineering.

• Ocean Science interns learn to make scientific observations, summarize scientific dive information, and preserve physical samples.
• ROV Engineering interns learn to maintain and operate our remotely operated vehicles and associated systems.
• Video Systems Engineering interns learn to operate camera controls for the remotely operated vehicles’ video systems and work with lead engineers in the operation and maintenance of all video systems aboard Nautilus.
• The Navigation Internship is offered in partnership with the US Naval Academy and US Coast Guard Academy for cadets and midshipmen from those institutions.
• Seafloor Mapping & Hydrography interns learn to acquire, manage, and process seafloor mapping data from a multibeam sonar,  sub-bottom profiler, and auxiliary sensors (e.g. CTD, XBT).

OET is committed to including, amplifying, and making space for more Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, LGBTQIA+, and historically marginalized voices in the deep sea and STEAM communities. We encourage a diverse pool of applicants, particularly educators from under-resourced/ Title-1 schools and those who represent or who engage learners and communities traditionally underrepresented in, and historically marginalized from STEAM. In 2025, E/V Nautilus will be conducting expeditions in the Western Pacific. As part of our commitment to expeditions being guided by and developed collaboratively with local communities, educators from the Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, Guam, and Palau are strongly encouraged to apply.