DUE TO COVID-19 concerns and restrictions;Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is interested in recruiting local regional students for summer 2021 internship program. It is our hope that those students who live in the area and are awarded appointments be given the opportunity to be able to get “hands-on” experience interning on our Edgewater, MD campus daily.Those who do not live in this geographic area are still encouraged to apply since some internship opportunities will be virtual experiences next summer. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hand-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education. The program enables students to work on specific projects while getting experience in valuable lab techniques all under the direction of the Center’s professional staff. The program is tailored to provide the maximum educational benefit to each participant. SERC is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change for marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Interns at SERC conduct independent projects over 12-16 weeks utilizing our 2,650-acre research site on the shores of Chesapeake Bay to provide novel insights into some of the most profound issues challenging our world today; including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has maintained an REU site since 2001 and those students sponsored have used our professional-training programs as a steppingstone to pursue advanced careers in the environmental sciences.For those selected there is a $600 weekly stipend paid bi-monthly by the Smithsonian.Application to the SERC Internship Program consists of on-line registration,Student copy of transcripts, personal essay, CV or resume, and two letters of recommendation using the Smithsonian On-line Academic Appointment (SOLAA)  https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/#/public