Applications Open for ILWA Summer Fellows Program

The ILWA Summer Fellows Program is now accepting applications for its second cohort, offering paid, project-based summer positions for undergraduate and graduate students interested in land, water and air issues with real-world policy or management relevance.

Led by the Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University, the Summer Fellows Program supports three to four students each summer as student employees. Fellows work part-time during the summer semester to start and complete a focused project designed to inform decision-making, support management needs or advance applied policy conversations.

Projects may be proposed by students or developed in collaboration with ILWA staff and partners. Priority is given to ideas with clear potential for policy or management impact.

“Our Summer Fellows bring energy, creativity and applied skills to projects that matter,” said Anna McEntire, managing director of ILWA. “This program is about giving students meaningful, paid opportunities to contribute to real challenges — while also building professional experience at the intersection of research, policy and communication.”

During its inaugural summer, the program supported several high-impact projects, including the development of a Utah Water Primer by Emma Ferry and Jake Kunzler, as well as a new story map for the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape. Compiled by student fellow Becca Ivans, the story map highlights how partners across the region are working to connect national security, working lands and natural ecosystems around Great Salt Lake — demonstrating that lake protection is tied not only to environmental health, but also to military readiness, economic resilience and long-term regional stability.

Summer Fellows work closely with ILWA staff and partners, gaining experience in applied research, synthesis and communication. Final products are shared through ILWA’s public-facing platforms and, where appropriate, with policymakers and resource managers.

Applications for the 2026 ILWA Summer Fellows cohort are now open. Additional information, including eligibility and application details, is available on the ILWA website.