Ashley Abraham completed a DSRI in 2015 with Dr. Brian Cousens

Particularly in earth sciences, it is important to gain experience in your field prior to graduation. Many students don't know that they are eligible for employment in their field of study right out of first year.

We encourage you to take advantage of available opportunities: 

Career Development 

• Are you hoping to become a professional geologist? An APGO representative comes every year in the fall to talk about the road to the P.Geo. designation and answer any questions you may have.
• Geodude Corner is a resource for students and young professionals to help them transition from academia to a working career. Visitors to the site will learn about personal branding and how to be effective in networking opportunities. 

Extracurricular Field Trips 

Student Industry Field Trip (SIFT) 2015

• Geophysical Industry Field Trip (GIFT) This is an annual field trip offered by the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists. Students apply to the organization directly for registration on a first come, first served basis. This is an incredible learning and networking opportunity for geophysics. 
• Student Industry Field Trip (SIFT) This is an annual field trip offered by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. Every university-level geology program in Canada sponsors one student participant. Returning third year students are preferred. You will be notified by e-mail when applications open in January. This is an incredible learning and networking opportunity in the petroleum industry. 

• Student-Industry Mineral Exploration Workshop (S-IMEW)This is an annual field trip offered by the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. Every university-level geology program in Canada sponsors one student participant. Third and fourth year students are eligible to apply. You will be notified by e-mail when applications open in November. This is an incredible learning and networking opportunity in the mineral exploration industry.

Summer Jobs

Incomplete mineral display created by Paula Piilonen and Pamela Iraheta during
Pamela's Cox Internship at the Museum of Nature

Summer field work could require a driver's license and (wilderness) first aid. Preference may be given to those who have firearms and/or safe boater certification. 

• Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program for outstanding, continuing undergraduate students
• Cox Internship The department is pleased to offer two paid summer internships - one in mineralogy at the research and collections facility of the Museum of Nature, and the other in gemology at the Geological Survey of Canada. Those who have successfully completed ERTH 2102 Mineralogy are eligible to apply. You will be notified by e-mail when applications open in February. 

• Dean's Summer Research Internship (DSRI) High achieving, first year students in the Faculty of Science are encouraged to apply to for a summer internship with a sponsoring faculty member. These are paid positions that give the student the opportunity to contribute to a research program. Eligible students receive e-mail notification from the dean's office when applications open. Read about a past DSRI in earth sciences. 

• Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) Apply to the federal government over the Christmas vacation/in early January for summer positions at the Geological Survey of Canada, Environment Canada, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut Geological Surveys, etc. 
• NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program Students are eligible to apply right out of first year. These highly competitive awards provide summer employment at Carleton or another Canadian university. Click on the link for a list of eligible faculty supervisors for this program. 
• Summer Field Assistant with the Ontario Geological Survey Students are eligible to apply right out of first year. Employees benefit from extensive health and safety training. This is a fantastic learning experience. The department has been very successful at having students employed with this program. 

Part-Time Employment 

• Research Affiliate Program (RAP) Apply to the Geological Survey of Canada and other departments through this initiative of the federal goverment. In some cases, this can include long-term employment through to graduation. 

University-Wide Opportunities 

• International Exchange Carleton University offers an incredible number of international exchange opportunities. Students are encouraged to apply during the fall of their second year in order to study abroad during their third year. Not all partners offer an earth sciences program. Once you have determined two or three universities you are interested in, please send course descriptions to the Undergraduate Adviser for feedback. 
  
• Internship-Carleton University Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (I-CUREUS) This program is available in the fall, winter or both terms for a minimum of 8 weeks. Both part- and full-time students are eligible to apply in conjunction with a sponsoring faculty member. The application deadline is in October.