About the RVCC Summer Internship

Engage in a summer of learning, connection, and discovery—where science meets story, land, and community. Be part of the next generation of researchers honoring Indigenous wisdom and building bridges across traditions and disciplines.

The Rising Voices, Changing Coasts Hub (RVCC) is a project that brings together university-trained scientists and traditional knowledge-holders to better understand the interactions between natural, human-built, and social systems in four coastal regions in Indigenous territories, including Alaska, Louisiana, Hawai’i, and Puerto Rico.

Based at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS, the immersive RVCC summer internship program is focused on climate change using Native Science and explores the unique methods and methodologies that shape Indigenous research practices. The summer 2026 internship plan includes a focus on and a visit to Puerto Rico to learn about coastal climate changes and the people who live there.

This program offers Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to engage deeply with Native Science. Throughout the internship, participants will learn how Native Science enriches research methodologies, fosters respect for multiple ways of knowing, and contributes to more holistic, impactful scholarship in relation to climate change and extremes, including a focus on Puerto Rico.

Internship Outcomes

• Understand the principles and philosophies underpinning Native Science.

• Compare and contrast Indigenous and Western research paradigms.

• Apply Indigenous methods in the design and implementation of research projects.

• Develop cultural humility, ethical awareness, and respect for Indigenous protocols.

• Engage in critical reflection on your own research practices.

Internship Logistics

• Duration: 8 weeks (May 17 to June 27, 2026)

• Hosted by Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS. with fieldwork in Puerto Rico

• Stipend: $3,840 paid in three payments during the internship

• Applications are accepted November 1, 2025 through February 13, 2026

For additional details about the internship, eligibility criteria, or application procedures, please contact pblanchard@haskellfoundation.org