
Learn and Develop
By moving ahead in your career, or by guiding others, you can strengthen the Earth and space science community.
Finding and following your path
No matter your career stage, professional and career development are important to advancing yourself and helping guide others. AGU provides career and educational resources, webinars, mentoring services, and support for students and professionals at all levels in Earth and space science.
At AGU, we’re especially committed to inspiring and educating present and future generations of diverse, innovative, and creative Earth and space scientists. We know that the impact of our science grows when individuals and groups who aspire to contribute to science are welcomed and supported and when we have a strong pipeline. By helping all people at any stage of their careers, and through a commitment to creating ethical, inclusive and diverse work environments, we can strengthen the global Earth and space science community and broaden its positive impact on society.
Career resources
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On the Job blog – Visit the blog for career advice and workforce guidance for students, and early-career and established professionals who are interested in pursuing professional enrichment.
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Resources for faculty – Check out our resources for faculty, including information about AGU’s Heads and Chairs program for leaders of Earth and space science departments or join the Education Section.
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Eos career and education articles – Read the latest Eos articles related to education and careers.
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AGU Connect – Have dynamic and real-time discussions with your peers about timely issues in Earth and space science.
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Resources for K-12 education – Learn more about sharing Earth and space science with a K-12 audience through activities and resources from AGU.
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Working at AGU – Apply for an open position at AGU and help us advance Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity.
Fellowships and internships
Check out the many opportunities below for gaining valuable job experience in the Earth and space sciences.


Congressional Science
Fellowship

REU

Mass Media Fellowship

Federal internships and job opportunities

Internships at AGU

Other
Positions

Next Generation IRIS Internship Program
Post a job

About Paths Through Science
Paths Through Science is a tool for you to explore the many directions a career in the Earth and space science can take. You can investigate the fields represented in each sector (academia, government, industry, and nonprofit) or browse through our directory of profiles. We have also introduced video profiles for some of our Paths Through Science subjects.
Paths Through Science: "Glaciers are the interface between land, atmosphere, and ocean.”
Ethics and diversity in the scientific workplace
AGU is addressing harassment directly by establishing expectations of conduct within our community, promoting responsible science and ethical leadership practices, and expanding diversity. We were the first scientific society to define harassment as scientific misconduct within our formal Ethics Policy [PDF] and we are working to educate, promote and ensure responsible scientific conduct and foster a positive work climate in science through the AGU Ethics and Equity Center.

Webinars
AGU Webinars help you reach your full career potential whether you’re strengthening your skills in a specific area or learning about new research and professional trends. Our library of past and upcoming webinars is available for you to develop your skills and advance your professional knowledge at any time.

Mentoring programs 
We support several mentoring programs that establish connections between students/early career scientists and more experienced scientists. Our mentoring programs advance the scientific community by helping scientists build successful careers and networks in Earth and space science. Whether you are a mentor or a mentee, our programs can help you develop relationships with others who can help you learn and grow as a scientist.
If you are a student or early career scientist interested in finding a mentor, we can help you choose which mentoring program is best for you.
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1Mentoring is no longer exclusive to scientific conferences with Mentoring365! This global opportunity allows mentors to advise and share professional knowledge with mentees anywhere in the world. Apply to be a mentor or mentee today!
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2Mentoring365 Live and other conference mentoring programs connect mentees with experienced professionals during meetings. Visit the conference website for more information.
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3AGU Mentoring Network helps build professional networks, create opportunities, and reduce obstacles for recent PhD graduates in Earth and space science. Each network is composed of two senior scientists and six early career scientists.
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4The Sharing Science Mentoring Program at Fall Meeting connects graduate students with established scientists and science communicators to engage about sharing their science with public audiences through outreach.
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5The Fall Meeting First-Timer Mentorship program provides guidance for navigating AGU’s abstract submission process, from writing an abstract proposal to developing an engaging virtual presentation.

Mentoring resources
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Mentoring manual – Pathways to Science, by the Institute for Broadening Participation, developed a manual focused on perspectives and experiences from different mentoring environments for both students and faculty.
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Webinar: Get the most out of your mentoring relationship – In a past AGU webinar, Donna Charlevoix and Aisha Morris of UNAVCO discussed ways to get the most out of your interactions with a mentor. Note: you must be registered to view the webinar.
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Video: Establish mentoring expectations – Setting baseline expectations is key to the success of your in mentorship. Learn the basics of how to establish expectations with your mentor or mentee.
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Video: Active listening within mentorships – Do you listen with the intent to respond or understand? Active listening is a skill that takes deliberate practice for even the most tenured mentor.

Student science competitions
AGU offers student-oriented science challenges that allow students at different levels to develop new practices and hone professional skills that will help them build careers in Earth and space science. Our competitions were created to allow students of diverse backgrounds from around the globe to participate in educational scientific activities. They are administered with support from AGU members who serve as volunteer judges. We also offer a program that enables young students to present their research at Fall Meeting. Discover which student science competition is the best fit for you.


OSPA

Virtual Poster Showcase

Bright STaRs

Data Visualization
Travel and research grants and scholarships
Through our travel and research grants and scholarships, we help promote the professional development of the next generation of Earth and space scientists and enable the next era of scientific discoveries. These programs provide the opportunity for scientists to participate in career-building activities early in their careers.
We offer travel grants for students planning to attend AGU meetings and conferences. The program provides financial assistance to U.S. and international early career scientists and students who have little or no support from research contracts or grants, and who are presenting for the first time at a conference. Our research grants and scholarships provide the support necessary for students and early career scientists to complete research and advance their education and careers.

Available fellowships, grants, and scholarships
AGU Bridge Program
Seeking academic partners
The AGU Bridge Program is part of the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN), an effort to develop, adopt, and share inclusive practices for recruiting, admitting, and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM Ph.D. programs.
Basu Innovation Scholar Grant
Applications open 7 July, Close 18 August 2021
Beginning in 2021, the Basu Innovation Scholar Grant, provided through the generosity of Sunanda Basu, will provide travel support (up to $2000) to an early-career scientist / recent Ph.D. graduate making an impact in the area of space physics and aeronomy, through innovative approaches to observation and interpretation, to attend AGU Fall Meeting and will complement the William B. Hanson Lecture.
Bruno Martinelli Travel Fellowship
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
The Bruno Martinelli Travel Fellowship provides funding for Latin American science graduate students or early career scientists to attend and present a paper on a volcano-related topic at an international conference or workshop of their choice (not including AGU’s Fall Meeting).
Chapman Conference travel grants
Various deadlines
Individual Chapman conferences may offer travel grants for students to support attendance. Please refer to the specific conference webpage for more information and to inquire about possible travel assistance.
David E. Lumley Young Scientist Scholarship
Applications open 7 July, Close 18 August 2021
The David E. Lumley Young Scientist Scholarship is awarded to high school and undergraduate students studying energy and environmental science.
David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship
Applications open 7 July, Close 18 August 2021
The David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in the geo-environmental sciences and geo-environmental engineering. Applicants do not need to attend AGU’s Fall Meeting to be eligible, nor do they automatically receive a travel grant for the Fall Meeting.
Dr. Edmond M. Dewan Young Scientist Scholarship
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
The Dr. Edmond M. Dewan Young Scientist Scholarship for Atmospheric Sciences and Space Physics is awarded to graduate students studying atmospheric science and space physics.
Fall Meeting Berkner Fellowship
Applications open 7 July, Close 18 August 2021
The Berkner Fellowship is awarded to early career scientists and students under 35 years of age who are citizens of countries designated by the World Bank as “low” or “lower-middle” income per capita.
Fall Meeting Student Travel Grant
Applications open 7 July, Close 18 August 2021
The Fall Meeting Student Travel Grant provides financial assistance for student presenters at AGU’s Fall Meeting to offset costs associated with attending in-person or participating virtually. Any AGU student member presenting at the Fall Meeting may apply, but preference will be given to students from demographic groups that are underrepresented in the sciences.
Frontiers In Hydrology Berkner Travel Fellowship
Applications open now, Closing 16 May 2022
The Frontiers In Hydrology Berkner Travel Fellowship is awarded to early career scientists and students under 35 years of age who are citizens of countries designated by the World Bank as “low” or “lower-middle” income per capita.
Frontiers In Hydrology Meeting Early Career Travel Grant
The Frontiers In Hydrology Meeting Early Career Travel Grant provides early career professionals (within 10 years of their highest degree earned) presenting at the meeting with financial assistance. All early career presenters may apply, but preference will be given to individuals from historically marginalized communities or vulnerable populations.
Frontiers In Hydrology Meeting Student Travel Grant
The Frontiers In Hydrology Meeting Student Travel Grant provides financial assistance to student presenters at the Meeting. All students presenting at the meeting may apply, but preference will be given to students from historically marginalized communities or vulnerable populations.
GSSI Student Grant
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
The GSSI Student Grant is awarded to AGU student members who have designated the Near-Surface Geophysics Section as one of their AGU affiliations.
Horton Research Grants
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
Up to three Horton Research Grants are awarded each year to Ph.D. candidates in hydrology or water resources research.
June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
The June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship in Atmospheric Sciences for Women supports women students with a demonstrated interest in atmospheric sciences and intersections with meteorology as they establish their studies and build careers in the field. Honoring the legacy of June Bacon-Bercey, America’s first female television meteorologist, the scholarship will recognize that the awardee’s accomplishments are outstanding for their career-stage and will acknowledge that the awardee shows exceptional promise for continued contributions to the atmospheric sciences.
JpGU-AGU Meeting Travel Grants and Fellowship
Now accepting applications for JpGU-AGU Meeting Student Travel Grants and JpGU-AGU Meeting Berkner Travel Fellowships to help provide financial assistance to JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2020 attendees.
The Lawrence A. Taylor Research Fund in Petrology and Geochemistry
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
Beginning in 2021, The Lawrence A. Taylor Research Fund in Petrology and Geochemistry, provided through the generosity of Dong-Hwa Shin (Dawn) Taylor, will provide $4000 grants for two PhD students pursuing research in the fields of Petrology and/or Geochemistry and who demonstrate excellent research in their field.
Paros Scholarships in Geophysical Instrumentation
Applications Open Now, Closing 15 April
Beginning in 2020, AGU’s Seismology, Atmospheric Sciences, and Ocean Sciences Sections are proud to offer Paros Scholarships in Geophysical Instrumentation in the amount of $5,000 to recognize outstanding graduate students demonstrating interest in geophysical instrumentation and precision field measurements. Three scholarships will be awarded annually and can be used to relieve the financial burden associated with graduate studies but does not have to be directly applied to the winners’ research projects or studies. AGU membership is not a requirement nor do applicants have to hold primary membership in AGU’s Seismology, Atmospheric Sciences or Ocean Sciences Section.
WDS Opportunity Fund for New Diversity in Engineering and Research (WONDER) Grant
Newly developed; Annually awarded starting in 2021
WONDER endeavors to address inequalities in Earth and space sciences by providing grant support to a Black or Indigenous woman with a demonstrated interest in Earth science to attend an AGU conference. The goal is to encourage undergraduate and graduate women from these underrepresented groups to pursue a career in earth or space sciences by helping them broaden their scientific knowledge and build their personal and professional networks.
Follow the latest in education and career development
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Career Center newsletter – This monthly email newsletter will provide you with tools to help advance your career. Tailored to students and early career scientists, it offers career and professional development articles and recent job postings.
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On the Job blog – On the Job is an AGU blog, that provides career advice and workforce guidance to Earth and space science students, as well as early-career and established professionals who are interested in pursuing professional enrichment.
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Webinars – AGU webinars help you reach your full career potential whether you’re strengthening your skills in a specific area or learning about new research and professional trends. Sign up for an upcoming webinar or view our archive of past webinars.
