Current ALP Projects

Thank you for your interest in the Active Learning Program!

Here are our internship and research opportunities for Spring 2025 and Summer C 2025

As you browse our upcoming opportunities, remember that the ALP is both an internship-research program and a 4000-level 3-credit professional development course. Our Summer C course runs remotely and our Spring course meets in-person. If you accept an internship position, you can expect 5 hours of internship/research work a week and 2 hours of coursework a week. If you are offered a position, you will be offered to join either a Spring or Summer C team, depending on your application selection and the availability of projects. Students can only participate in the ALP for one semester.

Through our rigorous program, you will:

Earn valuable, mentored internship/research experience and knowledge in your career field;
Develop your identity as a competent early career professional while constructing a cohesive personal-professional brand that connects your mission, values, and strengths with your career path;
Build your collaboration, communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skillsets’
Create professional deliverables that you can use both in your internship/research experience and as an early career professional.

Upon accepting an internship, our administrator will enroll you in the ALP (IDS 4940) course; students cannot enroll themselves in the course on One.UF.

Our Summer C course section meets remotely, so all summer students will be in the same remote section. Although the course is asynchronous remote, internship and research projects may operate in-person, remotely, or both in-person and remotely—be sure to check the projects’ format before applying.

Our Spirng course meets in-person. There are three possible course sections, with each internship assigned a section so that all interns can collaborate in-class and on Canvas. We will meet for class every other week on the day listed with two class periods, and students can use the remaining class time for meetings with their internship team. You must have all the 3 class periods associated with an internship open in your ONE.UF class schedule to join the ALP. Internships and research projects may operate in-person, remotely, or both in-person and remotely—be sure to check the projects’ format before applying.

Our course sections for Spring are:

Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]
Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]
Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

As you browse our available opportunities, be sure to look at:

Semester & Course Meeting Times:
- Availability in Spring Only, Summer Only, or Both Spring and Summer
- Spring Projects will be assigned a course meeting time.
Internship Format: In-Person, Online, or Both
- For In-Person, Location
Other: Instructions, Preferences, or Requirements for Internship
Categories: Key words describing the work and thematic topics of each opportunity.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled—some positions fill very quickly. Applying earlier increases your chances of being offered an internship/research position, as more positions will be available.

You can apply here.

ALP Projects: Spring 2025 and Summer C 2025

Africa and the African Diaspora in Florida

Organization: Alachua County African & African American Historical Society, Inc.
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]
Keywords: Arts, Culture, & Humanities
Description: “The goal of the project is to document the contributions of Africans and Peoples of African Descent to the multicultural and multiracial history of Florida. Interns will learn about historical methods, critical analysis of archival materials, and writing skills. Interns’ cultural competencies and career planning are important objectives of the project.”

Artspeaks

Organization: ARTSPEAKS GNV, Inc.
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Arts, Culture, & Humanities; Community Outreach & Engagement; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Event Planning & Project Coordination
Description: “ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc., established in 2012, is North Central Florida’s premier poetry and creative arts organization. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ARTSPEAKS supports poets and artists through performances, workshops, readings, and festivals to inspire creativity and nurture talent. Interns will assist in maintaining social media networks, conducting community outreach, and planning events, including performances, workshops, and poetry readings. The experience will provide real-world insight into the creative arts nonprofit sector.”

Blaac2basics

Organization: Bailey Learning and Arts Collective
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Arts, Culture, & Humanities; Community Outreach & Engagement; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Event Planning & Project Coordination; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising
Description: “Interns will work closely with the Bailey Learning and Arts Collective on various tasks, including grant writing, social media management, and event planning. Responsibilities include organizing community events, managing content for newsletters, and supporting call-to-artist campaigns. Additionally, interns will assist with administrative tasks like maintaining social media networks and collaborating with partners to promote events.”

Catalyzing a Career in Research Administration

· Organization: Department of Anesthesiology

· Internship Format: Both in-person and remote

· Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

· Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday – Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday – Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

· Keywords: Data Analysis & Research

· Description: “A career in Research Administration is not normally promoted to students and is often discovered casually once working in an academic research institution. This program aims to present the high-demand career in research administration to UF undergraduates through mentoring and navigation of the sponsored research process. Interns will receive a significant head start and working knowledge in proposal development, compliance, and post award management skills. This experience can lead to a rewarding career post graduation and knowledge gained is not only transferable, also imperative in graduate school training/funding.”

Center for Precollegiate Education and Training

Organization: Center for Precollegiate Education and Training
Internship Format: In-person
Semester(s): Spring 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Education & Youth Development; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Event Planning & Project Coordination
Description: “The Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET) provides STEM and humanities programs for students and teachers. Interns will assist with event planning, create promotional materials, manage social media platforms, and contribute to outreach efforts.”

Children Beyond Our Borders: Working with a Local Nonprofit

Organization: Children Beyond Our Borders
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Nonprofit Management & Fundraising; Social Media & Digital Marketing
Description: “Interns will work with Children Beyond Our Borders on grant writing, tutoring, and organizing community workshops. Additional responsibilities include managing social media campaigns and participating in donor recruitment efforts. Interns will develop skills in nonprofit management and outreach while working with children and families in the Gainesville community.”

Choose JOY!

Organization: Xtraordinary JOY!
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Community Outreach & Engagement; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Event Planning & Project Coordination
Description: “Xtraordinary JOY! is a nonprofit focused on supporting families affected by ultra-rare chromosome disorders. Interns will help plan inclusive events, such as the Night to Shine Prom and UF Field Day for Special Olympics, create social media campaigns, and develop outreach materials to raise awareness. This role provides hands-on experience working with families facing unique challenges and contributes to community-based inclusion efforts.”

College PASS

Organization: The Education Equalizer Foundation
Internship Format: Remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Education & Youth Development; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising
Description: “The College PASS program supports high school students throughout the college application process. Interns will mentor students, assist with fundraising campaigns, and manage social media outreach to enhance engagement with prospective college applicants.”

Ethics in the Public Sphere

Organization: Department of Religion
Internship Format: In-person
Semester(s): Spring 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Education & Youth Development; Event Planning & Project Coordination; Community Outreach & Engagement
Description: “Ethics in the Public Sphere is an interdisciplinary, collaborative project at the University of Florida to explore ways we can engage the moral dimensions of contemporary social and political issues. Our events provide opportunities for constructive, civil conversations about these issues. We also support teaching, research, and public engagement to develop better ways to understand what is at stake in these issues, to facilitate constructive reflection and dialogue about them, and to support effective action toward the common good.”

Feeding Youth and Families through Faith, Agriculture, and Outreach

Organization: Promised Land Family Ministries
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Spring 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

Keywords: Community Outreach & Engagement; Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Event Planning & Project Coordination
Description: “Promised Land Family Ministries serves North Central Florida through agriculture and outreach. Interns will assist with programs such as a mobile food pantry, community garden, and the Faith and Family Ag Festival. Responsibilities include planning events, organizing agricultural activities, and helping with community outreach to make a lasting impact.”

Flood Resilient Communities

Organization: UF/IFAS Extension Program for Resource Efficient Communities
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Community Outreach & Engagement; Data Analysis & Research; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising
Description: “This project focuses on the development of floodplain stewardship practices aimed at promoting flood risk reduction. Interns will assist with applied research, community outreach, program evaluation, and grant writing efforts. Through their work, interns will gain valuable insights into resource-efficient community development and sustainable environmental practices.”

Florida Floodplain Management for Risk Reduction and Loss Prevention

Organization: Florida Floodplain Managers Association
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Data Analysis & Research; Community Outreach & Engagement; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising
Description: “Did you know that flooding has become the most common and costly natural disaster worldwide? As you can imagine, the recent/recurring storms, increased development, and ever-changing climate in Florida have caused a growing need for effective floodplain management. The Florida Floodplain Managers Association (FFMA at FLfloods.org) is working on a statewide project, Florida Floodplain Management for Risk Reduction and Loss Prevention, to help Floridians become more knowledgeable about and protected from floods. It requires timely, accurate information and strategic communication to reach broad and varied audiences. FFMA offers internships for students to assist with various aspects of non-profit management, including public outreach campaigns, legislative advocacy, GIS mapping, and instructional design.”

Health Education and Training Center (H.E.A.T.) of Gainesville

Organization: Health Education and Training Center of Gainesville, Inc.
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Community Outreach & Engagement; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Event Planning & Project Coordination
Description: “H.E.A.T. organizes community events, including health fairs, diaper distribution programs, and wellness workshops. Interns will help with event logistics, outreach, and marketing. Additional responsibilities include creating newsletters, social media content, and promotional materials, along with managing relationships with donors and community partners.”

Human Systems Interactions in Health Information Technology

Organization: Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Data Analysis & Research; Education & Youth Development
Description: “This project investigates human-systems interactions in health information technology, focusing on clinical decision-making and patient-facing technologies. Interns will conduct interviews, literature reviews, and data analysis. They will also assist with developing a serious game to support adolescents with depression and/or anxiety.”

I Gotcha Back Education

Organization: IGB Education
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Education & Youth Development; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising; Social Media & Digital Marketing
Description: “Interns will play a vital role in supporting IGB Education’s mentoring and enrichment programs for K-12 students. Responsibilities include coordinating mentoring sessions, developing educational content, managing social media campaigns, and tracking program outcomes. Interns will gain experience in non-profit management, data analysis, and community engagement through their involvement in various events and workshops.”

Identify Genetic Basis of Quality Traits in Vegetables and Fruits

Organization: Horticultural Sciences Department
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Data Analysis & Research; Environmental Conservation & Sustainability
Description: “This research project addresses challenges in food security by leveraging plant physiology, genomics, and machine learning to study quality traits in fresh produce. Interns will participate in lab experiments, data analysis, and manuscript development, contributing to publications or poster presentations. This interdisciplinary project aims to improve post-harvest logistics and enhance the availability of high-quality, nutritious produce.”

Infrared Spectroscopy for Measuring Soil Health

Organization: Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Spring 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Data Analysis & Research
Description: “Soil is a valuable natural resource that provides essential functions, including habitat, water purification, and carbon storage. This project explores infrared spectroscopy as an intuitive and cost-effective tool for measuring soil health. Interns will collect and analyze soil samples to predict soil health.”

Insightful Analysis Solutions: Research, Evaluation, and Data Analysis

Organization: Insightful Analysis Solutions
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

Keywords: Data Analysis & Research; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising; Community Outreach & Engagement
Description: “Insightful Analysis Solutions (IAS) collaborates with organizations to produce tailored findings, insights, and deliverables that are actionable and meaningful. Interns will assist with synthesizing both quantitative and qualitative data, using tools like SPSS and R for statistical analysis. Responsibilities include technical writing, grant writing, program evaluation, and developing materials for data collectors. Interns will also work on literature reviews, transcription, conceptualizing grant opportunities, and designing logic models for program design.”

Keep Alachua County Beautiful

Organization: Keep Alachua County Beautiful
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Community Outreach & Engagement; Event Planning & Project Coordination
Description: “Interns will: Assist the Executive Director for Keep Alachua County Beautiful in preparing factual materials and proposals based on contracts and grants received. Prepare promotional materials for ongoing beautification and conservation efforts and recycling and litter prevention programs, including but not limited to: Adopt-A-Street, the Great American Cleanup, and graffiti abatement. Assist in developing environmental education lesson plans and curricula to be taught to low-income youth at local family resource centers and other educational institutions. Help monitor the organization’s databases, track and input data from multiple programs KACB runs. Help manage the organization’s social media presence. Prepare, complete, and submit applicable reports on work completed by the organization. Schedule presentations/tabling events to schools, businesses, and community organizations. Help coordinate major events throughout the year, including but not limited to: MLK Day of Service and the Great American Cleanup. And help with some office duties, supporting KACB’s volunteer base.”

Mosquito Parity Status and Overwintering Strategy

Organization: Entomology
Internship Format: In person
Semester(s): Spring and Summer C 2025
Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]
Description: “Our Team has recently collected mosquitoes from gopher tortoise burrows at the Ordway Swisher Biological Station (https://ordway-swisher.ufl.edu/). Our study demonstrated that several mosquito species utilize gopher tortoise burrow and that Culex erraticus mosquitoes utilize the burrows to overwinter. For more information on this project please check out our publication (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10936169/) and the Entomology Today Article (https://entomologytoday.org/2024/03/07/culex-erraticus-mosquitoes-winter-gopher-tortoise-burrowsflorida/#:~:text=Certain%20mosquitoes%2C%20like%20Culex%20erraticus,diluting%20host%20for%20certain%20viruses). In a follow up study, we collected mosquitoes above and below ground (in gopher tortoise burrows). We are now trying to assess the parity status of the female mosquitoes in order to estimate population structure during overwintering and non-overwintering periods.”
Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability | Research

Natural Hair Headquarters

· Organization: Natural Hair Headquarters

· Internship Format: Interns will most likely work remotely

· Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

· Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS4940 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]

· Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability, Data Analysis & Research, Social Media & Digital Marketing

· Description: “Natural Hair Headquarters aims to revolutionize the natural hair care industry through the development of an AI-powered system that delivers personalized hair care routines and products. By leveraging data analytics, machine learning, and sustainable practices, the system will offer tailored solutions to users based on their unique hair types, concerns, and lifestyle factors. This project supports NHQ’s eco-friendly mission to provide refillable, custom-formulated products and quarterly assessments, establishing an ongoing relationship with customers.”

ORF-TECH: Oral Reading Fluency Technology and Enhancement for Children

· Organization: School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

· Internship Format: Interns will most likely work in-person

· Semester(s): Summer C 2025

· Keywords: Education & Youth Development, Arts, Culture, & Humanities, Event Planning & Project Coordination

· Description: “This project uses the Storiza reading app, which was developed for the 2023 Visionary Interdisciplinary Teams Advancing Learning Prize Challenge (the ‘VITAL Prize Challenge’) co-organized by the National Science Foundation and Digital Promise.

Storiza is a reading app that leverages students’ creativity to facilitate reading practice and improve ORF of elementary school students. Using generative AI, Storiza creates and illustrates stories based on student-generated prompts that are aligned with the student’s interests and a validated reading curriculum. With Storiza, students maintain a higher student engagement, practice with stories addressing specific phonic skills, and receive formative feedback.”

Pleasant Street Historic Society

Organization: Pleasant Street Historic Society
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Spring 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Arts, Culture, & Humanities; Community Outreach & Engagement; Nonprofit Management & Fundraising
Description: “The Pleasant Street Historic Society is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and protecting the history of the Pleasant Street neighborhood and African American history in Gainesville, Florida. A central component of preserving this history is the renovation and repurposing of a historic home, The Smith-Griffin home, as a living history museum and cultural and educational center. Interns will help develop marketing materials for fundraising efforts and create materials/artifacts for the museum. Research into potential partnerships and grants will also be emphasized.”

ReadingPals United Way NCFL

Organization: ReadingPals United Way NCFL
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Education & Youth Development; Community Outreach & Engagement
Description: “ReadingPals has partnered with after-school programs, preschools, and charter schools to offer mentorship, literacy resources, and instruction. Interns dedicate their time to build meaningful connections with students, fostering literacy and social-emotional skills.”

Rebranding Recognition: Leadership Redefined Through TEDxTalks and Education

Organization: Thought Leader Think Tank
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Arts, Culture, & Humanities; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Community Outreach & Engagement
Description: “This internship offers a unique opportunity to support community outreach, social media management, and project design within a range of dynamic initiatives. You’ll assist in developing a TEDxTalk, shaping modules for the self-leadership program “Rebranding Recognition: The 50-Year-Old You | Becoming Who You Are,” and contributing to the creation of an AI platform for incubators. Working alongside a seasoned coach and consultant involved with TEDxGainesville and several nonprofit boards, you’ll gain hands-on experience in leadership development, event production, and strategic communication. Additionally, you’ll engage with Vena Cava, a healing arts retreat center and intentional community that fosters alcohol-free nightlife, personal growth, and entrepreneurial ventures. This role is ideal for someone passionate about community building, personal development, and innovative program design.”

Respect Me Project

Organization: Respect Me Project
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Social Media & Digital Marketing; Data Analysis & Research
Description: “The Respect Me Project aims to identify respect gaps within the job recruitment lifecycle and support emerging talent. Interns will analyze survey data, develop promotional materials, and contribute to website development to help participants engage effectively throughout the recruitment process.”

Saving Florida Water: Understanding the History of Water Conservation Ordinances

Organization: UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Data Analysis & Research
Description: “H2OSAV: Water Savings, Analytics & Verification is a UF/IFAS Extension program working to measurably save Florida water. A primary component of this program’s work is analyzing the efficacy of individual water conservation efforts. Currently, the program is interested in researching the effectiveness of water conservation measures mandated by Florida ordinances. Some Florida counties and cities require limiting irrigable area, requiring Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, or other potential water-saving measures. Before the ordinances can be analyzed for effectiveness, a strong understanding of the ordinances and implementation timelines is required. Each intern will support this effort by researching city/county ordinances in Florida to better understand what water-saving measures are required, when they went into effect, and how they are enforced. This requires a thorough review of the existing code, in addition to connecting with the local municipality to better understand how these measures are (or are not) enforced. This opportunity may be well-suited for a student interested in research, government, and/or water conservation.”

Scallop Republic Micronation (Community Outreach and Branding)

Organization: Scallop Republic Micronation, Inc.
Internship Format: Both in-person and remote
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability; Social Media & Digital Marketing; Community Outreach & Engagement
Description: “The Scallop Republic is under attack! Climate change and human impacts are causing subsidence (island sinking), erosion, and the rampant spread of terrestrial invasive species throughout our Micronation. We need community change-makers to spread the word about the unique beauty and nature-based recreational opportunities in this region to keep it above water and healthy for generations, so the fun never stops. The Scallop Republic Micronation is a non-profit set up to acquire and preserve (or assist in the restoration and conservation of) environmentally sensitive land along the Nature Coast of Florida—specifically coastal areas and islands from Gulf County through Pasco County. However, this non-profit is only 1.5 years old, so the concept needs to be defined in the eye of the public—much like the concept of the Conch Republic in the Florida Keys. That’s the work. Students can fulfill the need for a variety of public outreach campaigns by managing social media, brand identity development using copywriting and graphic design (development of flag, logo, motto, and calls to action), and creating community partnerships with public and private entities throughout the region (calls, emails, and conversations with environmental agencies, related non-profits, and private businesses that operate it, depend on, and/or impact the region). Students may assist with website development to promote responsible ecotourism opportunities available throughout the region, as long as the providers operate within specific environmentally-sound standards set forth by The International Ecotourism Society. Properly using the theories of Social Identity and Diffusion of Innovations could help propel the idea of the Scallop Republic to the minds of many people who live and/or recreate in this area, as well as people who care about conservation and want to support maintaining healthy ecosystems along the Nature Coast. Our organization needs your help to combat natural and developing threats to this Micronation.”

Second Shot: Social Media Video Editing

Organization: Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering

Internship Format: Remote
Semester(s): Spring 2025
Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]
Description: “Students will work on one of these two projects. In project A, students will create a series of social media videos that capture the success stories of former athletes, showcasing how their sports experiences shaped their careers and personal lives. Each video will feature short interviews where former athletes share insights on discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, along with key moments from their athletic journeys. Students will edit, and produce the videos, adding compelling visuals, captions, and background music to make the stories engaging and accessible for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. In project B, students will conduct research and analyze data from an AI-focused study abroad program for computer science majors. They’ll gather data from program participants, including surveys and interviews, to understand how the experience enhanced their technical skills, cultural awareness, and global perspectives on AI. The project will involve analyzing data points such as students’ improvements in AI-related competencies, engagement with international teams, and real-world applications they developed abroad. Students will present their findings, showcasing how immersive, global learning opportunities can enhance AI proficiency and cross-cultural collaboration in computer science.”
Keywords: Social Media & Digital Marketing; Data Analysis & Research

Socio-economic Factors Influencing Mosquito Communities and Functional Traits

Organization: Entomology and Nematology
Internship Format: In person
Semester(s): Spring and Summer C 2025
Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]
Description: “Our Team is currently collecting mosquitoes from higher and lower income neighborhoods in Gainesville, Florida using CDC light traps baited with CO2 (dry ice) and Biogent (BG) traps baited with lure and CO2. These samples will be identified to the species level using taxonomic key. Every week students, will meet in the laboratory to measure important mosquito functional traits including wing length (dispersal trait), proboscis length, and body size (feeding traits). Mosquito traits will be measured under the microscope following standard methodology for insect functional traits. We aim to measure traits on a minimum of 20 adult mosquito per species, 10 males and 10 females. These traits are important as they may affect the ability of mosquitoes to find oviposition sites, disperse and blood feed under field conditions.”
Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability | Research

Spatial Data Science for Quantifying Environmental Benefits to Human Society Research

Organization: Department of Agronomy
Internship Format: In-person
Semester(s): Both Spring and Summer C 2025

Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

Keywords: Data Analysis & Research; Environmental Conservation & Sustainability
Description: “The Ecosystem Services AI lab in the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department at the University of Florida is seeking several highly creative and motivated student interns in the areas of Data Science and Geospatial Analysis. Interns will exercise and develop skills in spatial data science that lead to important insights for a portfolio of AI-based modeling and mapping research projects that quantify ecosystem services provided by ecosystems. This involves mapping urban greenspaces and their services, outdoor recreation, wildlife watching, etc. Our goals are to improve knowledge of the spatiotemporal dynamics in the delivery of a wide range of environmental benefits to human society by urban and rural landscapes in Florida and beyond, as well as the driving socio-ecological factors that lead to variations in benefit distributions across space and time. Interns with our project will: 1) Create data annotation with image annotation software and GIS software (QGIS and ArcGIS Pro) for AI model training and validation. 2) Run Python or R programming scripts to download, clean, and process GIS data, remote sensing images, and other spatial data from various sources, including Google Street View, OpenStreetMap, Flickr, Census, and Google Earth Engine (GEE). 3) Perform GIS mapping and data visualization using ArcGIS Pro and programming languages (including R or Python). 4) Develop and maintain the lab website using JavaScript/CSS/HTML. 5) Manage social media accounts for the lab and create communication materials. 6) Create figures, tables, flyers, factsheets, and other presentation materials for research and public outreach. By the end of the semester, interns will produce data annotations for AI model training, GIS data products, maps, a lab website, and other communication materials. We are excited to have you join our research lab and build your skillsets in spatial data science, mapping, website development, and more! Students should have a background in GIS, data science, and experience in developing websites (JavaScript/CSS/HTML)”

Strawberry Yield Prediction Using AI

· Organization: Agricultural and Biological Engineering

· Internship Format: Interns will work both in-person and remotely

· Semester(s): Spring 2025

· Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS4940 [Tuesday- Periods 5-6 (11:45 AM – 1:40 PM) and Thursday- Period 6 (12:50 PM – 1:40 PM)]

· Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability, Data Analysis & Research, Education & Youth Development

· Description: “We have a strawberry field in the Plant Science Research and Education Unit, which is about 30 minutes away from the campus. We go there weekly, count the number of flowers and fruit, take images, harvest mature fruit, and weigh them. Once we take images, we manually label them to train AI models and develop yield prediction models, which is the main goal of the project.”

The Socio-Economic Impacts of a Novel Unregulated Contaminant

· Organization: IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department

· Internship Format: Interns can choose to work either remotely or in-person

· Semester(s): Spring 2025

· Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS4940 [Tuesday- Period 8 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM) and Thursday- Periods 7-8 (1:55 PM – 3:50 PM)]

· Keywords: Environmental Conservation & Sustainability, Data Analysis & Research, Community Outreach & Engagement

· Description: “PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are one of the toughest environmental problems of our time. They are a class of chemicals that are used in a wide variety of products, including firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and stain-resistant

fabrics. PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body. Worst of all, PFAS have been linked to a variety of serious human health concerns, including cancer, thyroid disease, and birth defects. With its unregulated use for the past 50 years, the social impacts of PFAS is widespread but poorly understood. The goal of this project is to understand the social impact of PFAS pollution in Florida. Specifically, the project will build a database linkage that documents the scale of PFAS exposure and their potential impacts on local drinking water systems, housing market, and health and educational outcomes. We will then utilize modern data analytics to quantify the socio-economic impact of PFAS pollution using a data-driven, spatially explicit approach.”

Wearable Device Sleep and Activity Tracking Team

Organization: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions
Internship Format: Both in person and remote work
Semester(s): Spring and Summer C 2025
Spring Requires You Have Space and Are Eligible For: IDS490 [Tuesday- Period 4 (10:40 AM – 11:30 AM) and Thursday- Periods 4-5 (10:40 AM – 12:35 PM)]
Description: “The Technology for Occupational Performance Lab (TOP Lab) at the University of Florida offers an engaging and hands-on internship experience for undergraduate students interested in wearable technology, data analysis, and research in occupational performance. This project focuses on two groundbreaking studies: the Happy Teacher Project and the Sleep, Balance, and Cognition (SBC) Study. Interns will contribute to impactful research exploring wellness, activity tracking, and sleep monitoring through wearable devices. Primary Goals and duties 1. Advance understanding of wearable technology’s applications in sleep and activity monitoring. 2. Enhance data preprocessing and analysis for wellness interventions and aging-related studies. Practice traditional statistical analysis and apply machine learning technique on time series sleep and activity data. 3. Develop research design, participant interaction, data management, and dissemination skills. Intern Tasks and Responsibilities: Happy Teacher Project (For two interns): Learn about wellness interventions for early education teachers using Fitbit devices. Review Fitbit and Fitabase data structures to understand sleep, activity, and wear time variables. Clean and manage multi-cohort data from previous interventions (Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024). Develop machine learning model to characterize sleep phenotype working with Graduate research assistant. Support data visualization, create weekly wearing pattern reports, and organize customized participant reminders. Contribute to final datasets, GitHub repository updates, and prepare a project summary presentation. Sleep, Balance, and Cognition (SBC) Study (For two interns): Assist in participant recruitment and engagement with older adults in collaboration with Oak Hammock retirement community. Conduct wearable reviews, sleep diary checks, and administer balance and cognitive assessments under supervision. Manage study data in REDCap, ensuring quality and consistency. Prepare dissemination materials, including study protocol updates and weekly logs of data collection efforts. Develop a final presentation summarizing findings and contributions. By joining the Sleep and Activity Tracking Team, you will gain real-world experience in cutting-edge research, develop highly sought-after wearable technology and data analysis skills and machine learning, and contribute to impactful studies improving wellness and aging-related interventions. This opportunity is ideal for students eager to explore the intersection of technology and health sciences in a collaborative and supportive environment.”
Keywords: Community Outreach & Engagement | Data Analysis & Research

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