This is a guide for students at NPC to become aware of the various jobs, internships, scholarships, and events relevant to degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). You can find STEM career guides on our career guides tab here: https://npc.libguides.com/career-services/career-guides
Arizona Algae Products (Holbrook, AZ)
They are a small biotechnology company here in Holbrook, AZ. They grow algae as a source of food ingredients and other bio-components. The two parts of the business that they hire for are the following:
A student or graduate from either the Associate of Science (biology) track or Energy & Industrial Technology track will qualify for positions that they offer. To inquire further find their job openings on Indeed, the NPC Job Board (https://community.npc.edu), or find their contact information on the company's website.
NextEra Energy (Eager, AZ / Quemado, NM; Bellmont, AZ; various throughout USA)
They actively recruit our graduates from our Energy & Industrial Technician program and come to our career fairs. NextEra Energy is the largest renewable energy utility in the USA with locations throughout the country. They are currently building a new 100 MW wind farm off of Hwy 60 between Eager, AZ and Quemado, NM with wind technician career opportunities available for the right candidates. They are also building a new wind farm near Flagstaff in Bellmont. They look for our candidates to be motivated self-starters, technically sound in mechanical and electrical skills, knowledgeable with the use of hand and power tools, and above all else: safety conscious.
OnPoint Laboratories (Snowflake, AZ)
Located in Snowflake, AZ in an 8,000 square foot accredited High Throughput facility. Operates 7 days a week. They exclusively test the cannabis to make sure it is safe for public consumption. They do NOT sell or do any non-testing stuff with cannabis. They are NOT a grower. It is a real lab with scientists and technicians. As far as positions, they are looking for analysts with a background in chemistry to biology to analyze data from LCMS's, GCMS's, and micro sample analysis. The analyst position would be a good fit for someone with an associate of science degree or higher, although someone a semester away from an associate's would be a good fit depending on how much lab experience they have and how good of a worker they are. In addition to analysts, they are always hiring for technicians who help with the sample preparation for their analysts. The technician positions are a great opportunity for those still pursuing their associate of science degree who would like to get some lab work experience while still going to school. Anyone 14 years or older can be an Earth Team volunteer. See more information above.
We have two USDA offices in our district: Holbrook and Whiteriver. The Holbrook location often reaches out to me when they have an opening. They usually have an opening like "Soil Conservation Technician." Many of the positions require at least a bachelor's degree. The USDA has a great internship program called "pathways," that gives college students paid work experiences that "guarantee" you a job upon graduation. This Pathways program factsheet has useful information: https://npc0-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/benjamin_sandoval_npc_edu/EefvM9I2rfBOqOR06euN314BJcHdnt1xOkk4-IPtIaplwQ?e=gdndj7 . They also have a volunteer program called the "Earth Team." It could be a great opportunity to get relevant work experience and network with soil scientists, civil engineers, etc.
Centers for Disease Control AIANNH Career Expo (Virtual Event)
Any Native American students who think they may be interested in a career with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) should attend this virtual event. Registration opens up for a short time a month before and fill up fast. Topics include career types, pathways, federal job application process, etc.
You can download the flyer: https://npc0-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/benjamin_sandoval_npc_edu/EYCg9m_QG-hOry6Z3zphwzkB7I1eR_IbnvnSQ5SZgoBH6g?e=FoSufs
November 2022 was their very first event, and so it is reasonable to expect that they may have this every year around the same time. I would suggest checking the website regularly or emailing them at recruiter@cdc.gov to inquire if/when they will hold the next event.
Feed Your Future Virtual Career Fair
The last virtual career fair they had was in Feb. 2022. I recommend signing up for the Ag Careers newsletter so you can be notified of any upcoming fairs. These fairs are for the entire "food" industry including agriculture, logistics, technology, finance, etc.
Held in September every year since 1990 in Flagstaff. This event includes presentations, lectures, exhibits/displays, activities for people of all ages. The festival showcases research conducted by local scientists and is designed to promote awareness and enthusiasm for science in northern AZ.
National Institutes of Health Community College Day
There is a virtual event put on by the NIH that is of interest to students interested in a career in the biomedical field. Any student interest in biomedicine: nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, etc. should attend. They seem to do this every year in November. It's a great way to learn about internship opportunities at the NIH.
You can also watch the session recordings from last year. Topics included transferring to a 4-year university, careers in nursing, careers in medicine/dentistry/pharmacy, and job search topics.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxnpU66KqCciJESmdIkYrHOy62PfBOaHc
Naval Horizons Program Competition (Essay Competition)
This is an essay-writing competition for high school or college students interested in STEM. The competition seems to open in March and close in May every year. Naval Horizons introduces students to cutting-edge STEM topics that impact the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Participants watch lab-produced videos to learn about Naval STEM challenges and the scientists and engineers tackling them. The contest is to write an essay explaining how the Office of Naval Research’s people and research inspire you. The purpose of the contest is to challenge students to picture themselves in a STEM career. In one year they selected 5,000 winners who were awarded a $200 cash prize!
See "Internship" section on two "Naval STEM internships"
NPC hosts in-person career fairs usually at our Winslow and Show Low campuses. Employers from multiple industries including STEM. See the link above for career services events scheduled on the calendar.
SciTech Institute is a nonprofit organization that strives to connect the STEM community and inspire individuals to pursue STEM-related career paths and get engaged in STEM events. They have alot of events throughout the state such as fairs, bowls, project demos, etc. They also host monthly online meetings/workshops/info sessions called "STEM Community Lunchtime Conversations" for community members and organizations involved in STEM or those interested in promoting STEM. One month the topic was "All About STEM hobbies" and how those hobbies turned into careers. You can watch the video and download the presentations slides
SciTech Institute resources and events could be a great resource to learn about the different STEM organizations throughout the state and to network. Every January-March they have AZ Sci Tech Festival events throughout the state. You can see the 2022 program here: https://scitechinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/22-SciTech-Event-Program12-ONLINE.pdf
They seem to hold this event in Flagstaff every April. STEM City is a non-profit established in 2012 to promote STEM businesses, organizations, initiatives, and literacy in Flagstaff. You can visit STEM City website, read their blog and newsletter and find out about future events at http://www.flagstaffstemcity.com/
STEM Diversity Career Fair, U.S. Department of State (Virtual)
This virtual event seems to be held every year. This event will be held on November 12, 2022 from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. EST. The event will focus on Foreign and Civil Service as well as student programs and professional fellowships within the Department. They seek architects, engineers, IT professionals, electronic and electromechanical technicians, law enforcement and security technology professionals, cybersecurity professionals, data scientists as well as those interested in STEM-related policy issues such as climate change, emerging technologies, global health, and the supply chain, etc.
It's a great opportunity to learn the various career pathways for STEM. You will also be able to attend information sessions and panel discussions about various career paths, paid internships and career gateway programs. Register at https://careereco.com/Fair/EventDetails?fairId=1b5959fa-4206-4f31-8132-ae8a0132e9e0&utm_medium=organic%20social&utm_source=stemfair&utm_campaign=stem2022
Advancing Native American Diversity in Aging Research
Technically this is a course, but you can think of it like a one-week internship. It is designed for undergraduate students, especially Native American students. It combines short-term, intensive laboratory and didactic courses and mentored pilot research in fundamental, translational, clinical, and behavioral aspects of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and the mechanisms of aging, with ongoing mentoring to ensure both the launching and the retention of those promising candidates in research careers. This is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institutes of Aging. The host is the University of Minnesota. Students with an interest in Alzheimer's and related dimentias from a healthcare or science/research aspect are encouraged to apply.
The link above is the application page. The application consists of a resume, college transcript, written statement/questions, and a letter of recommendation.
We had an NPC student participate in this program in August 2022. Read about it here: https://www.npc.edu/news/20230815/northland-pioneer-college-opens-doors-career-possibilities
Arete - Science/Engineering Aide (Tucson)
This temporary position would be a great opportunity to get some experience for any of our transfer students at the U of A pursing a bachelor's degree or higher in a physical science, computer science, engineering, or mathematics. The company is Arete. You can find current open positions on their website: https://arete.com/
Arizona Conservation Corps is an Americorps program. It partners with state and federal land management / park agencies on various conservation service projects such as traditional trail work, fence construction and maintenance, fire fuels reduction/mitigation/rehab, habitat and watershed restoration, historic preservation, invasive species management, inventory and mapping, mining reclamation/restoration, parks/campground maintenance, and tree planting and seeding. This is a great opportunity for those who love the outdoors and would like to explore a future career working for a land management agency. For summer 2023, they had five biological science crew internships, which would be great for students: USFWS Bio Science Intern 2023 (Whiteriver).pdf
You can find the presentation by the AZ Conservation Corps https://www.npc.edu/career-fair
Arizona Game and Fish Summer Internships (Pinetop & Show Low)
Every summer AZ Game & Fish offers summer internships at various locations throughout the state. In 2023 they had a few positions in the Show Low and Pinetop area. These are full-time, paid internships. Applications are usually due in early January! Those on track to earn their Associate of Science degree with intent to earn their bachelor's degree in biology, specifically wildlife biology are the applicants they are looking for. You can see the list of summer internships they offered in Summer 2023 to give you an idea of what they may offer again in the future: https://npc0-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/benjamin_sandoval_npc_edu/Eck-phs-Rh5HgZ6zOEBn_nsBh0-20QGpAda8cBWj2Z7oWQ?e=RzEzik
ASU Biocollections DEI Scholars Program
This is a hands-on opportunity for underrepresented students interested in biodiversity science to participate in natural history collections research. The program is 6-weeks long during the summer and pays a stipend. It's open to current college students or recent graduates. You can read more about the program on their blog at: https://biokic.asu.edu/blog .
Applications are due by March 1, 2023. Application is at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffhZE6AxPscXFDFCMF2VpN9WRv5NJjBj2e-9GxAGMyHGmTuw/viewform
They will likely offer this every year. If they take the application offline, you can look at the 2023 summer application to give you an idea of what they ask for so you can be prepared when they offer it again. A copy of the 2023 application is here: npc0-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/benjamin_sandoval_npc_edu/ETnt4hiNAflHmPdPhUxMJSkBpCk-T4IhQi87VsrKeEpLvQ?e=cBsoHe
Bureau of Land Management
Summer internships listed on USA Jobs: https://intern.usajobs.gov/
Federal agencies usually have a two-week window when the job is listed and when the applications are due, and so it is recommended that students create their resume and profile on USA Jobs ahead of time.
These internships were announced in April and closed in April. You can view a copy of the past job announcements here to give you an idea of what they are: Bureau of Land Management Summer 2023 Internships
The internships included: natural resources, survey, civil engineering, environmental protection, IT, etc.
Clinical Laboratory Technician Internship - WIHCC (Winslow)
Clinical Laboratory Technician Internship position available with Winslow Indian Health Care Center. A bachelor's degree in biology, clinical/medical science, chemistry, or related field is required. This internship will give you the clinical hours necessary to become a Clinical Laboratory Technician or Scientist.
Clouds to the Core: Southwest Geoscience Research Experience
A great opportunity for those interested in pursuing a Geoscience degree or career. This is a paid summer internship opportunity specifically for community college and tribal college students in Arizona and the U.S. It is sponsored by the University of Arizona's Department of Geosciences. It is for students pursuing their Associate of Science degree (either current college student or high school graduate enrolled in community college pursuing their Associate of Science degree). Currently, this internship is available for Summers 2023, 2024, and 2025. Summer 2023 will be from June 12 - August 5th. Application deadline for Summer 2023 is February 1, 2023. Internship website and link to application available at link above. For more information, you can watch the virtual presentation: https://npc0-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/benjamin_sandoval_npc_edu/EZqEllYw8lxKo4nlwdmKqRsBjbB2UBtMiQdxczG9YpqjOg?e=d9BAv2
Cybersecurity - Virtual Externship
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation hosts this virtual externship at least once per year. See other listing for the related externship in Technology. They work with employers in Arizona to provide a two-week externship. Students learn from employers and work with other externs on a final group project. We've had at least one NPC student represented.
NPC Career Services offers assistance in applying for this externship. Contact NPC Career Services.
See also, "Technology - Virtual Externship"
Cybersecurity Talent Initiative
This is from the Partnership for Public Service, which is a non-profit that has existed for 20 years. They help the government do it's job and their mission is to inspire students to a career in public services. The Cybersecurity Talent Initiative is a selective opportunity for students in cybersecurity-related fields to get public and private sector work experience as well as receive student loan assistance. Those selected for the program will be guaranteed a two-year placement at a federal agency with cybersecurity needs. You can also download the flyer https://npc0-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/benjamin_sandoval_npc_edu/ElT690AOUsFKowYKDOQ8ELYBrkkx26xsZcSFD2W3zSg5JQ?e=N6uTid
Helios Scholars at TGen is a paid, eight-week summer internship program offers=ing students full-time, paid internship opportunities that include research experience and professional development in the field of biomedical research. Internships are available in laboratory research, computer science and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration.
Qualifications: must be 16 years of age; must be a full-time student; must attend/have attended a high school or university in AZ; eligible to work in the US; and be a graduating high school senior, undergraduate, graduate, or medical school student.
Current AZ high school sophomores and juniors, should apply for the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy
Medical Laboratory Technician Internship (Winslow)
This position is at the Winslow Indian Healthcare Center in Winslow, AZ. The requirement for the position is a bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry or other sciences and no clinical experience is needed. They will train the person in clinical laboratory so that they will meet the requirements to be eligible to sit for clinical laboratory or medical laboratory science certification. Upon successful CLS/MLS certification, they will be eligible to apply for the Clinical Laboratory Science jobs.
Job posting and application instructions at https://www.wihcc.com/job-announcements.html
NAU Environmental Education Outreach Program Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)
Summer internships for Native American high school and college students interested in a career in environmental careers. You can download the brochure http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/eeop/docs/brochures/Brochure_Interns.pdf. Applications are usually due in January for internships that start in Summer. Application process includes picking a host site and project, an essay, and letters of recommendation.
They offer internships every summer and the host organizations, locations, and projects vary from year to year. Many internship locations are located in Flagstaff and in the NPC district area. The internships are grouped into three broad categories: Air Quality, Indigenous Climate, and Water Resources & Land Management. "Environmental Careers" does not necessarily just refer to environment science and so students pursuing non-science degrees will find a few internships they are eligible for. However, most of the internships offered seem to require a student pursuing a science degree and career.
NOTE: They also have what's called a "Short Internship Program" that accepts applications throughout the year, so if you miss the deadline for the summer internships, you can apply and see if there are any other available opportunities anytime.
Whether you are in high school, college, or graduate school, there is a summer internship program for you. Applications are usually due by November.
The Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program provides an opportunity for high school students to participate in research at a Department of Navy laboratory during the summer. The nearest lab is at the US Naval Observatory in Flagstaff.
The Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program provides an opportunity for college students to participate in research at a Department of Navy laboratory during the summer. There are no labs in AZ. The closest labs are in CA and TX.
NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS)
NCAS is a community college aerospace scholar program. For students interested in exploring NASA or STEM careers. All majors are welcome to apply, including CTE majors. Students participate in career exploration and experiential learning experiences I understand that students may have trepidation about applying for opportunities at NASA, but NCAS was created specifically for community college students! This is a very rewarding experience and the confidence and inspiration you will be a life-defining moment for you. The recruitment cycle may change, but they plan to recruit just once per year with applications open in September and due in November. Must be currently attending a community college and have at least 9 credits of STEM coursework. Application materials include transcripts and short statement of purpose. They have application support documents and live information sessions you can attend.
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
ORISE is associated with the U.S. Department of Energy. They administer STEM internship programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies. They also have internships for non-STEM majors as well. You can find and search the list of internships at https://zintellect.com/Catalog . NPC students should filter by “undergraduate.” You can also filter by state, application deadline, etc.
You can watch the presentation given to NPC: watch here.
Peace Corps is a well-known program where you will serve two years overseas in a developing country. You need five years of experience in a relevant career. Education can substitute for experience. If you have an associate’s degree, you will need three years of full-time relevant work experience. The only exception is with a placement in the education program area, which requires a bachelor’s degree.
Although there are several program area concentrations, there is a particular need for those in agriculture. Other areas in the peace corps include environment roles
The lag time between application, acceptance, and service start date is several months, so you will need to plan ahead! Sarai Richter is willing to help applicants throughout the entire process. You can contact her at Sarai.Richter@asu.edu
Technology - Virtual Externship
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation hosts this virtual externship at least once per year. See other listing for the related externship in Cybersecurity. They work with employers in Arizona to provide a two-week externship. Students learn from employers and work with other externs on a final group project. We've had at least one NPC student represented.
Contact NPC Career Services if you would like a link to the presentation they provided to NPC as well as slides from the presentation. NPC offers application support for all students or alumni who apply.
A great career resource is AZCyberTalent.com, which is a resource for information on Arizona's cybersecurity ecosystem
See also, "Cybersecurity - Virtual Externship" above
Technology - Foreign Affairs I.T. Fellowship
This fellowship is with the U.S. Department of State. Those who have obtained their associates are eligible. It is a program just for students majoring in IT-related fields. It pays for the last two years of an undergraduate degree in an IT-related field or a two-year master's degree in an IT-related field; offers two paid consecutive summer internships and professional development opportunities; and leads to a full-time career with the State Department as an IT specialist in the Foreign Service. (Note on IT majors: An IT-related field can be computer science, information management systems, cybersecurity, computer engineering, IT services administration, computer systems networking, or any similar field.) The U.S. Department of State hosts virtual internship information sessions in the throughout the year. Sign up for their Talent Network to get informed of these events. https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/student-internship-program/
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pathways Student Internship Program
The Pathways Program offers federal internship and employment opportunities for current students, recent graduates, and those with an advanced degree. There are three different paths available: Internship Program, Recent Graduates Program, and Presidential Management Fellows Program. Many federal agencies have a pathways program. This entry though is about the USDA Pathways Student Internship Program. The benefit of the pathways program is that it is intended to lead to a permanent position once the internship is over.
The Pathways Internship positions that are usually available in our area include:
The Forest Service hires student interns and recent graduates for a wide range of jobs. Below are a few jobs they hire for:
All of these are posted on USA Jobs and students must apply through there. Usually the application window is open for only two weeks, and so those interested are encouraged to set up alerts in USA Jobs. Applying for federal jobs requires a different strategy and takes more time. Therefore, students are encouraged to create their profile and resume right away in USA Jobs before an opening is even posted.
Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following resources about applying through USA Jobs:
U.S. Department of Energy Community College Internships
The U.S. Department of Energy has their applications for their “Community College Internships” program open in Fall and due the following January. These are paid 10-week internships in the summer at one of their laboratory sites. The pay is generous, housing is provided, and interns are reimbursed for relocation travel.
The application requires four essays, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Students must be full-time and currently enrolled.
They usually host a virtual internship fair in October/November where students can learn about the various internship opportunities at the various sites, chat with past participants, and learn about career pathways.
Foreign Affairs IT Fellowship (FAIT)
This U.S. Department of State fellowship is for college sophomores / second-year associate's degree students or college seniors. It is strictly for IT majors. For college sophomores/second-year associate's degree students, the fellowship will pay for your junior and senior year of a bachelor's degree. For college seniors, the fellowship will pay for the two years of your masters degree. Applications usually open up in September of each year. You apply the year before you would receive the fellowship. For example, if you are a second-year associate degree, you would apply the fall semester of your second year. The diplomat is residence for the southwest, Antoinette Hurtado, visited NPC in Spring 2023. Reach out to her if you want to apply and she can explain the application process to you and give you some tips! Reach out to NPC Career Services (careerservices@npc.edu) to receive her email address.
You can download the flyer which has some information.
