Division of Water Resources Student Intern - Knoxville

Bureau of Environment Student Intern

Division of Water Resources

Knoxville Environmental Field Office 
Compensation: $20 per hour

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is excited to offer an outstanding opportunity for college students to intern with our Division of Water Resources in the Knoxville Environmental Field Office. Students will gain an understanding of how our agency works to protect and improve water quality by learning about conducting chemical and biological monitoring of local rivers/streams, understanding guidelines for inspections of regulated facilities, and observing our field team provide technical assistance to our multi-county customers.

Field work may be required and includes walking in uneven, muddy and steep terrain during a variety of climatic conditions; flowing water of varying depth and velocity; and may include encounters with environmental hazards (e.g., poison ivy, insects, snakes, etc.). It will be a lot of fun and exercise!

Highlighted Responsibilities:

• Work directly with our team in the environmental regulatory career field.
• Conduct data entry and data review related to water quality permits.
• Collect in-stream biological samples (aquatic macroinvertebrates) and conduct habitat assessments.
• Conduct water quality monitoring by in-stream water quality sampling at monitoring stations. 
• Accompany field staff during permitting procedures and inspections of Construction General Permit and Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit sites.  
• Learn how field equipment is calibrated and maintained.

Qualifications:

• Students earning a degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or other acceptable science/natural resource related field. 
• Actively enrolled in college and have a Junior, Senior, or Graduate student status as of May 2026.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Have a valid driver’s license.

How to Apply:

To be considered for this position, please Click Here to Apply.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State’s policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.