HEMP Research Intern
Ten undergraduate research internships are available beginning in the Summer of 2025 to work on any aspect of hemp science.
Interns develop their own projects, but examples of research projects include topics such as:
- Participating in national hemp variety trials, including phenotyping of hemp plants through the growing season
- Hemp fiber production, extraction, processing, quality and utilization
- Hemp grain production and quality, including seed protein or oil analysis
- New variety breeding
- Evaluating hemp growth under different field conditions
- Cannabinoid or terpene analysis/profiling
- Economic analysis of hemp production/industry
- Evaluation of insect pest and virus/pathogen disease pressures for hemp
- Organizing outreach and extension products and activities with the public
Interns can choose research projects that fit their hemp-related career goals. Interns receive wages and benefits to cover summer living expenses and travel associated with the work. Some interns may choose to live on-farm at WSU’s IAREC facility in Prosser, WA or with one of our grower or industry partners, or on campus at WSU Pullman, UC Davis, or OSU Corvallis/Central Point. Funding for half of the internships will be provided by a grant that focuses on hemp industry development on Tribal lands, and tribal members or those interested in working with Tribes and the hemp industry are particularly encouraged to apply.
Applicants should include a cover letter with their application that outlines their desired project topic area and potentially who at the participating institutions (or which industry member) they would like to work with during the internship. They should also describe why they think they are particularly well suited for the program, how the internship program fits within their career goals, and why working on a project related to hemp is important to them.