RISE Internship: Multiple Positions Available for Santa Cruz River Refuge Planning & Outreach Project
Position Titles: Digital Modeling + Graphics Internships
Reports to: Mackenzie Waller, PLA + M.Arch
Hours/Week: 8-12 hrs/wk
Internship Date Range: November 1-March 15 (estimated 15 week internship)
Location: CAPLA, University of Arizona Campus
About the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) Program
The RISE Program is hosted by the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) and provides undergraduate and graduate students with paid internships related to resilient environments and societies. RISE internships give students experience in workplace settings with an opportunity to grow their interpersonal skills and prepare them for careers after graduation.
About the Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge Planning & Design Project:
The Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge Planning and Design project holds a long term goal of an urban national wildlife refuge designation that protects crucial green space, improves and maintains wildlife habitat connectivity, ensures equitable access to the river and surrounding landscape for local communities, and honors the rich cultural and historical connections to the revitalized river. An urban wildlife refuge can protect threatened open space in perpetuity.
Internship summary:
Multiple internship positions are available to support the Santa Cruz River Refuge Planning & Outreach Project. Interns will help create 3D digital models and associated graphics that will contribute to planning, design, and research efforts aimed at advancing habitat conservation, ecological connectivity, and equitable community access to urban public space.
Details:
Interns should have strong communication skills and an enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration. The ability to meet deadlines and a willingness to coordinate schedules to align with a collaborating team of peers is essential. Interns will be expected to maintain and use shared workflows for file organization and project management, with attention to detail.
Competitive applicants will be proficient in both Adobe Illustrator and SketchUp Pro, Rhino, ESRI 3D, and/or AutoCAD 3D for architectural visualization and modeling. Responsibilities include co-creating base models, existing condition site plans, and illustrative graphics as directed; a strong understanding of spatial design and built-environment representation is essential. Positions are open to both graduate and undergraduate students from all majors.
Compensation:
The intern will be hired and paid by the University of Arizona. The pay rate is $19/hour.
Credit Requirements:
The intern will be hired as a U of A student employee.
- For internships during the academic year: applicants must be active U of A students enrolled in at least 6 credits.
Allowable Work Hours:
- During the semester, student employees are limited to 25 hours/week (20 hours/week for international students) across ALL U of A positions.
International Students:
International students should consult with International Student Services (ISS) if work authorization is needed before securing an internship. ISS advising information can be found here.
How to Apply:
Intern positions will require in person scheduled work at 8-12 hours/week. Final schedule to be coordinated with faculty, but will require availability that allows for full shifts of minimum 6 hour increments to allow travel to sites to complete assigned tasks.
To apply, email wallerm@arizona.edu answering the following three questions using your own words (please do not use AI, informal language is welcome)
- This internship seems exciting to me because __________(?)
- The proposed work schedule fits my needs because ________________(?)
- The courses I have taken / work experience that cover the software skills required include ________________________(?)
Additionally, attach work samples (1 minimum, 5 maximum) demonstrating required software skills (digital 3D modeling using Rhino, Sketchup, AutoCAD) AND Adobe Illustrator for position. If invited for an interview you will be allowed to provide a portfolio if you wish.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled, to ensure consideration submit your application by October 22, 2025.