Position Titles:
Site Analysis + Graphics Internship
Reports to: Mackenzie Waller, PLA + M.Arch
Hours/Week: 12-15 hrs/wk
Internship Date Range: November 1-April 15 (estimated 12 week internship)
Location: CAPLA, University of Arizona Campus
Schedule: Final schedule details to be negotiated with final candidate prior to hire, work must be performed between 9am-5pm M-F on a set schedule. Hybrid or flex options will not align to the project role.
About the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) Program
The RISE Program is hosted by the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) and provides 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 is a two year grant funded project conducting outreach and engagement on the diverse priorities and preferences of communities and barrios future relationship with the Santa Cruz River lands, water, wildlife, and one another.
Internship summary: We are seeking applications for Graduate Student Research to participate in community engagement and spatial communication for urban wildlife refuge design sites. The student will gain hands-on professional experience synthesizing site documentation into clear visual formats, drafting deliverables such as site inventories, site analyses, and preliminary design plans and sections. As a key professional development opportunity, the student will attend monthly community outreach meetings. Through this immersive experience, they will learn firsthand how to effectively communicate technical designs and facilitate meaningful dialogue with community experts and land managers.
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 Rhino, and/or AutoCAD to translate complex geospatial data into accessible visual assets. Responsibilities include co-creating existing condition site plans, and illustrative graphics as directed; a strong understanding of spatial design and built-environment representation is essential. Position is open to graduate students from all majors.
Compensation:
The intern will be hired and paid by the University of Arizona. The pay rate is $20/hour.
Credit Requirements:
The intern must be a U of A graduate student enrolled in at least 6 credits during the academic year.
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.
For graduate students with a GA position on campus, total on-campus employment must not exceed 26.4 hours/week.
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 with RISE internship application in the subject line 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 (using Rhino / 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 23, 2026.