SCARLET

Undergraduate Summer Internship 2025

APPLY HERE for Summer 2025

DEADLINE EXTENDED---2025 APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 31st

Due March 17th, at 11:59 pm CST

What is SCARLET?

The Students Careers in Agricultural Research, Learning, and Extension Training (SCARLET) program is a federally funded internship opportunity for undergraduate students (sophomore, junior, and senior). The program is a paid 8-week summer internship program for students with an interest in agricultural science in subject areas such as plant pathology, soil science, and crop science. Intern learning goals include laboratory and applied (field) research skills and presentation experience. SCARLET also offers a series of workshops and seminars to help you improve your resume and to help you expand your career options.

Eligible students must be enrolled in participating universities including Texas A&M University, West Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and University of Puerto Rico.

The internship program is designed to match interns with a mentor located at one of our cooperating institutions at TAMU AgriLife Extension, Texas Tech, Univ. of Puerto Rico, and USDA-ARS Texas locations, and USDA-TARS in Puerto Rico for 1-on-1 education and professional development.

The internship occurs for 8 weeks through June-July, with start dates typically at the end of May.

Intern Support & Compensation

Here at SCARLET, we understand young adults need financial support to achieve their best academically.

To support students in the program, interns will receive a stipend, lodging, and travel to and from the internship location from the program funds. All lodging and travel will be coordinated by your mentor and Dr. Cochran.

The 2025 cohort can expect a stipend of $4,800, half of which ($2,400) will be dispensed at the start of the internship, and the remainder after all requirements of the internship are fulfilled.

Meet Our Mentors

Click here for more details about our mentors and locations

Kimberly Cochran, Ph.D.

Dr. Cochran is an Assocaite Professor & Extension Specialist plant pathologist with a focus on specialty crops. She is located in Uvalde, TX where she works for the Dept. of Plant Pathology & Microbiology as an Associate Professor & Extension Specialist. She is the PI of the SCARLET program.

Olufemi Alabi, Ph.D.

Dr. Olufemi J. Alabi is located in Weslaco, TX and an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the Dept. of Plant Pathology & Microbiology and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. He is located at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Weslaco, TX where he conducts applied research and extension activities on diseases of fruit and vegetable crops.

Veronica Acosta-Martinez, Ph.D.

Dr. Acosta-Martínez works at USDA-ARS in Lubbock TX and specialized in soil sciences, specifically factors that impact soil health.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/lubbock-tx/cropping-systems-research-laboratory/wind-erosion-and-water-conservation-research/people/veronica-acosta-martinez/

Ken Obasa, Ph.D.

Dr. Obasa is an Assistant Professor at the Texas A&M AgriLife extension plant pathology program located in Amarillo is dedicated to serving farmers and other stakeholders of small grains, row crops, and field crops across Texas.

Katie Lewis, Ph.D.

Dr. Lewis is an Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, and is located in Lubbock, TX where she works with both Texas Tech University and Texas A&M.

https://soilcrop.tamu.edu/people/lewis-katie/

https://www.txsoillab.com/

Merari Feliciano, Ph.D.

Dr. Feliciano is a plant pathologist located at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Isabela, Puerto Rico. She focuses ont ropical fruits and tuber crops grown in Puerto Rico.

https://www.uprm.edu/ecafss/dt_team/dr-merari-feliciano/

Haydee Laza, Ph.D.

Dr. Laza is an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. As a plant physiologist, she works to improve sustainable crop productivity/quality, and a healthy environment under challenging climates.

https://www.depts.ttu.edu/pss/people/faculty/laza-haydee/hlaza.php

Luz Serrato-Diaz, Ph.D.

Dr. Serrato-Diaz is a plant pathologist located at the USDA-ARS-TARS in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Her focus is detection of tropical plant pathogens and the interactions with their host.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/mayaguez-pr/tropical-crops-and-germplasm-research/