WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk recently announced that the Indian Affairs program to recruit and train American Indian and Alaska Native postsecondary students in the field of energy and natural resources management is accepting applications for 12 internships in its 2010 class. The application deadline is March 15 for an internship period beginning May 25 and running through Aug. 6.

“Indian country’s young men and women are the future leaders of their tribal nations, and as such they will play a critical role in shaping the future of tribal energy development,” EchoHawk said. “This internship program is intended to help prepare the next generation of tribal energy and natural resource management professionals.”

The Energy Resource Development Tribal Internship Program was started last year by the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. ANL will provide leadership, educational and networking activities for the interns, who will reside and study on-site at its premier national laboratory located near Chicago.

“By directly engaging them in the work we do at our facility, this program offers a terrific opportunity for students to learn about science and engineering while gaining valuable employment experience,” said ANL Director of Educational Programs Harold Myron. “Students will be able to take and use these new skills to benefit their own or another tribal community.”

Interns will gain hands-on experience working with nationally known scientists in a wide range of research fields including energy resource development, both renewable and non-renewable, and environmental evaluation and analysis of potential impacts from energy resource development activities.

This year’s program also will include two Faculty and Student Teams (FaST). The FaST teams will be comprised of one faculty member and two to three students each. This approach will provide collaboration and hands-on research opportunities in mutually beneficial research areas for faculty members and interns.

The program’s purpose is to increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives who can effectively manage a tribe’s energy and natural resources. It also helps Indian Affairs meet mandates of Title V of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which requires the secretary of the Interior to provide technical assistance to those Indian tribes seeking to develop their energy resources, establish an Indian energy resource development program and further the goal of Indian self-determination. It also provides an opportunity for American Indians and Alaska Natives to train for careers in the science and engineering professions, two fields where they are underrepresented.

Applications are currently being accepted through a rolling admissions process through the ANL Web site. The deadline is March 15, 2010. For more information, contact the ANL Division of Educational Programs at (630) 252-4114.