Students will get hands-on training in marine environmental research through a new internship program established by a gift from Northeast Utilities.

The Marine Environmental Sciences Internship Program, funded through NU's three-year, $54,000 grant, is designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with real training at NU's Environmental Laboratory in Waterford. The lab is responsible for monitoring environmental impacts associated with the Millstone nuclear power plant.

"We are very pleased with this agreement, because it will contribute to a higher level of training and education at the University of Connecticut, and at the same time the laboratory will receive highly qualified help from the UConn students, assisting with our monitoring studies," said Milan Keser, manager of NU's lab.

"This is the first program of its kind in Connecticut," said Robert Whitlatch, head of UConn's marine sciences department.

"It represents an important genesis for establishing strong and meaningful university-industry partnerships for the nurturing of undergraduate and graduate student marine environmental sciences training throughout the region."

The program will enable students to be prepared to entry today's job market and develop a better understanding of the needs of business and industry, Whitlatch said.

RKS