RA positions are available in Graphics lab (http://ece.unm.edu/~yyang), ECE department, University of New Mexico (ECE program is ranked 63 in US News 2014 review). Hard working and highly self-motivated students are welcome to apply. You can directly send your CV/transcript/publications to Prof. Yang(yyang@ece.unm.edu). Successful applicants are expected to have good programming skills and solid knowledge in math and linear algebra. Students with research experiences in graphics, modeling, visualization, GPU programing, especially, the ones have related publications will give higher priority.
Albuquerque is good place to live in. Here you can visit California and Texas pretty easy. So you can get an internship there. Besides, there is Sandia National Lab in albuquerque, which provides you a good opportunity to work or intern there. Come on. Welcome to UNM, welcome to join Dr yang's group.