Research
Experience for Undergraduate
Program (REU)
The REU
Program is run by the National
Science Foundation. This is a
fantastic program open to rising
sophomores, juniors and seniors in
college who are interested in gaining
research experience under a mentored
design. Generally, students come to
the research site for the summer, work
with their faculty mentor to design a
research project, carry out the work
and finish the experience by putting
together a formal report or
presentation. Stipends are generally
generous, so there's no need to worry
about losing wages while gaining
experience. Jim Dooley has a great
deal of experience with this program
and would be happy to answer any
questions, or help students locate REU
sites suitable for their needs.
Student
Conservation Association
This year the
Student
Conservation Association
will offer almost
2,000 Conservation Internships in
all 50 states. Participants enjoy
exciting and challenging work and
service opportunities in more than
50 different disciplines in
national parks, forests, wildlife
refuges, and with other resource
management agencies. Position
lengths vary from 12 weeks to 12
months. These are full-time
internships. Be flexible. If you
only list a couple codes you are
limiting yourself. New positions
are added everyday, and with
almost 2,000 opportunities you
might miss the perfect opportunity
in the listing or on the website
on SCA’s searchable database.
Visit http://www.thesca.org/explore.html
for a more indepth look at this
fantastic program.
Organization
of Biological Field Stations
The Organization
of Biological Field Stations
is a national association of
biological field stations.
This site has an interactive US map
so you can click on any state and
see what preserves and programs are
available. You will notice that many
of these stations have R.E.U.
programs (see the separate section
on the R.E.U. programs) but in
addition, many also feature research
programs for undergraduate students
based on local institutional money
or funds drawn from individual
research projects. In any case,
these links will give you a good
idea on what sort of opportunities
exist.
U.S.
Forest Service
The Land Between the Lakes (LBL)
National Recreation Area is a
170,000 acre outdoor recreation,
environmental, education and
resource management demonstration
area located in Western Kentucky and
Tennessee. Internship opportunities
and apprentice programs are both
available in disciplines ranging
from botany and forestry to history,
safety, or the environment. For
further information go to http://www2.lbl.org/lbl/Internships.html.
The
National Parks Service
Each year the National
Parks Service hires a
substantial number of seasonal staff
to assist its permanent workforce.
Seasonal work includes positions
such as park rangers, guides,
biological technicians, visitor use
assistants, and historians, to name
but a few. Many of the positions
require 2 years of college education
(60 semester hours with 12 semester
hours of natural sciences, social
sciences, park and recreational
management), so be sure to look
carefully at the qualifications
required. As with many summer
internships/jobs, the number of
applicants far exceeds the number of
available positions, so in order to
have the best chance, make sure that
your completed application is
submitted between November 15 and
January 15.
The
Nature Conservancy
With over 1,500 preserves here in
the United States, the Nature
Conservancy operates one of
the largest private systems of
nature sanctuaries in the US. Their
web site provides information on the
organization's mission as well as
numerous pages dedicated to short
term stewardship internship
opportunities (many of which are
paid positions). The vacancies are
posted for a maximum of one month
and the list is updated weekly. Keep
in mind, however, that while the
vacancies are listed together on the
same pages, there is no central
"clearing house" for resumes, so you
will need to apply for specific
openings. As with the Biological
Field Stations web site, this site
also has an interactive US map so
you can click on any state and see
what preserves and programs are
available. Most positions require a
Bachelors degree or current
enrollment in a
conservation/environmental science
program.
The
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
The Conservancy
of Southwest Flordia is
leading the challenge to protect and
sustain Southwest Florida's natural
resources. The location provides the
perfect venue for interns to gain
knowledge and experience dealing
with marine ecosystems, native
wildlife, environmental
policy/advocacy, education programs
and more! The Conservancy is looking
for "strong students with an
interest in conservation as it
relates to education, science,
research, museums, environmental
protection and wild animal
rehabilitation." There are a variety
of positions available that are
described in detail on their
website. Applicants must be at least
a junior and have a valid drivers
license.
Great
Lakes-Big Rivers Region
Internships - through U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Services
The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
is the principal federal agency
responsible for conserving,
protecting and enhancing fish,
wildlife and plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit
of the American people. The Service
manages the 93-million-acre National
Wildlife Refuge System which
encompasses more than
520 national wildlife refuges,
thousands of small wetlands and
other special management areas
nationwide. supports a variety of
wildlife, including endangered and
reintroduced species. For more
information on available internships
in the Great
Lakes-Big Rivers Region visit
this direct link above, or view http://www.doi.gov/hrm/employ5.html
for current up to date listings.
Southeastern
Region Internships - through
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
Interns play a vital role in helping
the National Wildlife Refuge System
in preserving a national network of
lands and waters for the
conservation and management of the
fish, wildlife, and plants of the
United States for the benefit of
present and future generations. Most
National Wildlife Refuges in the
Southeastern United States offer
internships to those interested in
working in the field of Natural
Resource Management and/or
Environmental Education. Many
refuges provide housing for their
interns and/or a food stipend. Most
internships last between 12 and 20
weeks. A valid driver's license is
required and some internships
request at least two years of a
biology classes prior to working.
There are several opportunities
available that can be checked out by
visiting Southeast
Region Internship page.
SEE-U
Summer Ecosystem Experience for
Undergraduates
This is not an internship
opportunity, but rather a summer
program on ecology offered through
Columbia University. Students
wishing to pursue higher education
or careers in Ecology, Natural
Resource Management, or Conservation
Biology need to have a good
understanding of the scientific
method and how to design and conduct
research in order to further their
education and job potential. During
the five weeks of the SEE-U
program students will work
through approximately 20 experiments
and explorations.
Monterey
Bay Aquarium Research Institute
The mission of the Monterey
Bay Aquarium Research Institute
is to serve as a world center for
advanced research and education in
ocean science and technology. They
strive to achieve this mission
through the development of better
instruments, systems, and methods
for scientific research in the deep
waters of the ocean. The focus of
the MBARI internship is on the
intern's professional
development-learning research
techniques and improving
communication and collaboration
skills.
Jobs
with National Parks
Amfac
Parks & Resorts is the
nation's largest park-management
company. Their operations span the
country - from the subtropical
swamplands of the Everglades to the
magical desert of Death Valley.
Their mission is to remain true to
their legacy of outstanding
hospitality and continue to set the
standard for lodging, restaurants
and concessions that complement the
natural beauty of our nation's
parks. Since they offer many job
positions in a wide variety of
places, students have the
opportunity to earn a summer income
while learning more about their
field of study.
Camps
and Smaller State Parks
Smaller parks and camps that are in
need of interns
or volunteers
are also abundant. There are
seasonal positions available and
positions that afford for a variety
of interests. As an intern one could
work at the Custer State Park Resort
in South Dakota, serving as a horse
wrangler and leading tours, or in
Hilton Head, South Carolina interns
help with sales, tours, and tickets
for the Vagabond Cruise line.
Volunteers can work in parks with
the Christian Minsitry Team or Mercy
Ships.
The
Allegheny Watershed Network
The
Allegheny Watershed Network
is a project of the Pennsylvania
Environmental Council. There are
several colleges, universities, and
professional organizations
throughout the watershed that can
provide assistance to local groups
by offering both technical advice
and interns. The Network’s home site
can be viewed at www.alleghenywatershed.org.
NASA
Undergraduate Student Research
Program
The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration is sponsoring the
NASA Undergraduate Student Research
Program (NASA-USRP)
offering undergraduates across the
United States mentored research
experiences at nine participating
NASA Centers.
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