Terrestrial Ecology Internship (Fall 2023)
(Posted 08/16/2023)

Target Audience: Undergraduate Student
Graduate Student


Institution: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Institutional Web Link: https://serc.si.edu/internships/opportunities/terrestrial-ecology

Description of Internship or Research Opportunity:
Compensation: $625/week
Duration: 11 weeks, full-time

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is seeking a full-time college level or graduate level Terrestrial Ecology Intern for Fall 2023. The intern will support the activities of two NSF-funded projects, one examining how the soil microbiome affects tree growth, and one examining whether tree growth can be determined from satellite remote sensing methods.

A mutually agreeable start date will be determined with the selected applicant. We anticipate a start date in October or September 2023. This will be an in-person internship taking place in Edgewater, Maryland.

The intern will work with the Terrestrial Ecology lab and will primarily assist with measuring the size (e.g., dbh) of ~8000 young trees in a forest restoration and diversity experiment on the SERC campus. Other anticipated work includes processing previously collected soil samples to prepare them for future genetic analyses.

Students must complete an independent project during their time at SERC. This will be on a topic that is mutually agreeable to the staff and intern, but it is usually devised to be complementary to primary field and lab activities. In addition to this project the intern will be broadly exposed to SERC research activities, citizen science, and communicating with the general public.

We are seeking applicants with some (but not necessarily all) of the following:

- Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
- Ability to enter data in spreadsheets
- Familiarity with basic plant ecology
- Ability to navigate around field sites using maps
- Comfort working in nature, getting wet, cold/hot, and dirty
- Ability to learn basic soil sampling and processing procedures
- Ability to learn basic plant measuring techniques, including the use of dbh tapes
- Ability to identify different trees and plants to species in the field

Funding Source: National Science Foundation (NSF)


How to Apply: To apply, please email a resume that highlights your relevant experience, three references, and an email stating your interest to John Parker (parkerj@si.edu).

Application Closing Date: Open until filled

Opportunity Starts: 0000-00-00

Opportunity Ends: 0000-00-00