Summer (& Other Seasonal) Research Opportunities

Listings will be kept for a month after being posted or until their deadline (if listed). Only paid positions will be listed. Please send any opportunities not listed here by clicking on this link:

Email

Paid Field Ecology Research Interns

B4WarmED Overview:
Northern Minnesota is a focal point of potential climate warming impacts because it sits at the transition between boreal and temperate forest biomes. B4WarmED (Boreal Forest Warming at an Ecotone in Danger) is a unique manipulative experiment that warms plants and soil in the field to examine tree seedling and germination response to warming with respect to physiology, phenology, growth, and survival. For more information about the lab and the project visit our webpages.

Position overview:
We seek independent and mature undergraduate or newly graduated students with a background or interest in biology, ecology, environmental science, forestry, or a related field for paid field research internships. New openings start at end of July/August for the second part of the growth season. Start dates for the openings are flexible and up for negotiation. On average an internship lasts about 4 plus months with the possibility of extending it until end of the growing season and beyond. Typical work days are eight hours Monday through Friday, however some tasks require early morning, evening, or weekend work. A valid drivers license is required. Personal vehicle is helpful but not required. Successful hires will work through variety of tasks with primary focus on tree biometric, ecophysiological and ecological measurements and data collections in the field with occasional site maintenance, laboratory work and treatment implementation. The intern will work in an individual and team setting. Consequently, a maturity to work autonomously often with long hours is required.

Responsibilities:
Work independently to collect biotic and abiotic data in field and laboratory settings in accordance with established protocols
Measure plant growth, physiology, and phenology
Measure soil characteristics and processes
Data entry using Excel and Google drive
Implement rainfall reduction treatment
Routine maintenance of field sites, field instruments, and research equipment, including a Licor 6400xt.
Lab work includes data entry, biomass assessments and leaf area analysis
Aiding principal investigators and graduate students as needed.

Desired qualifications: 1) Eagerness to work hard in an outdoor setting. 2) Capacity to collect data following established protocols. 3) Familiarity with plant and tree species of northern Minnesota. 4) Willingness to work well and play well with others and live in remote area with others and/or alone. 5) Curiosity and passion for the natural world. 6) Flexibility to adapt to a frequently changing schedule. 7) Demonstrated ability to work under changing weather conditions with large swarms of insects.

Research sites:
Field work will be split between research sites at the Cloquet Forestry Center in Cloquet, and the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center near Ely, MN. Both research sites are in beautiful forested settings and provide access to the natural areas of northern Minnesota including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. An individuals home base will be at either of these locations, though travel between sites will be required depending on project needs. University vehicles are used for such travel. On-site housing with furnishing and a kitchen will be available.

Application:
Applications will be submitted using the link https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/361154/. They will be reviewed as soon as the HR personnel release them to the supervisors of the project. Potential candidates will be contacted for a phone interview. Please upload a letter (including available working dates), one-page resume, and contact information for two references electronically.

Raimundo Bermudez
bermu019@umn.edu
Department of Forest Resources
University of Minnesota
St Paul, MN 55108 USA

Posted 7/27/24

Return to Graduate School Page