Biological Science

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. The position is for start in spring (Between Mar-Apr). On average an internship lasts about 4+ months with the possibility of extending it until end of the growing season and beyond (workload and budget dependent). 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 conducted in northerm minnesota, 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/366991/. 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 all three documents electronically:
– a cover letter (including available working dates)
– One-page resume
– contact information (email + phone number) for 2-3 references
Note: If you also email me the documents I can start to evaluate documents before the thumbs up of HR.

Thank you,

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

Job Title: Forest Management Research Intern

Location: Hoosier National Forest, Southern Indiana

Work Hours: 40 Hours / Week

Rate of Pay: up to $18 / Hour – depending on qualifications

Duration: Summer Break (Approx. May 4 – August 21, 2026)

Job Summary: The position involves monitoring understory forest vegetation in both mature and harvested forest stands. This work includes, but is not limited to counting and measuring woody stems, identifying overstory and understory plant species, and collecting plant samples. Primary job duties will include installing, monumenting, and maintaining permanent research plots, and forest inventory. A field vehicle will be provided for work, applicants must have a valid driver’s license and be willing to work outdoors in a variety of conditions and walk long distances over uneven terrain. Funding may be available for lodging expenses.

Research Topic: Central hardwood forest ecosystems. The Intern will work closely with collaborators from the US Forest Service Northern Research Station and the Hoosier National Forest on management strategies following severe storm disturbance. This project offers a unique field experiment of how many silvicultural decisions – including salvage logging, planting strategies, & timber stand improvement – drive forest recovery after major wind disturbance in a mature oak forest growth. This study will also provide critical information about how residual woody debris and variable planting strategies can improve the growth and survival of underplanted seedlings in the presence of browse pressure from white-tailed deer.

Location: Hoosier National Forest, Southern Indiana. The area is approximately 50 miles Northwest of Louisville, Kentucky. The nearest cities are Jasper or Bedford, Indiana. The scenic Hoosier National Forest makes the area an outdoor enthusiast’s playground for recreation outside of work hours.

Contact Information: Dr. Lance Vickers, Assistant Professor of Forest Dynamics and Management, Office: TPC 203; Email: lance.vickers@uky.edu

TO APPLY: Email (lance.vickers@uky.edu) cover letter and resume by Friday, March 27, 2026.

Job Title: Forest Management Research Intern

Location: Northwest Pennsylvania

Work Hours: 40 Hours / Week

Rate of Pay: up to $18 / Hour – depending on qualifications

Duration: Approx. May 4 – August 21,2026

Job Summary: The position involves monitoring understory forest vegetation in both mature and harvested forest stands. This work includes, but is not limited to counting and measuring woody stems, identifying overstory and understory plant species, calculating understory species abundance, collecting biomass samples and storing plant samples. Primary job duties will include driving to locate and scout potential research sites, installing, monumenting, and maintaining permanent research plots, and forest inventory. A field vehicle will be provided for work, applicants must have a valid driver’s license and be willing to work outdoors in a variety of conditions and walk long distances over uneven terrain. Funding may be available for lodging expenses.

Research Topic: Allegheny hardwood forest ecosystems. This forest type, characterized by large, abundant, high-quality black cherry is unique, found only in portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Recently, black cherry has experienced severe declines in the health and regeneration, threatening the wildlife that rely on the mast for food and the communities that rely on the timber for employment. Interns will work with managers and scientists from the University of Kentucky, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and the US Forest Service Northern Research Station. Interns will be among the first boots on the ground for an exciting new research project that aims to understand the mechanisms behind the decline of black cherry and identify practical management approaches realize the fullest habitat potential of cherry-dominated forests.

Location: Northwest Pennsylvania. The nearest city is Warren with a population of 9,000 and county population of approximately 40,000. Summers are warm and moderately humid with average temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees. The scenic Allegheny National Forest, Allegheny Reservoir, and numerous PA State Game Lands & State Forests make the area an outdoor enthusiast’s playground for recreation outside of work hours.

Contact Information: Dr. Lance Vickers, Assistant Professor of Forest Dynamics and Management, lance.vickers@uky.edu, 859-257-8571 office

TO APPLY: Email (lance.vickers@uky.edu) cover letter and resume by Friday, March 27, 2026.

Hello! The Segura Watershed Processes Lab is hiring for two REU interns for this summer. This position has been posted on the HJA website, under News and Events. I have also included a summary below:

Title: Research Experience for Undergraduates in post-fire impacts on streamflow and riparian zones

Position period:  June 18 – August 27 , 2026

Location: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Blue River, Oregon and Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

Description of project: This research project is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research grant at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest and is led by the Segura Watershed Processes Lab at Oregon State University (https://people.forestry.oregonstate.edu/catalina-segura/). The study will build on the active work of this group to understand how post-fire effects on the landscape influence streamflow through canopy cover, nutrient availability, vegetation shifts, and groundwater flow. The goal is to understand fire influences on summer streamflow instream nutrient concentrations and isotope variability. We will take water samples from 12 stream locations in the study area weekly during the REU term to study nutrient concentration as well as water stable isotope analysis. This data will inform a research project developed with the student(s) to answer a research question regarding fire impacts on riparian areas. We will also participate in three other research projects while in the field, such as a fish survey, large wood survey, and synoptic sampling campaign along stream mainstems. In all, this will provide opportunities to see a wide breadth of forest hydrology research.

Position requirements: Applicants should have a valid driver’s license, the ability to carry a heavy pack (40+ lb) for moderate distances (5+ mi) over uneven, mountainous terrain, and be comfortable spending long days on their feet in the field. The position will involve working early mornings and in hot, dry weather. Applicants should have a strong work ethic, be self-motivated, and comfortable with working in remote areas. Being a team player is necessary for the group work/living situation. The ability to adapt to a variable work schedule is also necessary. Our streams are on steep mountain slopes and reaching them sometimes means climbing down hillslopes and through thick undergrowth. Eligibility is limited to currently enrolled undergraduates that have a graduate date no sooner than fall 2026. All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. We strongly recommend the student have a personal vehicle to use during their time in Oregon.

To apply: Please prepare and submit a 1 page resume, transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) and 2 professional references (names, phone number, and email address) to this google form. The form will also request the following information:

1. Basic education information
2. Statement of Interest: Briefly describe your post-graduate plans and career goals, and specify your reasons for wanting to participate in this internship program (300 words max)
3. Data Analysis Experience
4. Natural Resources Skills and Experience (field, research, professional, etc.): Explain any past experiences or specialized skills that may be relevant to this project, such as field or lab experience, equipment or software you have used, etc. (example: experience from coursework, individual study projects) (300 words max)

Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will start March 30th, 2026 and continue until suitable candidates are identified.

Looking for two interns to work with us on maple-related opportunities this summer. Both positions will be involved in some lab work and continue the biodiversity monitoring in the sugarbush we started last year. They will work in collaboration with the National Audubon Society and the summer cohort of future foresters at the Smokey House Center. We offer $4500 stipends for our interns.

The Fridley Lab at Clemson University is seeking two motivated undergraduate students interested in gaining research experience in plant ecology as part of research teams working in the Great Smoky Mountains and Clemson Experimental Forest. Students will assist staff and graduate students in fieldwork in Clemson, SC, as well as several multi-day trips to the Smokies, about two hours from campus. Students must be able and willing to do some hiking and work off trails in humid conditions. Students will also be involved in a variety of laboratory activities related to plant growth trials, which may include sensor building and statistical analysis, pending student interest. Students will be provided with a $6000 stipend for living expenses over the 12-wk duration starting approximately May 18 (start and end dates are flexible). Qualifications and application instructions are at https://www.fridleylab.org/join-us.

Deadline: March 20, 2026.

The application portal is now OPEN for the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) summer session! Click on “STUDENTS” at www.rmbl.org. Priority deadline was February 13, 2026, but applications are accepted until all positions are filled. 

RMBL summer program is a full-time 10-week independent research program at a world-class biological field station located at 9,500 feet in the Rocky Mountains. All students (undergraduate or post-baccalaureate) participate in an intensive scientific research experience, designing and completing a project under the direction of a RMBL scientist mentor. Students in the RMBL program gain skills in scientific research including ethics and integrity in research, experimental design, GPS/GIS and the use of field equipment and methods, scientific communication, data and graphical analyses, and science career advancement. Students are an integral component of the RMBL community and are immersed in a broad range of scientific, recreational, and artistic opportunities while they live onsite at RMBL. 

If needed, Financial Aid is available in the form of REU awards and RMBL full and partial scholarships. All interested students are encouraged to apply!  For more information go to www.rmbl.org

The Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program is now inviting applications for our summer 2026 entomology learnerships and internships.

The position is based at Hawthorne Valley Farm, a 500-acre organic and biodynamic diversified farm located in the heart of Columbia County, NY.

Application Process: To apply, please send a résumé, a cover letter highlighting why you are interested in the position and any relevant experience you might bring, and contact information for three references to our entomology lab manager, Kendrick Fowler, at kfowler@hawthornevalley.org. We would prefer (but do not require) that you send these materials as a single PDF document with the filename “Ento2026_YourLastName” (replacing “YourLastName” with your last name).

Timeline: We will begin reviewing applications on 4 Feb 2026, and applications received later than that may not be considered. If you wish to apply after that date, please contact us to confirm whether positions are still available.

FULLY FUNDED RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS FOR U.S. UNDERGRADUATES IN BERMUDA

The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (ASU BIOS), a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, has funding from the National Science Foundation, (NSF Award number OCE-2349130), for the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program to support undergraduate researchers during the fall semester 2026 (program starts August 24, ends November 13). 

An REU internship at ASU BIOS is a great way to gain the experience necessary to embark on graduate studies or careers in science. Participants will conduct research projects under the expert mentorship of BIOS scientists. Throughout the 12-week program, participants will give oral and virtual poster presentations that outline their research topic, experimental methods and results and attend a series of professional development workshops and seminars hosted by faculty members. In addition, they will provide a project report at the end of the program. Schedule and weather permitting, all participants will be offered an exciting opportunity to join an oceanographic research cruise aboard R/V Atlantic Explorer. Theywill also have the option to enjoy field and boat excursions to learn about Bermuda’s history, flora and fauna.  

Funding includes roundtrip air travel (from and to the U.S.), campus accommodation and meals and a competitive stipend. Participants are solely responsible for their own medical/travel insurance.

Further information, including available research projects and a link to the online application form, can be found here: https://bios.asu.edu/education/nsf-reu

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, over 18 years of age and enrolled in a program of undergraduate study immediately before and after the program dates. Applicants are ineligible if they have participated in a prior NSF-funded REU in Ocean Sciences. 

Undergraduates from underrepresented groups or who are attending colleges or universities with limited STEM research opportunities are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Application deadline is May 31, 2026

Questions? Contact us at bios.education@bios.asu.edu 

Conservation Corps work all over the U.S. on projects ranging in focus from Ecology to History: Conservation Legacy and Corps Network.  You can serve on a crew with other young(er) folks, or be placed individually.  Most positions will come with an AmeriCorps stipend, education award, and other benefits.

Open Positions

Biomedical Research Internships Resources (PDF)

Paid internships all around the country, ranging from 3 to 12 months, most with housing provided and an AmeriCorps Education award upon completion.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. Our program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. After working with the SCA, program participants emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills.

For students and faculty in search of internships with government laboratories:

• Zintellect – Climb Higher
• Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)

Summer and school-year internships with GSK, a science-led global healthcare and pharmaceutical company: