Biological Science

We are seeking a summer REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) for the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research program, which is housed in the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The REU will work closely with the graduate students and technical staff to study wildfire severity and vegetation recovery. The REU will work as a part of a team traveling to plots across Interior Alaska by truck and helicopter. They will be based in Fairbanks, but some camping will be required to visit outlying sites. We are seeking a motivated person who is adaptable, willing to learn, and can handle fieldwork in remote conditions that can be wet, cold, and buggy. More than your experience, we value your attitude!

Stipend: $9000. The REU will be expected to work 40 hours per week for the duration of the summer, from June 9 to August 13. Travel to Alaska and lodging are not provided. We are committed to reducing barriers to fieldwork and will provide all necessary personal fieldwork and camping gear.

General duties and responsibilities

• Collecting plant and soil samples
• Performing vegetation and tree surveys
• Fieldwork preparation
• Data entry
• Data quality control

Minimum qualifications

• Have a valid driver’s license
• Be over 18 years of age
• Be able to walk through uneven terrain carrying up to 40 pounds of field gear

Preferred qualifications

• The skills to identify plants
• Experience with taking tree measurements
• The ability to spend long hours outside
• The ability to work independently as well as part of a research team
• The ability to pay attention to detail
• A desire to live and work in remote settings

Please send as one PDF document a short cover letter and CV/resume to xanthe.walker@nau.edu. The position is open until filled, and we will review applications on a rolling basis.

Undergraduates seeking research experience in forest ecology are invited to apply for a 10-week expense-paid internship in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

About the project: MELNHE (Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems) is the longest-running N by P factorial fertilization study in a temperate forest anywhere in the world. Since 2011, we have been conducting nutrient manipulations in 13 stands in Bartlett Experimental Forest, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, and Jeffers Brook. The MELNHE project presents many opportunities for short- and long-term research. More information is available at https://www.esf.edu/melnhe/, including a blog from previous field crews.

Internship Description:  Interns will be guided in the design of their research projects and will interact closely with graduate students and senior research scientists from SUNY-ESF, Cornell, University of New Hampshire, and Miami University. Interns will gain a wide variety of skills by assisting in all ongoing projects. Interns have the opportunity to present their results at the annual Hubbard Brook Cooperators Meeting in July.

Possible research topics include:

Stem mapping: Tree locations can be used to assess competition and to interpret the effects of tree size and species on many of  the variables we measure, such as soil respiration, root biomass, and herbaceous plants. Our current MELNHE stem maps need to be updated to include the most recent ingrowth (tagged during tree inventory in 2023). Experience with ArcGIS would be helpful but is not required.

Experimental beech leaf disease treatment and monitoring: This project includes applying treatments to selected beech trees and monitoring their canopy condition. Treatments are centered around testing the ability of phosphite and potassium to mitigate BLD symptoms, either as they arise or after being established. 

Measuring soil respiration: Soil respiration in our plots has been increasing steadily since 2012, and these trends are not explained by increasing temperature. If photosynthesis is increasing in response to elevated CO2 but carbon is not stored as biomass and is instead respired off, this is important to global carbon budgets. 

Work days typically begin at 8:00 and end at 4:00, but may be shorter or longer depending upon the day’s activities. Interns are provided with shared housing near Bartlett Experimental Forest. A stipend of $200 per week is provided for living expenses. Food is prepared communally by the interns and graduate student researchers, and costs for groceries average $6-7 per day. Mileage to and from sites will be covered at the federal mileage reimbursement rate, but initial transportation to NH will not be covered.

Desired Qualifications:  Ideal applicants will have a strong interest in forest biology, ecology, biogeochemistry, or geospatial analysis. Undergraduate students and recent graduates will be considered. A positive attitude is important and a sense of humor is a plus. Willingness to work and live in a communal setting is critical. Candidates should be able to perform repetitive tasks with attention to detail in a field setting under adverse conditions. Applicants should be flexible in their expectations, but an estimated breakdown of the summer is: 60% fieldwork, 15% lab work, 10% data management, and 15% research proposals and reports of independent projects. 

To Apply:  Please send one pdf file including your statement of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to Erica Albertson and Sara Sternick (Yanai.forestecology.lab@gmail.com). Your statement of interest should include a ranking of the three research topics. We will begin interviewing selected applicants in early March and will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The field season will begin on June 1 and ends on August 15; let us know if your availability differs from those dates.

YMCA Earth Service Corps in Seattle is hiring. A brief overview is below and a full position description is available at this link: https://www.campingandoutdoorleadership.org/earth-service-corps-1

Want to work over the school year with some amazing teenagers in the greater Seattle area? Want to inspire and support the next generation as they develop leadership skills to address the environmental challenges of our time? Want to develop your own professional skills? Check out the YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC) Program Instructor position!

• Position Description is here and application link is here.
• This is an AmeriCorps position from Sept. 2, 2025 -July 15, 2026.
• Benefits include a living stipend of $2,438.10 – 2,548 per month, a $7,395 Education Award, student loan forbearance and payment of interest that accrues, health insurance, and more!
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until July 1^st.
• Applicants must be 21 and US Citizens to qualify for this AmeriCorps position. Learn more about AmeriCorps here.
• Want to learn more? Contact YESC Director Chelsey Wheeler at cwheeler@seattleymca.org or 206-466-1048.

FULLY FUNDED MARINE 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 2025 (program starts August 25, ends November 14). 

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. Potential areas of research for 2025 include:

• Coral Ecophysiology
• Coral Reef Ecology
• Marine eDNA
• Marine Invertebrate Physiology
• Marine Microbiology
• Oceanography
• Zooplankton Ecology

Throughout the 12-week semester, 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 return air travel (from and to the U.S.), campus accommodation and meals and a competitive stipend. (Medical/travel insurance is the sole responsibility of the student).

Further information, including a link to the online application form, can be found here: https://bios.asu.edu/education/research-experiences-undergraduates-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. 

Application deadline is May 31

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.

MANO (My Access to Network Opportunities) Project, an initiative of Hispanic Access Foundation, builds and develops young leaders of color who share a passion for serving and strengthening their communities. We partner with federal land management agencies (U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many more!) to offer robust and hands-on internship and fellowship opportunities for those pursuing college degrees (undergraduate and graduate) or recently graduated individuals. All of our internships and fellowships are rooted in supporting the Conservation of our Natural Resources through diverse STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) positions. 

Apply for Internships through MANO

New internship opportunities open on a rolling basis so we encourage you to visit our page on a monthly basis. If you see a position is open past the end date, it is still accepting applicants and you are encouraged to apply.

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: