These biology jobs and internships are paid opportunities that also typically compensate participants with some combination of housing, food, and travel stipends. They are mostly field-based, do not involve an individual research project, and are a great way to gain experience in field work and data collection. They are listed in chronological order by posting date.
Summer 2026
6/2 – Field Botany Internship with Native Plant Trust, mid-July to mid-October – MA
This internship offers in-depth experience and a range of hands-on learning opportunities in the area of field botany. The intern works closely with Conservation Department staff and other professional field botanists, supporting surveys of rare plants, rare habitats, and invasive species by recording data in the field, performing data quality checks, using GIS applications, assisting with report preparation, and other research support tasks as required. The intern will spend a minimum of five (5) weeks in the field, during which the intern will stay at campgrounds at no cost. Low-cost housing is also available near our headquarters office during the internship. Training is provided, and interns may also enroll in Native Plant Trust’s educational programs and courses free of charge.
The position is non-exempt, hourly, full-time, based at our headquarters in Wayland, MA, and field locations in open coastal habitats of Massachusetts. Compensation is $15.00/hour for 40 hours/week for 14 weeks (max wages $8,400). The work schedule is 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, with early morning and evening hours and occasional weekend hours. Shared housing is available at $300 per month. The ideal start date is Monday, July 13, 2026.
To Apply: Please fill out this form with your information, resume, cover letter, and references: https://forms.gle/m8KFAWrEwwzcJEiK9. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and we anticipate interviews in June.
5/20 – Plant Bio undergrad research assistant – VT
Steve Keller’s lab is hiring a summer undergrad research assistant to work on a variety of projects in evolutionary ecology and population genetics of alpine plants and forest trees. The work is a mix of wet lab (DNA extraction, assist with gDNA library preps, perhaps some light bioinformatics/data QC) and working with plants in the field and greenhouse (common garden plantings and maintenance, trait measurements). We’d especially love to get a student coming in with some wet lab skills that is also comfortable with long days in the field. The work is up to 40 hrs/ week (flexible) @ $16/hr. The position can start immediately and runs through mid-August.
Seeking good natured, hardworking students with interests in the above. We have a supportive, positive lab group with a culture of taking care of our students and providing them with good mentoring.
Full position description and how to apply available at UVM JobX.
Search job ID: 8717, Job Title: SUMMER Lab Research Tech I.
5/13 – Field crew, forest ecology – NH
Position Available: Field crew member (crew size = 3, plus crew leader)
Project: Dynamics of mountain tree populations.
Location: Field sites are on the slopes of Mt. Moosilauke. New Hampshire
Duties: Data collection on 12,000+ permanently marked trees on mountain slopes from 2000’ to
4200’. Hike to and from field sites. Occasional camping near more distant field sites may be
necessary. Fieldwork continues in all but most extreme weather.
Qualifications: College degree, or substantial progress toward a degree. Prior field research
experience and relevant coursework (forestry, ecology, other natural sciences). Excellent
knowledge of woody plants. Competence in accuracy and precision of measurement. Proven
ability to maintain high skill levels in subalpine field environment, including tolerance of inclement
weather. Proven reliability, excellent teamwork and personal management skills; punctuality,
bunkhouse cleanliness, safety, etc. Commitment to the entire field season.
Field season: June 15 through August 26, 2026.
Stipend: $1440 per two-week period. For the full season (6/15 to 8/26) this amounts to
$7488. Additional allowance of $15 per workday will be added to the stipend for food purchase
(breakfast and lunch).
Housing and meals: Bunkhouse accommodation is provided, including weekends if needed, for
entire field season. Dinners provided Monday-Friday (workdays) at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
operated by Dartmouth College. Crew and crew leader prepare breakfast and lunch at research
bunkhouse, and provide own rugged field clothes and personal gear, sleeping bag, sheets, towel
etc.
Principal Investigator: David R. Peart, Dartmouth College, Dept. Biol. Sciences, Hanover, NH.
Co-Principal Investigator: Peter A. Palmiotto, Antioch Univ. New England, Dept. Env. Studies,
Keene, N.H.
Applications will be reviewed as soon as they arrive. Send letter of interest and resume to
ppalmiotto@antioch.edu AND david.peart@dartmouth.edu. Include contact information (name,
addresses, telephone, and email address) for three references
4/29 – VAAFM plant health technician – VT
Are you or do you know a student looking for summer field work in plant biology or plant-pest interactions?
The VT agency of Agriculture is looking for someone to fill a seasonal Plant Health Technician job focused on surveying for plant pests and disease. Prospective applicants should send a resume and brief cover letter to benjamin.dillner@vermont.gov
This position will perform duties at the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets in support of the Plant
Health team’s seasonal field survey work. The main goal of the position is to assist with the Cooperative
Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) and Plant Protection Act (PPA) trapping and visual survey programs. The
position will start mid/late May 2026 and run for approximately 4 months. However, start date and
duration are flexible to accommodate current college students. Positions will be full time (40 hrs per
week) during core field season.
Hourly rate: $24.59
Job duties:
- Work independently to set, collect & maintain CAPS and PPA traps for introduced insects
- Conduct nursery inspections for pests & disease with oversight from Plant Health team
- Assist with plant health regulatory activities as needed
- Provide outreach materials to public about introduced pests such as Spotted Lanternfly
and Jumping Worm - Preferred candidates will demonstrate the following:
- Ability to travel around the state and work independently in field conditions
- Familiarity with the horticultural industry
- Basic plant and pest identification
- Proficiency with Excel and data collection/management
- Ability to interact with the public while representing VAAFM
- Minimum qualifications:
- 2 years of coursework towards a plant science, agriculture, forestry, entomology, or related
degree - Experience conducting field work, recording data, and collaborating in a scientific environment
- Valid Driver’s License (vehicle will be provided)
- Proficient in speaking English; familiarity with Spanish language may be useful as well.
NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network)
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a continental-scale observation facility funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by Battelle. The NEON program is designed to collect long-term, open access ecological data to better understand how U.S. ecosystems are changing, from freshwater systems such as streams, rivers, and lakes to terrestrial systems spanning tropical forests to deserts to tundra. We depend on our people to collect observational data and samples, to monitor automated instrumented systems that collect terrestrial and aquatic data, and to operate our airborne observation platform that captures remote sensing data of regional landscapes and vegetation.
Within NEON, we have several different job opportunities that range from temporary to full-time positions.
You can reach out to Bryce Duchesne, Duchesne@Battelle.org, with any questions!