Summer Field Ecology Internships

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is seeking two Field Ecology Interns to assist with our Land Conservation program. One internship will focus on wildlife ecology, and one internship will emphasize vegetation monitoring and habitat management.

FMR is a leading, growing nonprofit organization working to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region. Our goals are to improve water quality, conserve important lands, engage people in learning about and taking action to protect and enhance the river, inspire widespread commitment to this natural wonder flowing through our community, and protect our river's unique scenic, natural, cultural and recreational qualities.

FMR believes the Mississippi River connects us all, and that social and environmental issues are woven together. Its gifts should flow equally to everyone in our community. We strive to be culturally competent, welcoming and inclusive of all people and are committed to using our resources and influence to redress structural inequality where it intersects with the health and vitality of the Mississippi River. We encourage interested applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Learn more about FMR’s commitment to advancing equity.

Our Land Conservation Program is actively working to restore thousands of acres at over 40 metro-area sites and is assessing the impacts of restored lands on pollinators and other wildlife.

This is an excellent opportunity for an undergraduate or graduate student with an ecology, botany, wildlife or natural resources-related major to connect their academic studies with professional field and habitat restoration work.

These internships offer a blend of indoor and outdoor, hands-on and project-oriented work. The Field Ecology interns will work with the FMR Land Conservation team, including the Restoration Project Manager, Ecologists and Pollinator Biologist, as they conduct day-to-day natural resources management tasks. They will gain hands-on experience in ecological survey methods, data management, research and ecological restoration methods of prairie and forest habitats.

Roles and responsibilities

Wildlife Ecology Internship

• Conduct wildlife surveys, including pollinator and monarch surveys, breeding bird surveys and wildlife camera monitoring (training provided)
• Support volunteers in monarch and wildlife camera surveys, assist in the management of participatory science programs, and assist with other volunteer restoration events (training provided)
• Participate in active restoration research, including plot set-up, treatment implementation, data collection and simple analysis
• Manage field data: enter field data and manage database, catalog photos, and keep project records. Some data analysis work is possible depending on experience.
• Assist with other land conservation tasks as needed. Some overlap between interns’ roles and responsibilities is anticipated

Vegetation Monitoring and Habitat Management Internship

• Conduct vegetation surveys (training provided)
• Participate in active restoration research, including plot set-up, treatment implementation, data collection and simple analysis
• Manage habitat and invasive species at restoration sites (e.g., weed whipping, hand-pulling, and brush cutting, with training provided)
• Manage field data: enter field data and manage database, catalog photos, and keep project records
• Assist with volunteer restoration events
• Assist with other land conservation tasks as needed. Some overlap between interns’ roles and responsibilities is anticipated

Requirements

• Coursework or background in natural resource fields such as general ecology, restoration ecology, plant communities, conservation biology, soils, forestry, entomology, ornithology, wildlife biology, botany, etc.
• Familiarity with vegetation native to Minnesota
• Detail-oriented in terms of both field data and office work
• Comfortable working in Microsoft Excel and Word, and Google suite of products
• Have a reliable vehicle and be able to drive to project sites in Dakota, Washington, Hennepin, Wright and Sherburne Counties (mileage will be reimbursed at the federal rate)
• Comfortable spending long hours outdoors, and with adverse weather and field conditions (insects, dense brush, heat, sun, rain), and have suitable footwear and clothing for such conditions

Additional desired qualifications

• Ability to and interest in interacting with volunteers from the community
• Pollinator and wildlife identification skills, though FMR will provide any necessary training
• Experience with bird and other wildlife surveys
• BIPOC students are particularly encouraged to apply

Training and supervision

• The interns will receive detailed instruction and training on project tasks and have regular check-ins to make sure goals are being met, and that additional support is available when needed
• Some intern duties will be conducted independently after training, but most will be assisting Land Conservation staff in the field
• The interns will work in a professional but camaraderie-filled atmosphere, where they can both relax and learn to be their most productive
• Throughout the internships, we will offer ample support but also encourage creativity and initiative • Interns become valued members of the FMR team and also have the opportunity to get to know staff from partner groups such as the National Park Service, the Department of Natural Resources, City and County agencies, and others
• If it works for their schedule, the intern is invited to attend monthly FMR staff meetings and/or monthly staff lunches

Scheduling

• Preferred season/semester: 16 weeks, between mid-May and late-August, although start and end dates may be flexible. Preference for Wildlife Ecology intern who can start in late April (5- 10 hours/week) to assist with the start of monarch monitoring season
• Average hours per week: 20-25 (3 days/week), though work may be split between more days and additional hours may be available
• Workdays are typically Monday-Friday, but may include occasional weekend events
• Hours can be flexible and may change week to week, but workdays are typically between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. During the month of June, bird surveys (primarily for Wildlife Ecology Intern, but flexible between two positions) begin as early as 6:30 am. Occasional evening volunteer events end as late as 8:30 pm. Advanced notice will be given

Stipend and mileage

FMR offers a stipend of $4,800 — paid in two installments — and will cover additional mileage reimbursement at the current federal rate for travel to and from survey sites. The stipend and hours may increase depending on candidate availability and additional funding.