Summer Field Ecology Internship

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is seeking a Field Ecology Intern to assist with our Land Conservation program from mid-May to late August 2025 (start and end dates flexible). 

FMR is a leading and 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 intern 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

• Conduct vegetation surveys (training provided) 
• Conduct wildlife surveys, including pollinator and monarch surveys, breeding bird surveys and wildlife camera monitoring (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, keep project records
• Train volunteers in pollinator and wildlife surveys and assist with other volunteer restoration events

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 MN
• Detail-oriented in terms of both field and office/data 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)
• 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 general public
• 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 intern will receive detailed instruction and training on project tasks and have regular check-ins to make sure goals are being met and to ensure that additional support is there when needed.
• Some intern duties will be conducted independently after training, but most will be assisting Land Conservation staff in the field.
• The intern will work in a professional but camaraderie-filled atmosphere, where they can both relax and learn to be their most productive.
• Throughout the internship we will offer ample support (including templates, contact lists, training at the beginning of each event), 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
• Average hours per week: 15-20, though additional hours may be available
• Workdays are typically Monday-Friday but may include occasional Saturday and Sunday 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., but may begin as early as 6:30 a.m. for a few days in June, and as late as 8:30 p.m. for occasional evening volunteer events. 

Stipend and mileage

FMR offers a stipend of $3,600 — 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 additional funding.