PLEON seeks an undergraduate intern for Summer 2022

The Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network, or PLEON, is a lake monitoring program based at Lacawac Sanctuary & Biological Field Station, a non-profit biological field station and environmental education center located in NE Pennsylvania. PLEON conducts routine lake monitoring, hosts public education workshops focused on promoting good lake stewardship, and runs a community-led water quality monitoring program on Pennsylvania’s 3rd largest lake, Lake Wallenpaupack.

PLEON seeks an undergraduate intern to assist with all aspects of the PLEON program. Interns will gain experience and training in: 

• Lake ecology and water quality sampling methodology

• Quantitative laboratory analysis

• Experimental design

• Laboratory and Field safety

• Science communication and networking

• Data and project management

• Leadership and mentoring 
  

We are looking for enthusiastic interns who work well with others, have excellent attitudes, and a record of academic achievement. Interns must be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Students working towards a degree in the natural sciences and/or an interest in aquatic ecology, conservation, management are encouraged to apply. Previous field or laboratory research experience in freshwater ecosystems is preferred. Winter 2021 and Spring 2022 graduates are eligible to apply.

Intern duties include conducting field sampling including temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and plankton on PLEON lakes, sample preservation, laboratory analysis including chlorophyll extractions and nutrient analysis, data manipulation and statistical analysis. The PLEON intern will lead the Lake Wallenpaupack Community-led Water Quality Monitoring program which includes assembling sampling kits, leading program trainings, processing citizen science samples, supervising and working with other interns, and analyzing data. 

Interns can expect to work 20-30 hours/week including hours on most weekends, work outside in all weather conditions, and encounter wildlife common to Northeastern PA (mosquitoes, ticks, snakes, deer, black bears). Interns must be comfortable working in small row boats, hiking in temperate forests, and with physical labor. Lacawac is located in a rural area with no public transportation, so interns are strongly encouraged to bring their own vehicle. Applicants must be US citizens or have permission to work in the US and have a valid driver’s license.

Interns receive a modest stipend and free housing at Lacawac Sanctuary. Bunk houses have shared living areas, bathroom, and kitchen and dorm-style bunk rooms. All interns are required to be up to date with COVID 19 vaccination as recommended by the CDC. Religious and medical exemptions will be considered on a case by case basis.

The internship is from May 16th through August19th, with negotiable start/stop dates. Internship details, including housing commitments, may be amended depending on local COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions. 

We are looking for enthusiastic interns who work well with others, have excellent attitudes, and a record of academic achievement. Students working towards a degree in the natural sciences and/or an interest in ecology, conservation, or environmental education are encouraged to apply. This is an entry-level position for which previous research experience is welcome but not required.

Interns must be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Specific duties include but are not limited to working with Lacawac scientists to monitor lake water quality, assisting visiting graduate students and faculty with their research (covering a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic ecology, conservation, and resource management), maintaining research infrastructure and hiking trails, conducting laboratory and/or field experiments, mentoring high school interns, assisting with K-12 field trips, hosting public programs, and performing light general maintenance. Interns will work 20-30 hours per week including some weekend hours.

Interns should expect to work outside in all weather conditions and encounter wildlife common to Northeastern PA (mosquitoes, ticks, snakes, deer, black bears) and must be comfortable with being in small row boats, working on the water, hiking in temperate forests, and with physical labor. Lacawac is situated in a rural area with no public transportation, so interns are strongly encouraged to bring their own vehicle. Applicants must be US citizens or have permission to work in the US and have a valid driver’s license.

Interns receive a modest stipend and free housing at Lacawac. Housing includes shared living areas, bathroom, and kitchen and dorm-style bunk rooms. All interns are required to be up to date with COVID 19 vaccination as recommended by the CDC. Religious and medical exemptions will be considered on a case by case basis.

The internship is from June 1^st through August19^th, with negotiable start/stop dates. Internship details, including housing commitments, may be amended depending on local, state, and federal COVID guidelines and restrictions.

The University of Toledo is seeking students for our Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, “Addressing Environmental Challenges and Proposing Sustainable Solutions at the Lake Erie Land-Lake Interface”. We are seeking 10 students to join our team from May 31- August 5, 2021. Students will work in laboratories at the Lake Erie Center, UToledo Main Campus, and Health Science Campus. Accepted REU fellows will receive lodging in UToledo dormitories, a stipend of $5750, a food allowance, and round trip travel to/from Toledo, Ohio.

Students will address complex challenges at the land-lake interface to understand how natural resource use impacts biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and public health, with the goal of advancing environmental sustainability. Students will be paired with faculty and graduate student mentors from the Departments of Environmental Sciences, Geography and Planning, Public Health, Medicine or Engineering, and will conduct independent research in ecology, limnology, remote sensing, medicine or engineering. Field trips will introduce students to the diverse habitats and ecological challenges facing Lake Erie, and students will receive training in research ethics, experimental design, data analysis, writing scientific papers and applying to graduate school. Students will write a final report and present their research at a public poster gala.

Applications will be accepted from students in any relevant major to research harmful algal blooms, water quality, invasive species, natural communities, habitats, land use and nutrients.

Rising juniors and seniors are preferred, rising sophomores will also be considered. Students must not have graduated before the start of the Summer 2022 term. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents.

Students from underrepresented minority groups, women, veterans and first-generation college students are especially encouraged to apply. Students will be selected based on academic excellence, a letter of reference and a demonstrated interest in environmental issues, and will be matched with a mentor based on indicated preference for research areas.

Apply at: https://www.utoledo.edu/nsm/lec/reu/ by February 13, 2022.

Questions regarding the program or application process should be directed to [email protected].

Summer Research Program in Ecology

Our 2021 summer program will be VIRTUAL. Program Dates: Monday, May 24 - Friday, August 6

Apply Now! Applications are due February 19 at 9:00a.m. EST

The Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology is an 11-week immersive research experience connecting undergraduate students to mentors and researchers in the pursuit of scientific inquiry.

Harvard Forest is Harvard University's world-class ecological research hub at the nexus of many national and international scientific networks, which Summer Program students leverage to conduct research and build their careers:

• Long-Term Ecological Research Network
• National Ecological Observatory Network
• Environmental Data Initiative
• Smithsonian's ForestGEO Network
• Organization of Biological Field Stations
• Ameriflux

Program participants join a community of fellow students, mentors, and researchers from across these networks, gaining experience in the full scientific process by working in diverse collaborative teams, developing data science skills, and building professional networks to launch careers that will make a difference in the world.

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