*INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY*

UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO – RIO PIEDRAS

*TROPICAL FOREST RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES*

SEEDLING CENSUS, HURRICANE ASSESSMENT and STREAM FRE

January 14 through May 15, 2020

Complete applications must be submitted by *November 8, 2019*

*RESEARCH DESCRIPTION: *The University of Puerto Rico will carry out a

seedling census in the 16-ha Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), located

in the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. The LFDP is a member of

the Smithsonian Center for Tropical Forest Science network. For this

project we are seeking nine (9) volunteer interns to complete our annual

Hurricane Assessment and help identify and measure seedlings in marked

plots in the LFDP. We are also looking for one (1) volunteer for the Stream

Fre Project (duties include: monthly sampling of different aspects of the

stream food chain, sorting leaf litter, general lab duties and some manual

labor). Following training in census protocol and database management, the

volunteers will work in the forest in teams, spending long hours in the

field (8 am until 4 pm, Monday-Friday, with weekends free), often in wet

and muddy conditions and on challenging topography. Volunteers will enter

all collected data, using database software. While in Puerto Rico

volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about diverse aspects of

tropical ecology from scientists involved in the Luquillo Long-Term

Ecological Research Program.

*PERIOD: *January 14 through May 15, 2020.

*STIPEND: *$600 per month to cover food and general living expenses.

*ACCOMMODATION: *Free accommodation at *El Verde Field Station *in Puerto

Rico. Housing is communal using shared resources. The field station is

relatively isolated, and transportation is available on a limited basis.

The field station has limited access to power since we work with a

generator.

*TRAVEL: *Refund of up to $750 towards a round-trip plane ticket from

mainland USA, if not already living in Puerto Rico.

*NOTE: *We are unable to provide any medical insurance.

*REQUIREMENTS: *College graduates with background in biology, ecology,

environmental science, or related field, preferably with field-work

experience, knowledge of plant identification, and excellent organizational

skills. Tropical experience useful but is not required. We are currently

only considering US citizens and permanent US residents for these

opportunities.

*APPLICATION PROCEDURE: *Interested applicants must fill out the

online *Application

Form *(if the link to the left does not work see

*https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2Fa%2Fites.upr.edu%2Fel-verde-field-station%2Finternships%2Fluquillo-forest-dynamics-plot-internship-opportunities%2Flfdp-internship-application*&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7C7010d64c8bdb411f93e808d75d1a0370%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637080238637146470&sdata=G78Av67K0CNiDv1ao0VdptVEx1y0cDFu%2FApcSbBUUOs%3D&reserved=0

).

The following additional materials must also be submitted via email to the

LFDP Research Manager, Jamarys Torres-Díaz, at lfdp@ites.upr.edu by

November 8:

1) A letter of interest indicating why you wish to work in a tropical

forest and describing your relevant experience. Include a statement that

you understand your application is for a volunteer position;

2) Full resume;

3) University transcripts (scanned unofficial transcripts are fine);

*All email attachments must include the name of the applicant as part of

the file name*. *Please include “seedling census” or “Stream Fre” as part

of your subject line, as we may be hiring for multiple positions. *

Please email further inquiries to lfdp@ites.upr.edu.

Following phone interviews, we will inform successful applicants in late

November 2019.

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