The Lacawac Sanctuary is filling 2 undergraduate internship positions in the summer of 2020
Lacawac Sanctuary is a non-profit biological field station and environmental education center located in NE Pennsylvania. Lacawac’s Research Internship Program offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education.
Lacawac interns participate in the Sanctuary’s missions of Research, Education, and Preservation. 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 ecology, conservation, or environmental education are encouraged to apply.
Interns should expect to work outside in all weather conditions and encounter wildlife common to Northeastern PA (mosquitoes, ticks, snakes, deer, black bears). Interns must be comfortable with being in small row boats and working on the water, hiking in temperate forests, and with physical labor. Lacawac is situated in a remote, 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 for the duration of the internship. Both internships are from May 26th through August 14th, with negotiable start/stop dates.
POSITION #1: General Lacawac Intern
This position is an entry level position ideal for those looking to gain field experience. Interns spend considerable time participating in field work and laboratory analysis, educational and public programs for all ages, outreach activities, trail maintenance, and event preparation/clean-up.
Interns will gain experience and training in:
• Lake ecology and water quality sampling methodology
• Quantitative laboratory analysis
• Experimental design and scientific method
• Laboratory and Field safety
• Science communication
• Data and project management
• Leadership and mentoring
• K-12 environmental education
• Public outreach
Specific intern duties include but are not limited to assisting Lacawac scientists with monitoring water quality of Pocono lakes, 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, conducting laboratory and/or field experiments, mentoring high school interns, maintaining hiking trails, assisting with K-12 field trips, hosting public programs, and performing light general maintenance. Interns can expect to work 20-30 hours per week with occasional weekend hours.
To apply, complete the online application form found on our website (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lacawac.org%2Finternships.html&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Caee5b0420bc24d6eb98008d795b65e6f%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637142482837007988&sdata=eD5%2Bp3HonUpmFHRlfxwoEihjv7OZ1FV1%2BddgKtrYKDA%3D&reserved=0) and submit a letter of interest, resume (limit to 2 pages), and unofficial transcripts via email to Dr. Beth Norman, Director of Science and Research (beth.norman@lacawac.org). Include “2020 Lacawac Internship†in the subject line. Review of applications will begin February 24, 2020. For more information about Lacawac, see our website: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lacawac.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Caee5b0420bc24d6eb98008d795b65e6f%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637142482837007988&sdata=Lp2UsenuL11og6Mlm30sFLXpTy0x5AQioLUI078K57g%3D&reserved=0
POSITION #2: PLEON Lake Monitoring Program Internship
This position is appropriate for those with prior field or research experience, preferably in aquatic ecosystems. The Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network, or PLEON, is a lake monitoring program based at Lacawac Sanctuary. PLEON conducts routine monitoring of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of lakes, hosts public education workshops focused on promoting good lake stewardship, and runs a citizen science 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 and scientific method
• Laboratory and Field safety
• Science communication
• Data and project management
• Leadership and mentoring
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 also be responsible for running the Dynamic Lake Wallenpaupack citizen science program which includes assembling citizen science sampling kits, leading program trainings, processing citizen science samples, and analyzing data. Interns can expect to work 20-30 hours/week including hours on most weekends.
To apply, complete the online application form found on our website (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lacawac.org%2Finternships.html&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Caee5b0420bc24d6eb98008d795b65e6f%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637142482837007988&sdata=eD5%2Bp3HonUpmFHRlfxwoEihjv7OZ1FV1%2BddgKtrYKDA%3D&reserved=0) and submit a letter of interest, resume (limit to 2 pages), and unofficial transcripts via email to Dr. Beth Norman, Director of Science and Research (beth.norman@lacawac.org). Include “2020 PLEON Internship†in the subject line. Review of applications will begin February 24, 2020. For more information about Lacawac and PLEON, see our website: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lacawac.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Caee5b0420bc24d6eb98008d795b65e6f%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637142482837007988&sdata=Lp2UsenuL11og6Mlm30sFLXpTy0x5AQioLUI078K57g%3D&reserved=0