Conservation Science Intern

About Host Organization:

The Nature Conservancy in Washington is dedicated to sustaining and enhancing a healthy relationship between people and nature. As part of the world’s largest global conservation organization, we are uniquely positioned to deliver innovative solutions to our most pressing conservation needs and leverage them at a meaningful scale assuring the quality of life for people and nature, in our state —and in our world. We are addressing the twin crises of climate change and loss of biodiversity by advancing positive and equitable change through care and stewardship of Washington’s land and water — through legislative and regulatory policy; advocating for equitable access to public funding; and by bringing together powerful and diverse partners, communities and decision-makers. The Nature Conservancy in Washington’s science team brings cutting-edge natural and social science to bear on critical conservation problems, to provide the research necessary to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Learn more at: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/washington/.

Tasks and Activities:

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is looking for two UW undergraduate students to work with a team of scientists whose research informs the conservation, management, and restoration work of The Nature Conservancy in Washington State. These internships will involve opportunities for fieldwork with conservation practitioners as well as office and remote work, including data collection, data management and entry, and reporting/visualizing research findings.

Interns will be involved in one-two primary projects during their internship, with ample learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities with TNC throughout the internship:

• Project 1: Marsh vegetation monitoring fieldwork to quantify the impacts of innovative marsh restoration methods at Port Susan Bay Preserve (Stanwood, WA) as part of a team of TNC conservation practitioners and scientists. This is exciting and challenging work that requires 10-15 long field days spread across ~3 weeks in the summer at TNC’s Port Susan Bay Preserve monitoring marsh vegetation under physically strenuous outdoor conditions. This fieldwork will require transportation via UCar and interns should be prepared to leave Seattle as early as 5:00 am on field days in order to work with the tides. You will develop your plant identification and fieldwork skills as part of this team, and, time permitting, could contribute to a field identification guide for emerging species of interest at the preserve.
• Project 2: TBD based on funding, but likely biodiversity oriented

The interns in this position will work with TNC’s Science team on the two primary projects described above. Internship activities will involve a combination of collaborative fieldwork, remote computer work, and possible lab work. The fieldwork will involve frequent collaboration with the other intern and with TNC supervisors, and there are also opportunities for independent remote work on days without fieldwork.

Under the Vegetation Monitoring work at Port Susan Bay, interns will collect, process, analyze, and share data collected over the summer, in a manner consistent with their interests and experience (e.g., creating an identification guide for new species found post-restoration, developing a story map, writing a report, etc.).

Takeaways:

Interns in this position will have the opportunity to:

• Gain hands-on experience with ecological research techniques in the field and lab, including processing and analyzing data, and reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature
• Build communication skills in formats of their choosing, including via writing and visual methods
• Learn from and work with a variety of conservation practitioners at TNC and beyond, including scientists and stewardship managers.

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required:

• Must have a high interest and ability, or prior experience to participate in challenging but well-supported field-based research under difficult outdoor conditions (including physical ability to hike), including availability for day and overnight travel as indicated in the first question — this is mandatory for a safe and successful internship.
• Should be excited by the prospect of many different types of work experiences, including a demonstrated skills of teamwork and collaboration to apply in the field under a variety of potentially challenging conditions
• Must have a driver’s license and ability to travel in Washington state, preferably using the UCAR system (transportation options may be available)
• Commitment to act in accordance with TNC’s Code of Conduct which can be found at https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/accountability/code-of-conduct/

Preferred:

• Strongly encouraged that the interns are majoring in an environmental or biological science, preferably, has taken an introductory ecology course, has some experience and understanding of the PNW natural systems, and has demonstrated interest, with some coursework taken, in ecology, biology, environmental science, conservation, or related fields* Self-starter, able to work independently as well as on a team. Possesses strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Access to reliable internet, computer and phone for periods of remote work (office with internet available as an alternative)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Computer proficiency, especially with spreadsheets (e.g., Excel). Experience with geospatial analysis, data analysis, or coding is appreciated but not required.