South Slough Reserve Science Intern
Internship job description/posting
Job Title: South Slough NERR Research Intern
Salary: $8,500
Job Type: Internship, apply by 8/22/2022
Location: Charleston, Oregon
Department: South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Internship Overview:
The Science Intern will support the South Slough Reserve’s Science Program, based out of the Estuarine and Coastal Science Lab on the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology campus. The intern will help with various Science projects including: collecting and preparing eDNA samples for assessing fish community composition, monitoring invasive green crabs to look at recruitment and spread, collecting water quality samples, and collecting, preparing, and measuring plant biomass samples to determine decomposition rates. The intern will work closely with the Reserve science staff on these projects and likely many more.
From this internship, the student will gain experience in field, laboratory, and professional office settings. They will gain knowledge of a variety of field equipment and techniques related to monitoring organism populations and ecosystem processes. The intern will also gain experience in spreadsheets, data management, and creation of visual summaries. They will have opportunities to participate in other Reserve science and education projects as time permits. Through this internship the intern will gain a greater understanding of estuaries and coastal ecosystems.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Drive to and from site locations using work vehicles
Hike to wetlands sites, sometimes through rough, uneven terrain and while carrying sometimes heavy and awkward equipment
Spend multiple hours in the field collecting data
Trap and measure crabs
Use drying ovens and laboratory balances
Use water pumps and filtration systems
Work both independently and collaboratively in groups
Work with other science, stewardship and education staff and interns as time permits
Working Conditions:
The intern will spend about 30% of their time preparing for, implementing, and cleaning up after field outings. The remainder of the time will be office and lab work including: filtering water samples and preparing filters for analysis; measuring green crabs; preparing, drying and weighing samples, entering and analyzing data, , writing brief summary reports.
A valid driver's license and the ability to drive are required.
Additional Information:
Expected duration of internship is 15 weeks from September 6 through December 16. We expect 20-30 hours of work per week.
Pre-employment Checks:
We will conduct criminal background checks on final candidates through an identity company known as Fieldprint.
Oregon Department of State Lands
South Slough Reserve Division
61907 Seven Devils Road
POB 5417
Charleston, OR 97420
Phone: 541-888-5558, ext. 158 Attn: Deborah Rudd, Reserve Public Involvement Coordinator
DSL-South Slough Reserve is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.