estuarine Water Quality Intern
Internship job description/posting
Job Title: Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring Intern
Salary: $1,800
Job Type: Internship, apply by 8/29/2022
Location: Charleston, Oregon
Department: South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Internship Overview:
The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve) monitors water column and weather parameters at 4 primary water quality stations and 1 weather station to understand long term trends in water quality as part of the NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP). The Reserve collects monthly water grab samples for analyses of nutrients, chlorophyll, bacteria, and sediments. In addition, the Reserve maintains 3 water quality stations in the Coos estuary. By participating in this project, the intern will assist the science team with gathering samples via boat, maintaining and calibrating equipment, lab processing and analysis, and entering data.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Assist science team with deployment and recovery of water quality instruments by boat
Collect water grab samples for lab analyses
Assist with calibration and maintenance of equipment
Assist with field and laboratory work associated with the Reserve’s water quality monitoring program
Unloading/loading, thoroughly cleaning and putting away gear that has been used in the field
Driving State vehicles
Standard indoor office environment; regular computer use
Desired Skills: Understand basic laboratory and field data collection techniques. Experience with water quality equipment and basic software (e.g., MS Excel) is preferred.
Candidate will have a willingness and ability to work:
· Both outside, sometimes with rough weather conditions (rain, wind) and indoors in a laboratory setting
· Occasional early morning and/or early evenings due to tides
· In small boats, occasionally in waders
· As part of a team and independently
Working Conditions:
The intern will spend about 75% of their time assisting the science team with gathering samples via boat, maintaining and calibrating equipment, and lab processing. The intern will spend 20% of their time analyzing and entering data. The remaining 5% will be spent occasionally assisting the science team with other projects and field work.
Additional Information:
Expected duration of internship is 11 weeks from September 12 through November 23. We expect 10-15 hours of work per week with about 120 total hours.
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.