2015 Summer Undergraduate Internships Available – Center for Ecology, SIU
The SIU Center for Ecology anticipates that five paid undergraduate internships will be available
for the summer 2015 internship program. Of the 5 internship opportunities, 2 positions will be
based in southern Illinois at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, 1 position will be with the Nachusa
Grasslands in north-central Illinois, and 2 positions are with the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency based in Marion, but with extensive travel.
Details regaring the IDNR and IEPA internships are provided on the following pages; for
information about the Nachusa internship, please contact Dr. Sara Baer at sgbaer@siu.edu.
Interested applicants should submit hard or electronic copies of the following: 1) a cover letter
outlining relevant prior experience explaining how you expect to benefit from the internship, and
which position or positions you would prefer; 2) a current resume and transcript ('unofficial'
version is fine); and 3) a letter of support from an SIU faculty member who has agreed to oversee
1 credit hour of research for the summer (Prairie Ridge and Nachusa Grassland positions only).
Consideration of applications will begin 16 March 2015. Submit applications to Dr. Robin
Warne (Zoology:rwarne@siu.edu ), Dr. Matt Whiles (Wildlife/Zoology:
mwhiles@zoology.siu.edu), or Dr. John Groninger (Forestry: groninge@siu.edu).
SIU Center for Ecology Internship Opportunity
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Job Location: Prairie Ridge State Park (Two Positions)
Summer Intern- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
SIU Center for Ecology, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Illinois
Nature Preserves Commission, and the Natural Areas Association are offering two
summer internships in southern Illinois. Learn conservation techniques from some of
the best experts and organizations in the field while working in a natural setting. This
internship will provide a one year membership to the Natural Areas Association and
attendance at the Natural Areas Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas (November 3-5,
2015). The mission of the Natural Areas Association is to advance the preservation of
natural diversity. The Association works to inform, unite, and support persons engaged
in identifying, protecting, managing, and studying natural areas and biological diversity
across landscapes and ecosystems. A specific goal of the association is to provide
information and expertise to those seeking a career in natural areas management.
Preferred candidates are students with a long-term interest in natural area conservation.
Job Description
Work with IDNR’s Natural Heritage program in southern Illinois. Possible work duties
may include the following: conducting management on Nature Preserves, Land and
Water Reserves, and Natural Heritage Landmarks. Specific duties may include help
with telemetry on prairie chickens and turkeys, monitoring barn owl nests boxes, help
with prescribed burning, grassland bird surveys, brush and exotic species control on
prairies, and stream mussel surveys etc. Office work will vary, and may include
assisting with updating management plan, assisting in organizing landowner meetings
and conservation partnership meetings, researching information about invasive plant
populations and management, and data entry and map creation.
Job will include some hiking in steep terrain, wading in aquatic habitats, spraying
herbicides and working in hot humid conditions. Basic computer skills, and GPS
knowledge helpful. Ability to operate 4 wheel drive vehicles, ATV's, small utility tractors
and boats useful. Students will be required to test for a general use herbicide license.
Housing:
Free Temporary Housing is available for the extent of the internship
For more information contact:
Terry Esker: Natural Heritage Biologist – terry.esker@illinois.gov, 618-783-2685
SIUC – Center for Ecology Internship Opportunity
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Intensive Basin Survey Interns- The IEPA and SIU Center for Ecology are offering
two summer internships to assist IEPA field staff in the collection and management of
fish community, mussel, macroinvertebrate, habitat, and water/sediment chemistry data.
One or both interns will participate in the collection of lake water/sediment chemistry,
macroinvertebrates, and habitat data. Interns will be given hands-on environmental
education experience by working side-by-side with professional stream and lake
biologists from both the IEPA and IDNR. Positions are based in Marion, but will involve
regular travel throughout the state for field sampling.
Who: Upper-level undergraduate or entry-level graduate students majoring in Zoology,
Biology, Forestry, or a related field with special interests in aquatic biology and stream
ecology. Students must be enrolled for the following fall semester. Two positions will
be offered.
Where: Interns will be working out of the Marion Regional State Office Building. From
the Marion office, interns will travel with the IEPA field staff to the basins that will be
sampled that summer. Some overnight travel may be required.
When: Internship starts one week following the end of the spring semester (mid May)
and ends one week prior to the beginning of the fall semester (mid August).
Why: To aid IEPA field staff in the collection of chemical, physical, and biological data
used to make stream quality assessments as required by Section 305(b) of the Clean
Water Act (1972).
Job duties: Interns will be required to wade streams in order to collect
macroinvertebrates and fish, measure and assess various stream habitat features, and
to collect water and sediment samples. Sampling events can involve long hours in
challenging field conditions. In addition to field activities, interns will be required to
help clean and organize all sampling gear prior to field sampling and will be required to
help enter and process data collected from the prior year. Waders will be provided.
Pay: The internship pays ~$13.00 per hour for a 37.5 hour work week.
Preferred candidates are students with a long-term interest in freshwater ecology and
natural areas conservation.
For more information contact:
Matt Whiles: Director, SIU Center for Ecology, mwhiles@zoology.siu.edu, 453-7639