SUMMER INTERNSHIP TOPICS
Topic
Site
Pages
Agribusiness
MAC, MCCE
1-B; 2-B; 2-C; 6-A,B,C
Agriculture Education
MCCE
2-D
Agriculture Leadership (4-H)
MCCE
2-A
Biotechnology/Biofuels
ALARC
5-A,B
Chemistry
MAC
1-E
Climate Change
ALARC
5-D
Crop Science
MCCE
2-C
Ecology, Wildlife
RIO
4-A,B
Engineering
MAC, ALARC
1-F, 5-C
Environmental Water Quality
MAC
1-A
Entomology (pest control)
MAC, MCCE, ALARC
1-C,D; 2-C; 5-A
Guayule Research/Production
BRIDGE, PAN, YUL,
6-A,B,C
Health – Children’s health ed.
MCCE
3-F
Horticulture (Urban)
MCCE
2-B
Microbiology
MAC
1-A
Nutrition Programs, diabetes
MCCE
3-G
Plant Genetics - Biotechnology
ALARC, PAN
5-B, 6-B
Soil Science
MAC, PAN
1-E, 6-B
Water Conservation
ALARC
5-C
Site
Extended Name
ALARC
MAC
MCCE
RIO
BRIDGE
PANA
YUL
USDA - Arid Land Agriculture Research Center
Maricopa Agricultural Center - University of Arizona
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension -UA
Rio Salado Restoration Area
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
PanAridus Inc.
Yulex Corporation
Location
Maricopa (City)
Maricopa (City)
Phoenix
Phoenix
Mesa
Casa Grande
Maricopa (City)
Internship Descriptions
for the
University of Arizona (UA) Maricopa Agriculture Center (MAC) in Maricopa, AZ
The goal of the UA Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC) is to develop, deliver and service the best integrated agricultural
technologies for all problems faced by Arizona consumers and producers. Research focuses on cotton, small grains,
alfalfa, and new specialty crops that could be used to provide food, fibers, oils, and pharmaceuticals. MAC
(cals.arizona.edu/aes/mac/), based in Maricopa, will offer internships in various areas of their research lab facility.
A). Environmental Water Quality/Microbiology
Do you know what’s in the water you use in a garden? What’s in the water used to grow fruits and vegetables you buy
at the store? How do you know if the water is contaminated with bacteria that might cause food poisoning? Is anyone
looking at water used to grow plants to prevent food poisoning outbreaks in Arizona? YES, and these are some of the
questions interns will address in Dr. Channah Rock’s lab. You may assist by sampling, processing, and analyzing water
samples for E.coli bacteria and other biological contaminants in water. Others may sample green leafy vegetables or
instruments used in harvesting, transporting, and storing these foods to try protect food safety.
B). Cropping Systems Program
Crop systems at Maricopa Ag Center (MAC) helps Arizona growers and industries to improve profitability, efficiency,
and competitiveness in their production. They work with cotton production, crop rotation, and development of
alternative crops for rubber (Guayule) and biofuels. Cultural practices and nutrient management (fertilizers) are two
main focuses in the program. This is a great program for interns interested in agribusiness or plant genetics.
C). Integrated Pest Management and Biological Control Research Unit
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Bio-control Research develops improved biological, behavioral, cultural, and
genetic based methods to reduce losses by insects and mites affecting crops in arid land production areas of the U.S.
Damage from pests is one of the largest contributors to crop loss or failure. Pests have been around forever and
they’re not going away anytime soon so scientists have had to get savvy and use surprisingly ingenious methods to
control them. You’ll be doing field and lab based experiments as an intern with Dr. Ellsworth. And you will learn a lot
about pests in Arizona and the troubles they cause. IPM is a growing field open to those who love to outwit pests.
D). Urban Integrated Pest Management of Public Health Pests
This is not for the squeamish, but excellent for your resume if you wish to pursue public health, or learn natural
methods of managing pests. Only select an internship in this lab if you are able and willing to undertake working with
household insects (ex. Mosquitos) and small animals (spiders, scorpions). Work is focused on key pests of medical
importance including bed bugs, and bark scorpions. The work you do will improve the quality of life of residents. You
will be included on publications you contribute to. Both lab and field work may be involved. All field assignment
details require complete confidentiality and a high level of professionalism.
E). Soil Chemistry
Do you know what heavy metals are in the vegetables you eat? Do you know what heavy metals are in the soil your
plants grow in? How much of these metals in the soil get into the plants and how safe is this for us to eat? These are a
few questions Dr. Sanchez is trying to answer which you’ll be experimenting with if you are an intern in his lab.
F). Precision Engineering
Do you like building robots? Would you like to ride a tractor? What if you could remotely operate a tractor to fertilize a
field and measure the amount of photosynthesis in plants in real time so plants receive the precise amount of fertilizer
they need? That’s one example of precision agriculture and that’s what Dr. Andrade does at MAC. This is for students
that would like to see what it’s like to be an engineer. Calculus I & II are required.
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Internship Descriptions for the
University of Arizona (UA) Maricopa County Cooperative Extension (MCCE) in Phoenix
The mission of MCCE is to engage with people through applied research and education to improve lives, families,
communities, environment, and economies in Arizona and beyond. Cooperative Extension is a vital leader in creating
and applying knowledge to help people build thriving, sustainable lives, communities and economies.
A). 4-H youth Leadership – Kim Christman
4-H gives youth that extra edge for life success by offering numerous opportunities to develop leadership,
responsibility, citizenship and other life skills. 4-H helps develop competent, caring and actively engaged citizens who
strengthen Arizona communities. Our research-based curriculum and university ties opens a world of possibilities to
youth and their parents who want to explore their interests — from aerospace to gardening to dog care to robotics to
horse to any project you can imagine.
B). Urban Horticulture - Kelly Young
The Beginning and Small Farms Program in Maricopa County connects existing and prospective producers with
University and outside resources.
Our annual two-day workshop, Turning Dreams into Reality: Starting a Farm in Arizona is held each May at the
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension office. Other learning opportunities include IPM walks, and hands-on training
sessions in organic production techniques. Current research investigates unconventional leafy greens for summer
production.
The Commercial Horticulture Program in Maricopa County provides research-based outreach to nurseries, landscape
companies and small acreage vegetable producers.
• Integrated Spurge Management in Nursery Containers
• Partners in Research: Landscape Plant Variety Trials connects nursery professional to Master Gardener volunteers
• Control on bagrada bugs in organic vegetable production
C). Field Crops – Ayman Mustafa
Field crops accounts for over 700,000 acres in Central Arizona, valued at nearly 1.5 billion dollars (USDA-NASS 2011).
The goal of the University of the Field Crops Program is to provide timely, unbiased, science-based information to help
stakeholders solve problems, increase economic viability and address natural resource use issues. The focus is
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Agronomy.
D). Agriculture Literacy Program – Monica Pastor
The Arizona Agricultural Literacy Program helps teachers incorporate agriculture effectively into the subjects they
already teach so students will learn more. The program also educates consumers about Arizona’s agriculture industry
and how agriculture's improves our quality of life.
“My intern will participate in the week-long Summer Agricultural Institute, June 6 - 10. This would require the
intern to travel with the group of thirty teachers so it means time away from their home for five days at no cost to
them. They would help develop an assessment to measure the knowledge gained by teachers in the Institute.
The intern would also participate in the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference which will be held June
20-24 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park (all expenses paid).
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http://www.agclassroom.org/conferences/index.htm. The intern will be involved in all the behind the scenes activities
of planning a national conference. It would be great if the intern could start in May rather than June to get full
involvement in this conference.
Finally, intern will help with the graduation exit interviews of Class XXIV of Project CENTRL (Arizona's Center for
Rural Leadership) on June 17 in Chandler. An agriculturally literate person who understands and can communicate the
source and value of agriculture as it affects quality of life would be most helpful.
E). Turf Grass – Kai Umeda
“My extension program is in turf grass science and I focus most of my work on weed control and pest management. I
broadly conduct other field research and education programming for soils and salinity management, fertility, turf
varieties, and many other aspects of turf management with other UA faculty and collaborate with golf course
superintendents and sports turf managers. In the past 2 years, I have had interns evaluate herbicides for turf tolerance
and investigate a new ground cover plant for sites where turf is removed.
My intern(s) will intern have several options to conduct weed control projects, evaluate the ground cover plants,
conduct pest management projects or integrate the above areas into any project of their personal interest.
A student with interests in golf/sports turf and/or chemistry, biology, botany, entomology will benefit.
F). T3– Patty Merk
Train the Trainer (T3) provides hearing and vision screening of children, and is supported by funds from the Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health
Bureau. The information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official
position or policy of, nor should be any endorsements are inferred by the U.S. Government.
G). SNAP ED - Tracey Armstrong
We are the University of Arizona Nutrition Network (UANN) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. The UANN is a public and private partnership led by the Arizona Department
of Health's Bureau of USDA Nutrition Programs which provides common nutrition messages using the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans and ChooseMyPlate.gov) to persons who are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) participants or whose income falls within the eligible guidelines for the
SNAP program.
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Internship Descriptions for the
Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, City of Phoenix Parks & Recreation Dept.
A). Southwest Monarch Study - Gail Morris
The internship will focus on monarch butterflies and take place at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration on Central Avenue
in Phoenix and at the Monarch Way station. There is some discussion about expanding the project to include the study of
farmed monarchs (which are actually quite common and sold for commercial purposes) and how they affect the monarch
ecosystem. Gail will expand upon her ideas later this year.
B). Beavers in the Rio Salado – April Howard, Arizona Game and Fish
“We want to expand on the beaver project began by our intern last year by evaluating and describing the habitat and
river characteristics that beavers prefer along the stretch of the Rio Salado. This may entail measuring river depth,
identifying river substrate, counting the number of tree species and measuring tree variables within a certain distance
from active beaver lodges. We may also produce a brochure for the education and outreach portion of the internship.
The brochure she references will be funded through AZ Game and Fish and will be about beavers.
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Internship Descriptions for the
USDA/ARS Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC) in Maricopa, AZ
The mission of the USDA/ARS Arid Land Agricultural Research Center is to develop sustainable agricultural systems,
protect natural resources, and support rural communities in arid and semi-arid regions through interdisciplinary
research. Research topics include crop management, integrated pest management, irrigation technology, remote
sensing, water reuse, crop breeding and physiology, and global climate change.
A). Pest management and bio-control- Colin Brent, John Byers, Jeff Fabrick, James Hagler, Joe Hull
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Ecologically based pest management in western crops such as cotton
Finding the Molecular Mechanisms That Contribute to Insecticide Resistance in Lygus hesperus
Impact of Bioenergy Crops on Pests, Natural Enemies and Pollinators in Agricultural and Non-Crop Landscapes
B). Plant Physiology – Hussein Abdel-Haleem, John Dyer, Paul Sanchez, Erica Tassone, Alison Thompson,
Gerald Wall, Jeffrey White, Olga Yurchenko
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Molecular Genetic Analysis of Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Oil Production Pathways in Cotton, Bioenergy and
Other Industrial Crops
Genetic improving and phenotyping of cotton, bioenergy, and other industrial crops.
Accelerated Development of Commercial Hydrotreated Renewable Jet (Hrj) Fuel from Redesigned Oil Seed
Feedstock Supply Chains
Genetic Engineering Vegetative Biomass for Accumulation of Oil
C). Water management & conservation, engineering – Eduardo Bautista, Kevin Bronson, Andrew French,
Douglas Hunsacker, Kelly Thorp, William Clinton
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Enhancing water conservation & crop productivity in irrigated agriculture
Reuse of Treated Municipal Waste Water for Irrigation to Increase Alternative Water Supplies
Investigation into Effect of Soil Moisture Depletion on Vegetable Crop Uptake of Microcontaminants under Recycled
Water Irrigation
Analysis of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Soils Exposed to Human Antibiotics from Wastewater Treatment Plant
Irrigation
Irrigation Scheduling Software for Guayule Natural Rubber in the Southwestern USA
D). Climate Change, Soils, and Emissions
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Enhancing Water Conservation and Crop Productivity in Irrigated Agriculture
Predicting Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Systems and Developing Potentials for Adaptation
An Integrated Program to Accelerate Breeding of Resilient, More Productive Beans for Smallholder Farmers
Analysis of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Soils Exposed to Human Antibiotics from Wastewater Treatment Plant
Irrigation
Data Harmonization and Phenomics for Crop Diseases under Heat and Drought
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Internship Descriptions for the Bio-Industry in the cultivation and production of Guayule
A). Bridgestone Americas Inc. Mesa, AZ
B). PanAridus – Casa Grande, AZ
C). Yulex Corporation – Maricopa, AZ
Intern opportunities are available in the areas of:
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Soil chemistry
Plant physiology
Guayule extraction
Data collection
Data input and analysis
Quality control
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