Overview

Dr. Eugene Odum, regarded as one of the founders of ecosystem ecology, launched his scientific career at the Huyck Preserve in the early 1940s as one of the first Research Fellows at the Huyck Preserve's biological research station. In honor of his legacy, the Huyck Preserve offers an internship for undergraduate students who are interested in conducting ecological field research. Interns work with scientific professionals, conduct and present original research, and gain valuable environmental education experience through involvement in our high school summer program.

Summary

• This is a full-time, six-week residential internship.
• Typically, up to four highly qualified undergraduate students will be selected each summer.
• The internship includes a $400 stipend for the season, and on-site housing is provided.
• Arrangements for college credit must be made with the applicant’s home institution.

About the Internship

Summer 2026 interns will perform their own independent research project under the direction of Summer Research Fellow (SRF) Mark Lesser, Ph.D. 

Dr. Lesser is a forest ecologist in the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at SUNY Plattsburgh and served as the Huyck Preserve's SRF in 2024. Originally from Halifax Nova Scotia, Mark completed a BS and Masters in Forest and Forest Genetics at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay Ontario before going on to the University of Wyoming for a PhD in Ecology where he worked on long-term development and structure of ponderosa pine populations. After completing his Ph.D. Mark held postdoctoral positions at SUNY ESF and Syracuse University, where amongst other things he developed an interest in how tree species are arrayed along elevational gradients. Work that began as a postdoc in the Great Smoky Mountains moved north to the central Appalachians and Shenandoah National Park, while he was at Shepherd University in West Virginia for two years; and then finally to the Adirondacks when he came to SUNY Plattsburgh in 2017. Dr. Lesser is currently studying the growth of trees in a planted jack pine forest at the Huyck Preserve as part of a larger study on tree species' range limits. Learn more about Dr. Lesser's research expertise and background here.

Interns will also interact with other visiting researchers performing their own research projects at the Huyck Preserve. Find the list of some of our recent researchers here. 

The range of intern projects is broad and focused on the natural systems of the Huyck Preserve. Under Dr. Lesser's mentorship, students are encouraged to explore their own interests within the scope of the program.

The upcoming program will be held from June 28 to August 8, 2026.