Research and Monitoring Intern

Anticipated Employment is June-September 2026
Location: Olympic Region - Forks, WA. (with housing available)

Salary: 
$18.00-$20.00 - Undergraduate Junior or lower
$19.00-$21.00 - Undergraduate Senior
$20.00-$23.00 - Graduate Student

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after April 15. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Habitat Conservation Plan group in the Forest Resources Division. These internships will be involved in research and monitoring to help meet DNR’s commitments under the Endangered Species Act and will also work on the co-led DNR/University of Washington T3 Watershed Experiment on DNR’s Olympic Experimental State Forest.

Responsibilities:

• Works as part of a team to conduct physical and biological surveys of streams, riparian areas, uplands within the OESF. 
• Implements field protocols for estimating juvenile salmonid abundance. Identifies salmonid species and weighs and measures juvenile salmonids. This data collection includes sampling of stream salmon population research and monitoring. 
• Collects field and instream data on stream morphology, stream water temperature, riparian vegetation and microclimate. 
• Collects forest measurement field data such as tree diameter, species identification, tree density, and understory vegetation data. 
• Implement field monitoring protocols that must be adhered to, to ensure scientific consistency and confidence in measurements, results and conclusions. This includes both uplands an instream research installation sites. Conducts work under close supervision by agency scientists. 
• Operates and maintains field instruments and equipment such as stream flow gauges, stream temperature sensors, audio recorders, wildlife cameras, field data tablets and backpack electro-fishers. 
• Drives a vehicle on unimproved roads and navigates unmarked road systems, and hikes rugged terrain, and copes with variety of weather conditions

Required Qualifications: 

• A currently enrolled  Undergraduate or Graduate level student majoring in Forest Management, Forest Science, Silviculture, Fisheries, Environmental Studies, Ecology or related field.
• At least 18 years old at the time of hire.

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to work alone or as part of a team in undeveloped, remote, forested or back-county landscapes and terrain in all weather conditions while often carrying a heavy backpack and gear.
• Most work will be conducted in the OESF. On occasion, this position may travel to DNR headquarters in Olympia, WA.
• A current valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience. Additionally, DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked, or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices). This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of environmental sampling and data gathering.
• Experience using Excel and GPS.