The Agroecology program at Archbold Biological Station’s Buck Island Ranch (BIR) (www.archbold-station.org) is seeking two interns (6 – 9  months) to assist with grassland and wetland ecology, biogeochemistry, and range management research on our 10,500-acre cattle ranch in south-central Florida (Buck Island Ranch). The research intern will be supervised by Dr. Betsey (Elizabeth) Boughton in a diverse and fun lab. The lab is supported by the data management and GIS department located at the Archbold Biological Station. We interact closely with the cattle operations staff at BIR.

Internship highlights

Buck Island Ranch is both an operational cattle ranch and an experimental field station, with a heavy focus on applied ecology. We are thinking both locally and globally. Archbold Biological Station and its partner site University of Florida Range Cattle Research Center (UF RCREC) are part of the Long-term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR https://ltar.ars.usda.gov ), a network of 18 agroecosystems across the United States that seek to address the grand challenge of maintaining multiple ecosystem services in food production systems.

Interns will:

• Get the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, including greenhouse gas monitoring and the sustainability of sugarcane production for bioenergy, precipitation manipulation to simulate the effects of climate change, and nutrient uptake by different grasses.
• Experience life on a cattle ranch in a collaborative environment.
• Assist with our different research programs (see our two documentaries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6_WhY3aZB0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGV_G6dnYHg).
• Work 20 hours per week assisting with field and lab projects, typically but not always Monday – Friday.
• Dedicate remaining time to designing and implementing an independent research project that fits within our research program, with a report and a presentation at the end of internship.

Who should apply?

• Ideal for recent graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science or any related fields.
• Students interested in applied science who contemplate non-academic positions such as Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in applied ecology, wetland ecology, rangeland ecology

Requirements and internship responsibilities

• Highly motivated and enthusiastic about living and working in a rural field-station setting. A valid driver’s license and own transportation for personal activities is required.
• Respectful of others, as successful interns will share lodging with other interns.
• Detail-oriented with respect to following sampling protocols and managing data.
• Must have authorization for US employment.

Duties will include a combination of the following:

• Assist with plant plant biomass collection and plant community surveys (in wetlands and/or grasslands) and
• Soil sampling, water sampling, and groundwater well monitoring.
• Lab work including soil sieving and biomass grinding
• Data entry.

Benefit for the successful intern

• Interns will be trained in every aspect of scientific research, from project choice, experimental design, and statistical analysis to oral and written presentations. This will prepare interns for graduate school and/or higher-level report writing required by government agencies. Some interns published their projects in peer-reviewed journals.
• Opportunity to get more familiar with technology and techniques (g., eddy covariance, gas flux sampling, water sampling).
• Experience in applied ecology.
• Contribute to long-term ecological research and large science networks
• Networking - Being a part of a field station allows you to network with on-site scientists and visiting scientists

Compensation

• Interns receive lodging at Buck Island Ranch (11 miles away from ABS).
• Weekly stipend of $245.

How to apply?

• To apply please email the following as a single PDF to Karen Rice-David (kricedavid@archbold-station.org).
  • A recent CV.
  • A cover letter stating research interests in the internship and a description of previous research experience.
  • The contact information for three references.
• Deadline to apply is Dec 1, 2023, for a desired starting date in January/Feb 2024.

Questions about the program

Please refer to Archbold Biological Station website for more details on our program: https://www.archbold-station.org.

If you have additional questions regarding the program, please contact Karen Rice-David (kricedavid@archbold-station.org).

Archbold Expeditions is committed to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into our organization. Archbold does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ability, ethnicity, political ideology, religion, national origin, and all other classifications protected by federal, state, or local law.

Archbold Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups

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