Skip to main content
Ecological Benefits Summer Internship
U.S. National Park Service

The U. S. National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region (NCR), Office of Natural Resources and Science (NRS) is seeking a graduate-level or senior undergraduate student with a background in Forestry, Arboriculture, Ecology, Environmental Modelling, or related fields. The intern will use a modeling program, such as iTree, to evaluate the benefits of trees on National Park land in the National Capital Region. The intern will have the opportunity to analyze the relative ecological benefits conferred by trees using 10 years of data from 425 vegetation plots across the region. The highly urbanized and rapidly growing region around NCR parks makes them increasingly important as a critical refugia for biodiversity as species expand their ranges from the south in response to climate change. The start date for this 8-10 week summer internship is flexible between May 30 and June 19, 2017. The end date will be 8-10 weeks from the selected start date. The position will be a GMU paid internship.

The intern will work closely with the NPS Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance’s (UERLA) Science Education Coordinator to quantify the ecological contribution of NPS tress to National Capital Region parks. The intern will have the opportunity to present to NPS staff in the National Capital Region. Hours are expected to be full time - 40 hours/week. Duty station is flexible but visits to the Natural Resources and Science Office in Washington, DC will be necessary. Additionally, the intern should have access to a computer with experience in analysis, modeling, and be able to quantify ecological benefits. Students must be enrolled in the spring of 2017, be enrolled in a degree program, and anticipate being enrolled in the fall semester.

UERLA is a National Park Service Research Learning Center that serves 16 parks in the National Capital Region. We translate complex research results into readily understandable information, providing research, education, and technical assistance for parks. UERLA also provides science communication outreach to park managers and external audiences via websites, workshops, and publications. UERLA maintains research and education partnerships with universities, not-for- profit, education, and other federal agencies. The education activities of UERLA include providing training opportunities for NPS staff and partners, participating in science education programs, and building external partnerships that support science education in parks. Within the Natural Resources and Science Office, other science programs, such as botany, wildlife, geology, air resources, and inventory and monitoring, aquatic ecology work with the Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance on interdisciplinary projects.

If interested, provide a current resume, transcripts, and letter of interest electronically to Ann_Gallagher@nps.gov, Science Education Coordinator, Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance, National Capital Region, National Park Service, 4598 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Washington, DC 20007, Cell: (240) 461-6171 and rcjones@gmu.edu, R. Christian Jones, Professor and Director, Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr. MSN 5F2, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The deadline for applying is May 22, 2017. We expect to interview candidates from May 24 to May 26, 2017.