The Conservation Intern will gain valuable hands-on experience and professional skills in ecology and conservation. Working at the 13,000-acre Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in southwestern Florida, the intern will assist with data management and analysis of long-term community science data at Audubon’s Western Everglades Research Center. The position will be primarily office-based, although the intern will have regular opportunities to assist with community science bird surveys and staff-led ecological monitoring efforts. Other duties may include preparing results of data analyses for volunteers and the public, as well as, other tasks that contribute to Sanctuary operations.
This paid full-time four-month internship will run from June 2019 through September 2019 and will not exceed 40 hours per week, with occasional weekend work as needed.
On-site housing is provided due to the relatively remote location of the Sanctuary. Housing is a furnished one-level dormitory-style building with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two joined kitchens, a living room and a screened porch. Wireless internet, water, electricity and local phone service are provided. Rooms may be shared with other interns (gender inclusive) and the dormitory may be shared with visiting researchers, Americorps team members, or other special guests.
National Audubon Society is dedicated to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color and women.
Under the guidance of Audubon research staff, the intern will develop skills in a variety of ecological research activities, including:
- Data entry and data management associated with two continuous 20+ year volunteer-led surveys of birds and other wildlife;
- Participating in volunteer-led science surveys of birds and other wildlife to understand and document protocols, help assess effectiveness, and suggest refinement;
- Helping summarize and delineate trends in data and making findings understandable to volunteers and the public;
- Communicating science to technical and lay audiences, which may include assistance with preparation of technical publications, writing newsletter articles, website maintenance, using social media and/or giving on-site public presentations; and
- Periodically assisting with staff-led ecological monitoring projects, including hydrology, aquatic fauna, wading birds, herpetofauna, and mammals.
- Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail in data entry and data management;
- Demonstrate a proficiency with MS Excel (accurate and efficient data entry, comfort with formulas and multi-sheet documents, pivot tables, importing and exporting, etc.). Experience working with large, complex data sets and/or experience with MS Access is preferred;
- Demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment, adapt to changing work conditions, and maintain a positive attitude;
- Excel in interpersonal communication, working both independently and as part of a team;
- Be comfortable living and working in remote field locations with often adverse environmental conditions, including heat, humidity, biting insects, and tropical thunderstorms. An aptitude for field work, which may require wading into water with potentially dangerous wildlife (e.g., alligators, venomous snakes), handling aquatic fauna (fish, crustaceans and/or other macroinvertebrates), navigating in the field using GPS, and safely operating off-road vehicles (4WD truck, ORV) is preferred;
- Possess a valid driver’s license; and
- Commit to the full duration of the internship (June – September 2019).