Internships
Experience the life of a (field) ecologist
Are you a biology student who is interested in alpine ecology, vegetation science, functional traits and ecosystem ecology, and how climate change will affect alpine and/or high-latitude ecosystems? Then you are the right person for a research internship with us. Our internships will give you the chance to work with new fields and habitats, to learn important skills for a biologist such as data collection and analysis, critical thinking and problem solving, plus you will get a glimpse of the day-to-day work of ecologists and possibly establish contacts for future jobs abroad.
We typically accept interns during summer, when the field season is in full swing. Our research is conducted through highly collaborative projects, and as an intern, you will join one or more of our research teams to get a taste of life as a researcher in such project-based research groups. This provides you with ample opportunities to gain new experiences and skills, usually through a mix of field work, lab work, and data management and reporting.
We are aware that internships can have slightly different meanings and requirements between countries and universities. Please note that an internship in our group is not typically tailored to provide the intern with an individual research project.
In addition, we have some opportunities for data-based or lab-based projects that allow distance internship or opportunities to work with us outside the field season.
- Read about the experiences of our former interns here!
- Are you interested in an internship with us? We regularly announce internship opportunities here, on this page.
- We are also connected to IAESTE where we advertise internships every year, and the Erasmus Student Network.
Internships summer 2022
We enlist the help of several students this summer to assist with our partnered research projects. Our studies are mostly related to climate, global change, and their effects on mountain ecosystems. Our internships will give you the chance to work with new fields and habitats and learn important skills for a biologist, such as data collection and analysis, critical thinking and problem solving. You will thus get a glimpse of the day-to-day work of ecologists and possibly establish contacts for future jobs abroad.
As an intern, you can be involved in setting up field experiments, collecting data in the field on plants (botany, demography, monitoring field experiments), mosses and soil mesofauna; processing samples and collecting data (e.g. plant functional traits) in the laboratory; as well as improving your computer skills through data analysis, data processing, and/or developing online tools.
These internships last between 1 and maximum 3 months. Most internships will be available throughout the summer field season (June–August), but there might be some exceptions based on locations and project needs; see below.
The internship position will cover a fixed per diem rate of 10.800 NOK per month. Travel costs (if applicable, and economy class) will be covered by the project as well.
This is a collaboration between the University of Bergen in Norway and our international partners at The University Centre in Svalbard, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Møreforskning AS, University of Arizona, University of British Columbia, University of Pretoria, Chinese academy of sciences, and University of Minnesota.
Requirements:
You are a student in (or have studied) biology or a related subject (BSc or MSc). Students at the University of Bergen, The University Centre in Svalbard, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, University of Arizona, University of British Columbia, University of Pretoria, Chinese academy of sciences, and University of Minnesota will be prioritised in the selection process.
Disclaimer: Due to COVID-19, and ongoing unstable political conditions in Europe, field plans and travel opportunities may change. We may therefore have to prioritize candidates living in the country of the internship location for our field and lab-based internships. Data-based internships that can be done at a distance, are of course possible internationally.
To apply, please send you application to the contact person listed in the location specific texts below. Your application should include:
- Cover letter (±1 page) detailing your study background, relevant skills and competences, your interests, and when you would be available this summer,
- CV,
- The names and contact information for two professional and/or academic reference persons.
The application deadline is 29th of April 2022.
Locations
A summer internship is available to work within the Enquist Lab. Interns may work at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic, Colorado but depending on the development of COVID-19 measures, we also provide internship options involving the analysis of collected data as well.
We use physiological, experimental, theoretical, and observational methods to try to understand what regulates the diversity (phylogenetic and functional) and dynamics of subalpine communities and ecosystems at different scales. In particular, we are interested in understanding how diversity influences ecosystem functioning. We study the relative importance of abiotic (namely, climate) and biotic (species interactions, community assembly, and competition) factors in controlling plant community and ecosystem responses to climate change. At the broadest scales, we study the flux of carbon dioxide from subalpine meadows along an elevational gradient and its relationship to temperature, water availability, plant functional traits, and species identity. We also use remote sensing techniques as well as macro-ecological approaches to study broad-scale processes. At the smallest scale, we study the mechanisms of community assembly of subalpine meadows.
As an intern, you can be involved in setting up field experiments, collecting data in the field and processing sample and collecting data in the laboratory, as well as improving your computer skills through data analysis and processing. The summer interns will be contributing to ongoing research of PhD students and postdocs on several field and experimental projects associated with the above goals.
These internships last between 1 and maximum 3 months throughout the summer field season (late May- August). The internships position will cover a salary per diem and travel costs.
Requirements:
You need to be a bachelor or master student in biology or a related subject.
This is a collaboration between different international partners. Students at the University of Bergen, The University Center in Svalbard, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Institute for Mountain Hazards and Environment Chengdu and University of Minnesota will be prioritized in the selection process. Each partner is announcing their internships.
Due to COVID-19, conditions, field plans and travel opportunities may change. We, the Enquist-lab, therefore, prioritize USA-based candidates for our field and lab-based internships. Data-based internships that can be done at distance, are possible internationally.
To apply, please send your application to Prof. Brian Equist (benquist@email.arizona.edu) and Jocelyn Navarro (jocelynnavarro@email.arizona.edu).
Your application should include:
- Cover letter (± 1 page) detailing your study background, relevant skills and competences, your interests, and when you would be available this summer.
- CV
- The names and contact information for two professional and/or academic reference persons.
The application deadline is 15th April 2022.
The Between the Fjords lab studies alpine vegetation ecology and climate change. We offer several internship opportunities within our ongoing projects. In any of these projects, we provide options for distance internships (e.g. working with already collected data).
Alpine regions contribute important ecosystem functions and services, yet are at the same time particularly vulnerable to the ongoing climate change. We try to understand how the direct (e.g. warming) and indirect (e.g. changes in species interactions) effects of climate change will affect alpine systems. We study these subjects in a climatic grid in the fjord landscapes of western Norway, consisting of 12 sites along independent temperature and precipitation gradients. This way we can study vegetation dynamics in a warmer and wetter climate. We have several ongoing experiments (see this website under 'our research', in which you can join as an intern, gaining experience with climate-change experiments, fieldwork and plant ecology.
As a field assistant in these projects in western Norway, you would be a part of the ongoing projects in our study system. You will gain practical training in all the different parts of running a climate-change experiment from experimental set up, to fieldwork and lab work. This would include experimental treatments such as removal of functional groups, set-up of open top chambers, and transplants. You could also be involved in the data collection of plant communities, demographical studies of alpine species, registration of seedlings, above- and below-ground biomass, floral traits, root traits, carbon fluxes, soil properties, pH and soil moisture. With such big experiments, we also need some maintenance work, which could include fencing and work with climate loggers. Data processing in the lab, data documentation, and data analysis are also a big part of these projects and offer opportunities for distance-based internship options.
To apply, please send your application to: dagmar.egelkraut@uib.no.
Your application should include:
- Cover letter (± 1 page) detailing your study background, relevant skills and competences, your interests, and when you would be available this summer.
- CV
- The names and contact information for two professional and/or academic reference persons.
The application deadline is 29th April 2022.
We have an internship position available at IMHE (Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment) at the Academy of Science in Chengdu, China. The work will be conducted at the Alpine Ecosystem Observation and Experiment Station of Mt. Gongga. The project studies the effect of global change on alpine vegetation and ecosystem.
Description: We are looking for a MS internship student to be involved in field work including plant community composition survey, soil sampling and climate data downloading, processing sampling and collecting data in lab (for example root functional traits measurement).
Disclaimer: due to the ongoing COVID situation and travel restrictions to China, we will prioritize Chinese applicants for these positions.
Location: Alpine Ecosystem Observation and Experiment Station of Mt. Gongga, Moxi.
Internship duration: 1 - 2 months from July-August 2022.
Requirements: You need to study, or have studied, biology or a related subject at bachelor or masters level.
What we offer: Supervision, an opportunity for you to learn more about vegetation identification and analyses of soil samples, and travel support for fieldwork. The interns will receive a monthly stipend of 5400 Norwegian Kroner per month.
To apply, please send your application to: Professor Yan Yang yyang@imde.ac.cn
Your application should include:
- Cover letter (± 1 page) detailing your study background, relevant skills and competences, your interests, and when you would be available this summer.
- CV
- The names and contact information for two professional and/or academic reference persons.
The application deadline is 29th April 2022.
There are two internship opportunities at the University of Pretoria, working with the research group of Prof Peter le Roux:
- The effect of natural wind breaks affecting plant functional trait- and community composition (Data analysis and writing)
Prof. le Roux' team has recently been focusing on how wind conditions affect the vegetation of sub-Antarctic Marion Island, an isolated oceanic island within one of the windiest regions of the planet. Previous research has shown wind affects the distribution of individual plant species and community composition in this system, and a recent paper from a different research team demonstrates that alien plant species traits may be influenced by wind conditions in another sub-Antarctic system.We have collected a dataset that documents how natural windbreaks (e.g. large boulders and small ridges) affect plant functional traits and plant community composition. The intern would have the opportunity to spend eight weeks analysing the data and writing (or starting to write) a paper based on this data, working with myself and Dr Morgan Raath-Kruger (a post-doctoral fellow in my lab).This internship could be based at the University of Pretoria, but this project would also be well suited to a remote internship, with regular online meetings to discuss the intern’s progress and to provide guidance and assistance.
- Measuring plant fucntional traits in Drakensberg mountain field sites
Towards the end of 2022, the research team will be measuring plant functional traits at 2500 m a.s.l. in the Drakensberg (South Africa). This fieldwork, running from mid-November to mid-December this year (i.e. in the austral summer), will focus on understanding the environmental drivers of intra-specific trait variation at fine scales (c. 1 m2). There is an opportunity for an intern to join a diverse field team, and to gain experience in plant identification in this species-rich grassland and in measuring functional traits and environmental conditions (including fine-scale variation in soil temperature and moisture).During this eight week internship, you as an intern could (a) assist with planning the logistics of this field campaign [if the internship begins before the start of December], (b) assist with data processing and preliminary analyses [if the internship extends beyond mid-December], or even (c) assist with establishing an additional sampling site at 3’000 m a.s.l. in Lesotho [if the internship extends to January 2023].
To apply, send an email to Prof. Peter le Roux (peter.leroux@up.ac.za) and Dagmar Egelkraut (dagmar.egelkraut@uib.no).
Your application should include:
- Cover letter (± 1 page) detailing your study background, relevant skills and competences, your interests, and when you would be available this summer.
- CV
- The names and contact information for two professional and/or academic reference persons.
The application deadline is 29th April 2022.
The Michaletz lab is offering two internship positions at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. Interns will assist with several ongoing projects including performing lab and field work.
- Leaf spectroscopy and thermal tolerance
Recent advances in remote sensing are now making the quantification of plant traits more rapid and possible at large spatial scales. For example, field spectroradiometers that measure reflectance of electromagnetic radiation across a range of wavelengths, can now distinguish leaf chemistry, leaf traits, and plant species with a high degree of accuracy. This project will determine whether leaf spectroscopy can be used to measure key thermal and heat tolerance traits and investigate phylogenetical patterns in these traits in a common garden.As an intern, you will assist graduate students with ongoing research in the lab include collecting and analyzing leaf samples from the UBC Botanical Garden. In particular, you will gain experience using cutting edge ecophysiology and remote sensing techniques (e.g. field spectroscopy, imaging fluorometry). - New methodolgy for measuring photosynthetic temperature dependence.
Accurately forecasting the effects of climate change on vegetation and the biosphere requires a detailed mechanistic understanding of the temperature response of plant carbon metabolism. Traditionally, acquisition of temperature response data has been severely limited by the difficulty of acquiring such data. However, the Michaletz lab has developed a cutting-edge methodology for measuring photosynthetic temperature dependence, which drastically improves the speed and density of data collection. This project employs this new methodology to measure photosynthetic thermal traits across species, investigating the existence of trait-trait relationships (c.f. the leaf economic spectrum) and phylogenetic patterns.As an intern, you will assist graduate students with ongoing research in the lab and the field. You will conduct in situ measurements using portable gas exchange analyzers in the UBC Botanical Garden, and will employ standard measurement protocols for leaf morphological and structural traits.
Each of these internships will last 12 weeks, from early June until August 2022. To apply, please send your application to Dr. Sean Michaletz (sean.michaletz@ubc.ca), Nicole Bison (nicole.bison@ubc.ca), and Josef Garen (josef.garen@ubc.ca).
Your application should include:
- Cover letter (± 1 page) detailing your study background, relevant skills and competences, your interests, and when you would be available this summer.
- CV
- The names and contact information for two professional and/or academic reference persons.
The application deadline is 29th April 2022.