The Indiana Forest Alliance (IFA) seeks a Field Biology Intern to assist with Ecoblitz taxonomic surveys in the Hoosier National Forest during the 2022 season.
Field Biology Intern Job Description:
- Serve as guide and assistant to scientists, program staff and survey teams in the Hoosier National Forest. This will include setting traps, collecting specimens, handling live animals, carrying equipment, delivering lunches, maintaining field data sheets, preparing maps, and managing data on the computer.
- Gain experience in field biology and forest characterization during Ecoblitz surveys, especially small mammal and insect surveys. Mammals surveys will use pitfall traps, Sherman live traps, camera traps, mist-netting, and insect surveys involve emergence tents, bowl trapping and blue vane traps.
- Recruit volunteers by posting notices via listserve, newsletter, and other outlets; and
- Prepare written and oral reports. The intern will be expected to report results of internship experience and survey work in forums such as Indiana Academy of Science.
Qualifications: We seek highly motivated students with career goals in forest ecology, field biology, animal behavior or natural sciences. Applicants must be able to hike for long periods on rough terrain, and willing to spend long hot days in the woods. Some night surveys will be required too. Experience in the woods is critical; familiarity with Hoosier National Forest and Nebo Ridge Trail would be a great asset. Experience in identification of trees, insects, birds or mammals would be helpful. Skills in photography, videography, GoogleDrive, and ArcGIS mapping software would also be very useful.
Compensation & Timing: The internship will begin in May, 2022. Timing is flexible. The intern will work part-time or full time for 10 weeks, and possibly for up to one year, depending on the student’s schedule and the availability of grant funds. Compensation at $10/hour. Lodging, food and fuel costs for field work incurred as a result of the internship will be reimbursed.
Background:
- The Indiana Forest Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides accurate information about Indiana’s forests and involves Hoosiers in efforts to conserve and restore our forests.
- An Ecoblitz is a comprehensive inventory of flora and fauna on tracts of mature forest in southern Indiana. Teams of scientists, interns and volunteers conduct surveys to document small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, spiders, insects, aquatic macroinvertebrates, vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi and lichens that depend on these mature forest ecosystems.
- The Ecoblitz is documenting that these large tracts of mature forest provide some of the best habitat remaining for rare, threatened, and endangered species of native plants and animals in Indiana.
- The Ecoblitz is generating important information about the natural diversity of these older forests that will inform land managers about the biological value of keeping significant tracts of state forests and the Hoosier National Forest in an undisturbed condition.
Application Instructions: Send letter of inquiry describing skills and interests to rae@indianaforestalliance.org or 765-714-4829. For more info, visit www.indianaforestalliance.org or https://indianaforestalliance.org/work/science/ecoblitz/
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