The Plant Ecology lab is seeking independent and mature undergraduate or newly graduated students with a background or interest in biology, ecology, environmental science, forestry, or a related field for paid field research internships ($12/hr). Successful candidates will work  at the  B4WARMED (Boreal Forest Warming at an Ecotone in Danger) research experiment that warms plants and soil with summer rainfall removal in the field to examine tree seedlings response to warming and water limitation with respect to physiology, phenology, growth, and survival. For more information about the lab and the project visit our webpages.

Openings start in the middle/end July and go until the end of November. Start dates are flexible and up for negotiation. On average an internship lasts about 4+ months. Typical workdays are eight hours Monday through Friday; however, some tasks require early morning, evening, or weekend work (+40h/week). A valid driver’s license is required. Successful hires will work through variety of tasks with primary focus on tree biometric, ecophysiological and ecological measurements and data collections in the field with occasional site maintenance, laboratory work and treatment implementation. The intern will work in an individual and team setting. Consequently, a maturity to work autonomously often with long hours is required.

Desired qualifications: 1) Eagerness to work hard in an outdoor setting, 2) Capacity to collect data following established protocols, 3) Familiarity with plant and tree species of northern Minnesota, 4) Willingness to work well and play well with others and live in remote area with others and/or alone, 5) Curiosity and passion for the natural world, 6) Flexibility to adapt to a frequently changing schedule, 7) Demonstrated ability to work under changing weather conditions with large swarms of insects.

Field work will be split between research sites at the Cloquet Forestry Center in Cloquet, MN and the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center near Ely, MN. Both research sites are in beautiful forested settings and provide access to the natural areas of northern Minnesota including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. An individual’s home base will be at either of these locations, though travel between sites will be required depending on project needs. University vehicles are used for such travel. On-site fully furnished housing and kitchens are available.