Paid Interns Needed for Maryland Herp Atlas We have openings for two undergraduate university interns to help with Maryland’s Herp Atlas. The atlas is a 5-year project to map the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in every county in Maryland. We have completed the first year of the project. Fieldwork involves searching for and mapping the distribution of herps in Anne Arundel County; entering data into spreadsheets and making maps with GIS; preparing reports and presenting results to herpetologists and others. Interns are based out of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and they work under the supervision of Sanctuary Director Chris Swarth.
In addition to helping with the herp atlas project, interns will also help with bird banding, fish seining, and with stream studies. Each intern carries out an independent research project on some aspect of their fieldwork. At the end of the season in August, interns give an oral presentation and prepare a written report on their independent project. The Sanctuary is a 1,600 acre ecological field station and environmental education center in southern Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The Sanctuary is operated by the county parks department and is part of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. To learn more about the Sanctuary, visit *www.jugbay.org*. Qualifications Applicants must be majoring in the life sciences at the junior or senior university level (recent graduates are okay). Applicants should enjoy fieldwork and should be able to tolerate long hours in the field under hot, wet, or muddy conditions. Previous ecological field research is a plus. Familiarity with the identification of herps both visually and in the hand is highly desirable. It helps to have a high degree of self-motivation and a sense of humor. Must have a valid driver’s license and a car. Work schedule May 10 to August 15. An earlier state date may be okay. Interns work 5 days/week. Occasional weekend and evening work is required. Housing We do not have on-site housing. Interns will need to find their own housing. The Sanctuary is 18 miles south of Annapolis and 15 miles east of Washington, DC. Stipend Award The Friends of Jug Bay, a non-profit citizen's organization, provides the Jug Bay Fellowship award (stipend) of $3,600 to cover the expenses of each intern. Additional funding that supports this program comes from the Anne Arundel County government and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Application Procedure and Deadline Send a cover letter with statement of goals and explain why you want the position; a resume summarizing your educational and work experience; transcripts (need not be official); and the names and email addresses of 3 references. Applications must be received by March 30. Send application materials to *[email protected]* or by mail to: Chris Swarth Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1361 Wrighton Rd. Lothian, MD 20711 410-741-9330 * [email protected]*
