Internship, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, will involve the collection, preparation, and exploration of data used in a research project that will simulate land use and private/public ownership patterns as they impact the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Blue Ridge Region of Virginia. This internship will, in turn, provide opportunities to learn the inner workings of more complex data analysis through the lens of a diverse, interdisciplinary project.
Work Location: The internship will be based at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, VA. The selected intern will work in close collaboration with Iara Lacher and William McShea, SCBI. Job Duties: The selected intern will research data sources, download, clean, organize, and prepare spatial data. The intern will also perform basic descriptive analyses as required. Depending on skill level, there is opportunity to contribute through more advanced statistical or spatial analyses. Required Qualifications: Interest in biogeography, landscape ecology/ change, and a desire to learn. Must have previous experience with ArcGIS software. Understanding of basic statistics and ability to perform simple exploratory analyses. Experience with spatial data – Ability to access and if necessary, modify spatial data to suit the needs of the project (e.g. map projections). Knowledge of the characteristics of data that are appropriate for different statistical or spatial methods of analysis (e.g. continuous vs. categorical or raster vs vector). Preferred Experience: Degree in geography, ecology, environmental science, or related field. Evidence of related coursework or projects. Introductory level understanding of the R programming platform. Proven ability to synthesize and summarize unique data resulting from basic analysis using several different spatial data sets - either in ArcMap or R. Internship Period: This is a three month internship, beginning August 15, ending November 14. Start date is somewhat flexible. Stipend: $800 per month plus housing. To apply: Send a cover letter of how this internship would further your career/education goals. In addition, please provide a resume, transcripts (unofficial OK), and the names and contact info for three references to Iara Lacher, [email protected]. Please use the phrase "Smithsonian Internship" in the subject line. Review of application will start June 10.
