Title: Grassland Monitoring Intern - 2 Positions Available Agency: The Nature Conservancy Location: North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota Work Period: June 6 - August 12, 2016 Pay: $12-$14/hr; Housing is provided Job ID on Nature.org: 43879 Closing Date: February 7, 2016
The Intern will be part of an exciting long-term adaptive management project to track the condition of our native prairies in response to grazing and fire. The intern will fill a critical role in helping the chapter to close the adaptive management loop. The intern will be responsible for conducting rapid belt transect surveys in coordination with TNC staff. Over the course of the internship, the intern, in conjunction with a partner, will complete vegetation surveys within three key conservation areas: the Sheyenne Delta (ND), the Prairie Coteau (SD and MN) and the tallgrass aspen parkland (MN). Data entry will also be part of the job. The intern will be responsible for managing data safely, including regular downloads to a hard drive, creating backups, etc. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance botanical skills and experience first-hand the unique beauty and biodiversity of the mixed grass prairie. Interns will spend the majority of their time outdoors, experiencing the beauty of some of the highest quality prairies across the Dakotas. Terrain can be rugged with numerous ephemeral and semi-permanent wetlands scattered throughout. Interns should be prepared for hiking across this terrain, and dealing with often hot and humid conditions. Strong field botanical skills and experience conducting field sampling are preferred, but training will be provided for all aspects of the position. Experience working in grasslands or other terrestrial ecosystems of the upper Midwest or Great Plains is a plus. The individual must be willing and able to travel to different properties within the work area. The most important qualification is enthusiasm for working outdoors and the desire to learn. Two interns will work closely together over the course of the summer to complete the sampling. After a training period, they will often be in the field during the day working independently, with staff around in the mornings and afternoons for questions and interaction. Therefore, they should be able to work and communicate well with others as well as independently. For questions about the position, contact Marissa Ahlering, [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>, but applications must be submitted online. Cover letter, resume and contact information for 3 references required and should be uploaded as ONE document. Apply online here: https://careers.nature.org/psp/tnccareers/APPLICANT/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?SiteId=1 Marissa Ahlering, Ph.D. Prairie Ecologist The Nature Conservancy, MN ND SD Brookings, SD 57006 Office Phone: 605-692-8626
