Summer Research Internship – MD
The Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary has one position open for an undergraduate intern to help with an on-going study of mud turtle (Kinosternum subrubrum) ecology and habitat use. Mud turtles are small, omnivorous turtles that divide their time between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The objectives of our study are to determine how adult male and female turtles differ in their use of habitat space. We track turtles using radio telemetry and GPS devices in freshwater tidal wetlands on the Patuxent River estuary in central Maryland.
The Sanctuary is a 1,500 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 a member of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.To learn more about the Sanctuary visit www.jugbay.org.
Applicants should enjoy fieldwork and should be able to tolerate long hours in the field under hot, wet and muddy conditions. It helps to have a high degree of self-motivation. In addition to helping with turtle studies, the intern also helps with bird banding, reptile surveys, a BioBlitz, fish seining, and water quality studies. The intern will carry out an independent research project on some aspect of mud turtle ecology. At the end of the season in August, the intern gives an oral presentation and turns in a written report on their independent project. Interns work under the supervision of Sanctuary Director Chris Swarth. The Friends of Jug Bay, Anne Arundel County, and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve provide the funding for this project.
Qualifications: Applicant must be a life science major at the junior or senior level (recent graduates are okay). Previous ecological field research is a plus.
Work schedule: May 1 to August 15. An earlier state date will also work. Interns work 5 days/week. Occasional weekend work and evening work is required.
Housing: There is no 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: $3,600.
Application Procedure: Please send a cover letter with statement of goals and explaining why you want the position; resume detailing education and work experience; transcripts (need not be “official”); and the names and email addresses of 3 references. Send application materials to: Chris Swarth, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton.
Rd., Lothian, MD 20711, or by email to cswarth@jugbay.org.
Deadlines: Application materials must be received by March 20.