Department: Natural and Cultural Resources
Division: Land and Water Stewardship
Job Duties: Conduct surveys for rare plant species within suitable habitats. The intern will help determine current population status and threats; may analyze trends throughout the species’ range.
Major Task to be Performed: Visit rare plant populations and natural communities within the US National Forests, perform status assessments, create accurate GIS maps, assimilate data, and write reports describing findings.
Final Product or Outcome Anticipated: Accurate and current records of rare species’ populations, including maps, number of individual plants observed, occupied area, habitat information, and protection status of rare species and associated habitats. The project will allow the intern to gain knowledge and experience working with government agencies and databases and with rare plant populations. The updated information gathered by the intern will help land managers make the best decisions for protection of North Carolina’s natural resources for the sake of biodiversity and of current and future generations.
Academic Majors Desired: Biology, plant science, natural resources, environmental sciences, ecology, forestry.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies
Coursework or experience in data collection, plant identification, ability to pay attention to detail, and ability to work outdoors in difficult terrain as an enthusiastic and contributing team member.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
An applicant must be a permanent North Carolina resident attending a college, university, law school, community college or technical institute in North Carolina or a North Carolina resident attending an equivalent institution out of state.
Applicants must carry a 2.5 or greater overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Applicant must be at least 18 years old by January 1, 2024.
Applicants must be continuing their education in the fall following their participation in the program.
To qualify for a law internship, applicants must have completed at least one year of law school before the beginning of the internship, unless other majors are listed.
Students having previously held paid internships with this program are not eligible to apply.
Applicants must be willing and able to work full-time for the entire 10-week internship. Applicants must be able to provide legal proof of identity and work authorization within three working days of employment.
