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IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
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The Nature Conservancy is the world’s leading conservation organization, working in all 50 states and more than 33 countries. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. |
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POSITION SUMMARY |
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The Penobscot River Restoration science interns will work around the Penobscot River, based out of the University of Maine in Orono, Maine, accessing study sites throughout the basin with scientists from the University, the Penobscot Nation, and other Penobscot River Restoration Trust measures programs.
The interns will report to The Nature Conservancy's conservation planner in Maine, and on a day-to-day basis, to restoration scientists working on and around the Penobscot River. This monitoring project supports the restoration efforts of The Nature Conservancy and partners of the Penobscot River Restoration Project. The Project (PRRP) involves opening long-blocked passage on mainstem and tributary streams for migratory fish and other aquatic wildlife. Currently the largest feature of this restoration is the purchase of three and removal of two large mainstem Penobscot River dams that will provide access to 100% of the historic tidal habitat for five migratory fish species. In combination with the construction of an upstream dam by-pass and a new state-of-the-art fish list for the dam in between, this will also provide access to over 1,000 miles of habitat for seven other fish species including the endangered Atlantic salmon (more information on Penobscot River Restoration online).
Tasks include working with researchers conducting field research, analyzing, and reporting on restoration sites; collecting pre-restoration baseline data, including assessment of stream channels, condition of culverts at stream crossings, and helping researchers collect baseline data on the presence and movements of migratory fish including two species of sturgeon, Atlantic salmon, alewife, shad, sea lamprey, American eel and as many as six other migratory fish and their environment. This will necessitate analyzing natural resources data - using ArcMap, Excel, and potentially Access. Knowledge of riverine and riparian ecosystems, plants, birds and other animals of northern New England will be helpful. |
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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS |
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•Ability to work productively and at times alone in a diversity of settings with field conditions (see below).
•Ability to learn new cutting edge scientific techniques, skills and adhere rigorously to scientific methods.
•Ability to creatively and adaptively problem solve with researchers sometimes under challenging field conditions.
•Ability to work with diverse groups of researchers collaboratively to develop scientifically valid data.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
•Some local fish identification skills and/or ability to learn more.
•Reliable transportation and ability to navigate your way to sample sites throughout the Penobscot River watershed and to offices in Old Town, Orono, Bangor, Augusta, and Brunswick to meet with scientists and project managers.
•Basic biology and ecology – or knowledge acquired by time internship commences.
•Data management (Word, Excel and/or Access documents) and either GIS knowledge or ability to quickly learn new computer software.
•Ability to researching scientific methods, species life history information, and report out. |
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BASIC QUALIFICATIONS |
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•Significant body of course work toward a degree or a College degree in natural resources with field experience are premium. College study that demonstrates sufficient aptitude for field and technical work of internship combined with convincing desire to explore opportunity of work (career) in conservation.
•Knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and/or familiarity with natural and human communities along the Penobscot River, helpful.
•Ability to work independently as well as reaching out to assist with multiple researchers on multiple research projects
•Existing knowledge of GPS and GIS or experiences demonstrating capacity to learn.
•Experience with IBM-compatible computers: Microsoft Office (Excel, Access and Word).
•Ability to read and navigate using topographic, road and other resource maps, aerial photographs, experience with maps and a compass and/or GPS to navigate in the field, and drive to specific field sampling sites. (Willingness to seek and complete basic training in these skills prior to commencement of internship)
•Ability to set priorities, organize time efficiently and balance several tasks at once.
•Willingness to work occasional long, strenuous days in the field under a diversity of conditions.
•Willingness to travel throughout the Penobscot watershed Maine, spending time in multiple locations and have reliable transportation and valid driver's license.
•Ability to launch and operate a motor boat, canoe or kayak is helpful. |
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ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION |
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WORKING CONDITIONS:
•Estimating a mix of 25% office and 75% field work.
•Office work location: Penobscot Indian Nation (PIN) Department of Natural Resources at Indian Island or at the University of Maine in Orono within 15 minutes of PIN’s offices.
•Field conditions will vary around the watershed, always around streams and mainstem rivers, on river banks and on boats on the Penobscot River and its tributaries.
•This job will take place in Maine in summer, where staying comfortable in any field condition is necessary, including days that could be warm, muggy, cool, rainy, with the potential challenges of biting insects, non-cooperative equipment, vehicles, logistics, or fish.
•Moving equipment and sampling gear (e.g. carrying a car battery or radio tag receivers or a daypack with personal gear ¼ mile to a remote sample site, helping to unload boats, moving buckets or tanks of water with fish, handling fish and potentially other wildlife). |
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SALARY INFORMATION |
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desired start date flexible - mid-May to early June 2010; duration 10 weeks; 40 hour work week; $11.00 per hour |
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