Applying for Internships
There are several ways to become an intern in field ecology and conservation at BNL and the Upton Ecological Research Reserve. If you are interested in applying, please read all of the information below and use the following steps to apply. Typically, intern applications need to be submitted in January or February. Applications are usually reviewed and selected in February and March. To view the work and research interests of some of our past and present interns click here.
- The first thing that prospective interns need to do is to contact one of the program managers, and let them know that you are planning to apply. In doing so, you must send us a resume with your experience, and you must be looking for an internship specific to field ecology and conservation biology. Thus, if you are a student interested in any other discipline (e.g., computer science, physics, chemistry, engineering, etc.) this is NOT the right place for you. Go back to the main BNL website and search for appropriate faculty and programs to fit your interests. For those who are looking for field-oriented ecology and conservation internships, click here for our contact information. Contacting the program managers is VERY important for several reasons. First, we can tell you if spots are open or not. Second, we need to know you are applying to look for your application. If you fail to inform us that you have filled out an application, we will not know to look at it, and it will not get reviewed. Thus, it is very important to contact us so that you do not waste your time.
- If internship positions are available, the next step typically requires the student to complete an online application through the BNL website (see below). This is a lengthy endeavor that requires a lot of time. The student is also required to provide several professional recommendations. Thus, we suggest you only apply if you are seriously interested.
- Once a student has completed the first two steps, they then need to contact the program manager(s) again and inform us that your online application is now complete. DO NOT contact us until you are sure that your online application is complete. The website will tell you if it is complete or not. We cannot view incomplete applications, so contacting us before an application is complete wastes our time and yours. If you are having major technical problems with your application, please contact BNL's Office of Educational Programs for further assistance.
- There are several different internship programs that our
students typically participate in. These programs generally
pay very well, provide free onsite housing, and reimburse the
students for their travel expenses. These programs are quite
competitive, so it is important to get your application in as soon
as possible, regardless of the program deadline. Click here for a
link to the full list of BNL's internships, however we suggest
that you review our condensed list of specific internship programs
we recommend below. Please note that most of the BNL
internship programs are only designed for undergraduates and
students in their first semester after graduating from college,
however some exceptions may be available. Please review
below if you plan to apply:
1) General 4-year students should apply to SULI (Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship) by clicking here.
2) Students from 2-year community colleges should apply to CCI (Community College Institute) by clicking here.
3) Students interested in becoming science teachers should apply to PST (Pre-Service Teachers) by clicking here.
4) For students interested in learning about additional internship programs, please contact the Office of Educational Programs (OEP) at BNL. For prospective interns who have been out of college for more than a semester or cannot find what they are looking for through the BNL programs, please feel free to contact the program managers directly to see if any other opportunities are available.
See left menu bar for detailed descriptions of staff and interns.