Opportunites
Each year, researchers at Penn State's Vegetation Dynamics Lab take several undergraduate interns in the field to assist with research programs in California. The summer internship lasts approximately 10 weeks and provides a great opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience in the environmental sciences. In recent years, interns have worked in Yosemite National Park, Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona, the Klamath Mountains, the southern Cascades and in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe.
Benefits
Interns will learn diverse field research techniques including vegetation sampling and mapping, tree coring, navigation using global positioning systems (GPS), fire history interpretation. Additionally, students may earn up to 9 credits with the National Forest Service or the National Park Service. Students will think critically about the landscape and develop ways to address geographical and ecological problems. These are skills that will gain the attention of future employers.