Grand Teton National Park, WY

Position Title: Vegetation Science and Resource Management Internship

Organization: Division of Science and Resource Management at Grand Teton National Park

Location: Grand Teton National Park, WY

Position Overview:  This position offers experience with a diversity of science and natural resource tasks. For five weeks, the intern will work under the direction of a University of Wyoming graduate-level student researcher studying the effects of different habitat restoration techniques on sagebrush steppe community success. For seven weeks, the intern will integrate with Grand Teton National Park staff to assist with a range of native plant material, invasive plant management, and habitat restoration objectives.

Duties: 

University of Wyoming Sagebrush Data Collection:

• Project goal: to quantify the effects of seed mixes, tilling treatments, and soil texture on shrub establishment and native species diversity in sagebrush steppe restoration.
• Collect ocular estimates, shrub count, and shrub height data from recently restored sagebrush steppe plant communities, identifying plants to species using taxonomic keys.
• Collect soil samples for texture analysis.
• Conduct photo-monitoring of restoration plots.
• Manage data collected, compiling into master datasets ready for analysis.
• Prepare preliminary summaries of findings.

Grand Teton National Park Vegetation Crew Potential Opportunities:

• Collect native seed for future restoration work.
• Assist in the native plant nursery (water and care for plants, re-pot plants, weed).
• Map and monitor vegetation.
• Manual invasive plant treatment.
• Whitebark pine direct seeding and data collection at backcountry sites.

Qualifications: The position requires skills in plant identification and ecology and an interest in land management or ecological restoration. Requires the ability to focus on details and accurately record and manage data. Requires the ability to work well in small crews and independently. Requires undergraduate coursework in biology, with preferable coursework in ecology or botany. The work environment is outside, often working for consecutive days in direct heat and sun, with potential for thunderstorms, biting insects, and interactions with bears and other large mammals.

All applicants must be U.S. citizens, a student in the spring or summer 2024 semesters and be continuing in an academic program during fall 2024. Applicants should be able to work independently once provided direction and training. A current driver’s license and good driving record are also necessary. Housing for these (8- to 10-week) positions will be provided at the University of Wyoming-National Park Service Research Center at the historic AMK Ranch on the shore of Jackson Lake in view of the beautiful Teton Range.

Start/End Dates: Flexible, must be between late May-early September, 2024

Salary/Pay: $15 per hour

Application Deadline: April 5, 2024

How to Apply: Interested students should submit a resume, names and contact information for three references, their expected graduation date, and a short statement of interest and skills related to the internship(s) with Grand Teton National Park. For more information or to apply, email Laura Jones, Branch Chief-Vegetation,  laura_jones@nps.gov or Anne Beeman, Graduate Student University of Wyoming, abeeman@uwyo.edu.