Read about past intern’s experiences and advice they have for future interns here, here and here!
Internship for course credit is available at the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Wilmington office for summer 2025.
Read more here.
Applications are due February 21, 2025.
The Friends of the Reserve (FOR) have two undergraduate summer internship opportunities in 2025:
The N.C. Coastal Reserve Undergraduate Internship was created by the Reserve and the Friends of the Reserve to provide opportunities to promising and talented students from traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations to pursue study and careers in coastal and estuarine sciences. The internship funds students to work with the Reserve to gain professional experience working in coastal and estuarine science, education, and management to support their academic and career pursuits in these fields. The N.C. Coastal Reserve Undergraduate Internship consists of a travel/housing stipend of $1500 and a paid summer internship consisting of 30 hours/week for 10- 12 weeks at $15.00/hour. Start and end dates are to be determined, but the internship typically starts in May and ends in July.
Northern Sites Internship
The northern reserve sites (Currituck Banks, Kitty Hawk Woods, and Buxton Woods Reserves) intern will be based out of the Northern Sites Office at the National Park Service headquarters in Manteo. Work will focus on a range of stewardship related projects including trail maintenance, species and habitat management activities, and outreach. The successful applicant will be required to work in the field in a variety of weather conditions. Knowledge, skills, and abilities: background in natural sciences, interest in the management of natural areas, ability to use hand tools, and ability to communicate effectively. Knowledge of coastal plant species, ability to collect and organize data, and experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is preferred.
Rachel Carson Reserve Internship
The Rachel Carson Reserve intern will be based out of the Beaufort office. The intern will conduct natural resources monitoring and management activities to include wild horse monitoring, protected species monitoring and surveys, site maintenance, and other activities. Knowledge, skills, and abilities: ability to work independently or as part of a team; ability to thrive in uncomfortable outdoor conditions such as walking through muddy habitats and exposure to hot and humid weather conditions; comfortable with being on an open boat; and basic mapping and GIS skills.
Eligibility: To be considered for the N.C. Coastal Reserve Undergraduate Internship, students must:
1) be currently enrolled in a two- or four-year science program at a N.C. college or university;
2) be of freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior standing; and
3) show academic promise as evidenced by academic references.
Recipients will include but not be limited to students aligned with one or more of the following categories:
● Racial, cultural, or ethnic minorities,
● Diverse gender and sexual orientations,
● Physical or developmental disabilities or differences,
● First generation college student, and/or
● Non-traditional student*
*College students may be classified as "nontraditional" because of their age or employment status, or because they have one or more dependents, are independent for financial aid, are enrolled part time or don't have a traditional high school diploma, among other reasons, according to the National Center for Education Statistics
Applications are due January 21, 2025 (11:59 pm). Apply here.
One State of NC Internship opportunity is available at the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Beaufort office for summer 2025.
Coastal Reserve Research Internship
Job Duties: The intern will work with N.C. Coastal Reserve research staff to conduct estuarine field research in the field and lab with the opportunity to work some with the stewardship staff to help manage the natural resources of an island nature reserve
Major Task to be Performed: The intern will participate in several types of scientific field sampling, including marsh vegetation surveys, shoreline mapping using drone technology, and deploying and retrieving water quality instruments. The intern will also likely conduct bird and wild horse surveys, maintain public access points, and provide assistance with maintaining reserve boats.
Final Product or Outcome Anticipated: The intern will: a) enhance research and stewardship efforts and b) support a goal of the N.C. Coastal Reserve to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. The intern will learn: a) new research pathways and natural resource survey techniques and understand how results can inform coastal management decisions; b) how to use critical thinking skills to address natural resource management challenges.
Academic Majors Desired: Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources Management
Applications are due January 6, 2025 (5:00 pm). See more details and apply here.
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