Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Orchid Outreach Internship

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) is offering a paid internship opportunity on a project focused on evaluating native orchids as indicators of forest health. This project is the product of a partnership between the Changing Landscapes Initiative (CLI), Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL), and the North American Orchid Conservation Center.  The goal of this research project is to record and assess the status of native orchid populations, evaluate their use as indicators of forest health, and to engage local citizens and students in conservation science.

This advertisement is targeting an enthusiastic intern for the outreach component of this project.

This intern will work alongside project scientists and operate as part of a team of two interns, with one position more focused on field studies and the other on outreach and communications for the same project. Successful applicants will gain experience in both disciplines.

The orchid outreach intern will gain experience in science communications and outreach, field-based documentation, public engagement, and project management. This intern will work along-side the field intern to conduct field surveys and then use knowledge gained from this experience to inform their written, oral, and visual outreach and communications approaches and materials. SCBI will also provide a digital camera for the intern to record in, pictures and video, the field research efforts.
Together, these interns will play a significant role in advancing our knowledge of native orchid populations, and the effects of land use on them, as well as educating the local community on topics related to orchid ecology and conservation.

Please note this application is for the outreach internship. If you are also interested in the field survey internship, we encourage you to apply for both. If you do not have the field survey internship announcement, please email the contact address below for more information.

Learning Objectives:
Through this internship, interns will assist with the following as they gain important experience with conservation science and public outreach:

• Develop the scientific knowledge essential for great science communications by participating in plant ecology field surveys.
• Expand media documentation experience by collaborating with project leads on video and photo records of orchid field research.
• Refine written and graphic production skills by creating both digital and printed outreach materials, including reports for participating landowners.
• Improve communication skills by publishing content to the web and other outreach platforms, including managing social media content and engagement.
• Gain technical writing skills by revising and updating written project protocols for training and sharing purposes.
• Increase experience in event coordination by assisting with outreach and training events for project partners and citizen scientists.
• Develop mentoring skills by training VWL citizen scientists in survey protocols.
• Gain project management skills in coordinating field work with Smithsonian staff across multiple units, graduate students, other interns, and citizen scientists.

Who Should Apply:
Interns with the following will benefit the most from this opportunity:

• Tolerance for a range of field conditions, including occasionally difficult terrain and wet environments
• Strong interest in science and conservation, and some experience in ecology and conservation biology
• Ability to legibly and accurately record and transcribe field data
• Excellent writing skills
• Experience using social media and other online outreach platforms
• Excellent communication skills
• Familiarity with capturing digital pictures and video, formal documentation experience considered a plus
• A good eye for design, graphic design experience considered a plus
• Public relations experience or abilities a plus
• Interest and experience working with people
• Strong organizational skills
• Professionalism
• Keen attention to detail when proofreading, copyediting and fact-checking
• Willingness to take initiative and motivation to seek new learning opportunities
• Ability to engage within a team environment with staff and other interns and volunteers
• Willingness to take instruction and critical feedback
• Experience in event planning and facilitation a plus
• Additional experience with field survey skills a plus
• Experience participating in structured biological field surveys
• Familiarity with plant identification techniques, Virginia plant species knowledge considered a plus

Stipend:
The stipend is $1200 per month

Location:
The internship location will be at the SCBI campus in Front Royal, Virginia.

Housing:
No-cost or subsidized housing may be provided at SCBI depending on availability.  

Benefits For Interns:
Through SCBI interns are offered an opportunity to develop professional skills while participating in current research on native biodiversity in Virginia. This includes on-the-job learning opportunities in the areas of field techniques in ecological monitoring, data analysis, project management, and communications. The SCBI campus community includes several programs of the Smithsonian as well as the Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), creating opportunities for intern staff to connect and network in a professional science and conservation-focused setting. Interns attend and participate in frequent seminars, training workshops, and classes at SCBI and SMSC, where they are encouraged to exchange ideas with researchers from the many programs hosted at the campus.

Term of Appointment:
This is a six-month internship with a desired start date of April 13th 2020, and is a full-time appointment (40 hours per week).

Application Deadline:
March 1, 2020 11pm EST

How to Apply:
Send a resume and cover letter in a single pdf file to fergusc@si.edu using the subject line “OUTREACH INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 2020”. Title the pdf file “LastName_Outreach2020”. Applications that do not follow this format may not be considered.

Your cover letter should explain your interest in this program, express how you could benefit from the training, how it could contribute to your future career goals, and why you would make a strong candidate

If you are interested in the field survey position as well and would like to see that position announcement, send an email with the subject line “FIELD ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST” to fergusc@si.edu.