Dr. Ned Rubert-Nason is seeking 2-3 incoming first-year undergraduate student interns (e.g., current high school seniors) for paid internships during the summers of 2025 and 2026 in Fort Kent, Maine. Interns will be paid $14.80/h for ~30h/week and will have opportunities for affordable housing and transportation options for internship tasks, but must provide their own transportation to Fort Kent. The opportunities will include a blend of laboratory and field work. Interns will learn to co-create knowledge with and for Indigenous partners, collect ecological assessments, measure photosynthesis with cutting-edge equipment, and perform chemical analysis of plant and soil specimens in a laboratory. No previous research or lab experience necessary. The schedule is flexible, and interns are encouraged to participate individually and collectively recreational opportunities in northern Maine, such as fishing, canoeing/kayaking, camping, biking, and ATVing. Interns will also be invited to participate in a critical learning theory study. If interested, please send a memorandum of inquiry to Dr. Kennedy “Ned” Rubert-Nason (kennedy.rubertnason@maine.edu).
Student and Youth Opportunities
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is seeking a post-doctoral researcher specializing in the application, integration and/or incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems to coastal and marine science, governance, and research paradigms. Potential research areas are broad, with several options listed on the application site. The position is connected to the Ladd Thorne Indigenous Knowledge Program and will be placed with the science department or policy center depending on their research project. 2-year position. Contact Natalie Nevarez (natalie.nevarez@whoi.edu) or Rob Evans (revans@whoi.edu) with questions.
This program is a partnership between the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Stewards Individual Placements, and multiple federal, state and tribal entities who host BIA WaterCorps Members. The WaterCorps program's mission is to provide high quality technical skills and internship opportunities to Tribal youth in the water resources field. Most position are 6 months in duration.
Several opportunities are available in the USET region, including:
- Cherokee National Forest North Zone Fisheries Assistant (priority application deadline: February 10)
- Cherokee National Forest South Zone Fisheries Assistant (priority application deadline: February 10)
- Appalachian Mountain Club Water Steward (Wabanaki Nation citizens encouraged to apply)
The Climate Equity and Resilience Summer Institute is an intensive summer program designed for current and recent graduate students (master’s, doctoral, and post-docs), studying in any major with a demonstrated interest in climate change, climate resilience, and issues of equity and social justice. This year, the program will be open to University of Washington (UW) and other local Seattle/Washington grad students, up to 10 grad students from outside of Washington, and recent graduates. We encourage students who have completed at least one year of their graduate program (Master’s or Doctoral) OR those within five years of finishing their terminal degree to apply!
Applications will be accepted through March 17 with priority given to applications received by February 28. For participants who require travel to the Seattle area, the organizers cover all room and board during the program and provide a $450 travel stipend to offset travel costs.
EPA is seeking a candidate with a recent Master’s Degree (completion before the appointment begins or in the last 5 years) for a research internship in climate sciences and community resilience education and outreach through the ORISE program. The individual would work with the EPA Office of Research and Development’s INtegrated Climate Sciences Division to build the capacity of EPA program and regional offices to respond to climate change through adaptation actions and improved resilience. The position will last 1 year and report to offices in either Washington, D.C., or Research Triangle Park, NC. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may close prior to Feb. 28.
Teams of 3-5 Native high school students (especially current HS juniors) are invited to apply to participate in the 2025 Native Youth Community Adaptation Leadership Congress, or NYCALC, which will be held from June 21-26. Join students from across the country to discuss community adaptation and related environmental issues impacting Native peoples. The mission of the Native Youth Community Adaptation Leadership Congress (NYCALC) is to develop future conservation leaders with the skills, knowledge, and tools to address environmental change and conservation challenges to better serve their schools and home communities. Travel, lodging, and meals will be provided for accepted teams and one mentor from their home community. Student participants must be citizens of federally recognized Tribal Nations.
The Forest Stewards Guild (the Guild) is hiring two forest monitoring technicians to support monitoring and tracking of forest vegetation, habitat, and health through long-term monitoring plots on National Wildlife Refuges in northern New England. This program is made possible through the Northern Forest National Wildlife Refuge Stewardship Partnership, a collaboration between the Guild and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This is a seasonal, full-time position starting on May 27 through mid-August 2025 (exact end date is somewhat flexible depending on individual candidate availability), based in northeastern New Hampshire. On-site shared housing will be available for participating crew members at no additional cost. The position offers a unique opportunity to work with the Guild’s broad array of project partners, contribute to the conservation of critical forest systems, and ensure the success of a monitoring program to sustain future forest resilience. The forest monitoring technicians will support the work of the Guild and USFWS in the Northeast by installing permanent, long-term monitoring plots and implementing a monitoring protocol. These plots will provide important data on forest lands to track tree species composition, coarse woody material, and regeneration over time. The Guild will oversee employee training and provide supervision in coordinating the field season, facilitating crew needs and conducting data quality checks. See the job posting for more information on the position and how to apply. Questions about this position can be directed to Michelle Giles at mgiles@forestguild.org.
The Aquaculture Experiential Opportunities for Undergraduate Students (AquEOUS) summer research fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity for undergraduates to explore sustainable aquaculture, aquatic food systems, and marine science while building the professional skills needed for successful careers in aquaculture, fisheries, marine extension, and natural resource management. A defining feature of this program is the integration of Two-Eyed Seeing, a framework that combines ecological knowledge from Indigenous science with STEM concepts from Western science to tackle real-world challenges in aquaculture. This 10-week program emphasizes hands-on research, offering students the opportunity to design projects with mentorship from interdisciplinary faculty, industry leaders, and Indigenous knowledge keepers from the Wabanaki Center and Wabanaki Youth in Science.
Join the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) for informational webinars about their National Summer Youth Practicum. The National Summer Youth Practicum (SYP) is designed to provide Native American and Alaskan Native high school students (ages 14 – 17 years old) an opportunity to gain hands-on and in-lecture experience in the interdisciplinary components of natural resource management and Indigenous knowledge.
The webinars will be held March 3 and April 3 at 5 PM Central/6 PM Eastern time (more information and register).
The Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science & Forestry is recruiting students for graduate study in diverse environmental sciences from ecology, sustainability, conservation biology to restoration and environmental engineering. As a member of the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership, the program provides funding for full tuition and stipends for Native American students pursuing MS and PhD degrees. Applications are open so please join us in this exciting initiative. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and interested students must also apply to (or be enrolled in) a graduate program at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). Contact cnpeinfo@esf.edu for more information.
The center for Tribal Research and Education in Ecosystem Sciences—TREES—provides internship opportunities and support to tribal students and professionals looking to advance their careers in Natural Resource fields. Our programs place college students in science-based internships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Forestry and Fire Depts., and other qualified partners. We also provide opportunities for continuing education to technicians and other working professionals.
On average, we offer 7-8 positions every year across both our programs in Forestry and Wildland Fire management. Forestry interns must enroll in a 4-year Forestry major to qualify. Wildland Fire interns can be enrolled in either a 2-year or a 4-year program in any Natural Resource major.
TREES works in cooperation with the Department of Forestry at Salish Kootenai College and many other academic institutions across the U.S.
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TREES also provides coordination and management of Pathways internships and professional development opportunities for Native American students for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in both forestry and wildland fire participation. This program not only offers students paid employment, while they continue their education, but also gives them valuable and unique work experiences. Placements are rotational summer assignments within different programs and work environments, where students can train and job shadow with industry professionals. This partnership allows Native American students to get real world training, federal experience, as well as $5,000 in annual tuition assistance.
