Field Station Internships

Internship Opportunities

For this internship, the student will work part-time to develop a research project on wild bee nesting ecology and part-time on general field station duties (TBD by Field Station staff). For the research, the student will construct, deploy, and monitor wooden nest boxes for twig-nesting solitary bees (see photo) and “bee buckets” to attract soil-nesting solitary bees.

The student will also perform vegetation and non-lethal bee surveys for twig nesting bees, create a plant and pollen reference collection that could be used to identify pollen from bee nests and create educational materials. If bee nest boxes are successful, then the student could also dissect the nests in the fall and analyze data. The student will receive training on bee and plant identification, pollinator research methods, literature review, and data management. 

Students will be working with endangered White-winged wood ducks with a focus on husbandry and enrichment, breeding behavior, pair bonding, and brood rearing when applicable. Additionally, students will be trained to provide care and enrichment to all display and education animals, along with native, injured, and orphaned wildlife that enter into the rehab center on the JHBBFS property. 

Two students will work two days/ week at Lake Metroparks Wildlife Center to further their skills in the care of wildlife.  All students will conduct an independent research project and may be required to prepare a presentation for the fall OWRA conference in Columbus. Students will also produce various food products using routine farming practices. Food products will be harvested daily for animal use, and frozen for future use. Upkeep of various gardens on Field Station grounds will be the responsibility of all interns. Students will also maintain and/or build new habitats for education and rehab animals.

Students will work full-time performing various aspects of Field Station stewardship. This work includes ecological management practices related to invasive plant eradication, forest management, the development of native grassland and meadow sites, seeding, and growing native plants for inclusion in landscape projects.

Students will also participate in trail maintenance and light construction of bridges, boardwalks, and trail facilities.

In addition, they will assist with routine Field Station maintenance including mowing, landscaping, grounds work, pond management, and display and cage design. Students will be instructed in the operation of tractors and implements, power tools and chain saws and will be trained to safely work with selected herbicides.

Students will plan and teach nature, art, and science camps for children ages 3-14. They will also assist with school field trips and community programs such as the children’s activity area at the Garrettsville Farm Market.

In addition, students will help with pollinator garden planting and maintenance. Working in a high tunnel hoop house and in outdoor beds, students will work in food production to support the Field Station’s animal care program.

Through this internship, students will contribute to key aspects of the ongoing grassland enhancement program. This field stewardship assistant and data management position has two main components.

First, as a field assistant, students will engage in hands-on, field-based activities focused on improving the grassland areas and will learn the sequential events that take place in this project during the summer. This work includes activities such as planting, watering, monitoring the health of planted vegetation; observing the relative success of prior years’ plantings; and clearing the site from native and nonnative invasive species. For this work, interns will be instructed on properly and safely operating tractors and implements, power tools and chain saws, and working with selected herbicides. As part of this field work, students will learn principles of ecological management practices pertaining to grassland improvement and become familiar with the species being planted and nurtured.

Second, as a data manager, students will process past and current field data and observations to help build the database for this program. This work includes activities such as organizing various types of information for the program (such as day-to-day note-taking, field notes, quantitative data), converting such information to digital format, and data entry.

For this internship, students will work on the initial stages of a new research program in aquatic chemical ecology at the James H. Barrow field station. Student interns will create and optimize methods for field observation, field collection, identification, lab husbandry, and lab behavioral assays for crayfish, copepods, and (if time and resources allow) for other local crustaceans of student interest. Since this project is in its initial stages, interns will be working on generating protocols rather than working from established protocols.

Students will spend 10 weeks, beginning in early June (though the timeline is negotiable), working on the development and deployment of Weather and Trace Gas Monitoring Stations across various locations at the Field Station and larger community. Trace gases in the atmosphere play a pivotal role in local, regional, and global air quality. The concentrations of these trace gases in the atmosphere hinges on localized weather patterns and overall climate change. Students will be tasked with developing and deploying Weather and Trace Gas monitoring instruments to gain insight into the short and long term changes occurring in Hiram.

Initially, students will design and build these monitoring instruments in the lab. This will involve working with hardware such as micro-controllers, gas and GPS sensors, and solar power. Students will also work with software by programming the monitoring stations in C/C++. Once the monitoring instruments are ready, students will deploy them at the Field Station and other areas if possible. Data will be collected and analyzed daily to continue a long-term database for research and educational purposes.

Through this special opportunity to partner with Lights Out Cleveland (LOC), students will contribute to research addressing key aspects of avian migration ecology and conservation including landscape-level distribution of resources and threats, species-specific vulnerabilities to habitat disruptions, and the role of migratory birds in forest health.

Students will engage in three areas of research: (1) building a research collection of avian specimens; (2) data management and analysis; and (3) field-based surveys to monitor forest bird communities and forest health (e.g., beech leaf disease). Students will learn to: prepare museum-grade specimens that provide researchers with invaluable material for studying many dimensions of anthropogenic change, evolution, and avian biology; manage data and analyze patterns and relationships in existing data (e.g., locally collected mark-recapture data; LOC data; eBird; etc.); identify forest birds and plants; and use standardized monitoring protocols in the field. Interns will work in both lab and forest environments.

Interns

Brian Friedt

Brian Friedt ’24

Biology Major/Chemistry Minor

Role at Field Station: Pollinator Research and Crustacean Ecology Research

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
Getting my foot in the door into research was the biggest reason for deciding to work at the Field Station. My dream career is in the field of marine research, and crustacean ecology is the closest thing I can get to marine ecology in Ohio. I decided to work with pollinators as well to further study more areas of ecology.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I like collecting and identifying crayfish and bees the most.

Kayla Campbell

Kayla Campbell ’25

Biology/Environmental Studies Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I’ve always had a passion for animals so when I learned I could work with them directly, I jumped on the opportunity.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
Feeding the frogs and the baby birds are always fun.

Emma Bago

Emma Bago ’25

Biology/Environmental Studies Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I love that I get to work with animals in a beautiful environment. It makes me feel great knowing that I have a positive impact on the environment and our animals.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I love to take care of opossums! Opossums are my favorite animal and my job gives me the opportunity to work with them every day!

BRYCE PRUSZYNSKI

Bryce Pruszynski ’25

Biology/Environmental Studies Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
It feels very full filling. I enjoy having a voice and being able to make a difference.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I love caring for baby animals and helping our animals get better.

Logan Griffin

Logan Griffin ’25

Biology/Environmental Studies Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
The opportunity to pursue independent research.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I enjoy working with other students and pursuing opportunities for research.

Jacob Fergus

Jacob Fergis ’25

Biology Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care/Land Steward

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I like working outside and doing research. I like the natural area and the focus on wildlife and nature.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I like hiking and exploring the woods, especially around Silver Creek.

Allison Hock

Allison Hock ’24

Biology/Pre-Vet Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care Lead

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I love working with all the different animals and helping to rehabilitate them!

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
Working with all the different animals we have.

Kaitlynn Jones

Kaitlynn Jones ’25

Biology Major

Role at Field Station: Animal Care

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
Working with animals and caring for them.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
Caring for the baby opossums we get in.

Aidan Stephens

Aidan Stephens ’24

Environmental Studies/Entrepreneurship

Role at Field Station: Land Steward

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I love nature and learning about it. At some point after college, I want to use the experience I’ve gained working as a steward at the Field Station to manipulate and maintain my own property in the most native species-centric and beautiful way as I can.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
Star gaze at Hil’s Vista in the autumn. The tall grasses are at their prettiest and the skies are dark and clear.

William Luketich

William Luketich ’24

Environmental Studies

Role at Field Station: Land Steward

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
It’s a lot of fun working outside and having fun with my coworkers. It’s also a lot of work, but not very demanding. I was interested in this internship because I always loved the Field Station and wanted to help keep its beauty. 

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I like to drive tractors and do woodwork.

Kobe Hunter

Kobe Hunter ’25

Environmental Studies/Entrepreneurship

Role at Field Station: Land Steward

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I like working at the Field Station because I get to spend my whole day outside. I was interested in joining because of the huge property that we have. This opportunity has been the perfect introduction to working with professionals in my field of interest.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I like to hike the trails and clean them up for our guests.

Ryan Streator

Ryan Streator ’24

Political Science/Sociology

Role at Field Station: Land Steward

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I get to work and learn about nature while being around a great group of people.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I love maintaining and building the hiking trails and helping with construction.

Wyatt Lupton

Wyatt Lupton ’24

AYA Chemistry Physics Teacher Licensure Major

Role at Field Station: Education Community Outreach Intern/Student Manager

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I enjoy broadening my knowledge of topics, as I am a chemistry and physics education major and I utilize biology and ecology here. On top of that, I enjoy the lesson planning and teaching of camps.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I love teaching the summer camps!

Kearan Barnett

Kearan Barnett ’24

Psychology Major

Role at Field Station: Crustacean Ecology Intern

Why do you like working at the Field Station?
I enjoy being able to do research at the Field Station. The crayfish are really fun and super interesting! It’s also awesome to be outside a lot.

What do you like to do at the Field Station the most?
I like to hang out with the people here while learning about life, the environment, and the animals we get to work with. Having a job where you can go on a hike as your break is really awesome!