Trout Unlimited is advertising a paid Aquatic Sciences Internship to be stationed on the Huron-Manistee National Forest, Mio Ranger District, Mio, Michigan. This is a three-quarter to full-time (32 to 40 hours a week) field-based internship that will run from the beginning of June into early September 2025 (with potential for some start and end date flexibility, particularly for college students). The pay is $15 per hour. Shared government housing may be available to the intern, at low (or no) cost. 

The intern will spend nearly all their working hours outdoors. The intern will have the opportunity to perform a broad range of resource monitoring and field data collection methods including water temperature datalogger downloads, eDNA sample collection, vernal pool surveys, stream stage and discharge measurements, stream habitat assessments, and fish surveys (electrofishing). The intern will help organize and implement public volunteer events including Kids Fishing Day and a volunteer restoration project. The intern will assist with restoration and maintenance work, including streamside tree plantings and wader cleaning stations. Occasionally, the intern will assist other program areas including wildlife (Kirtland Warbler surveys) and recreation (site maintenance). 

Prospective applicants should be pursuing (or have completed) a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, must have a driver’s license and a safe driving record, and must be capable of performing moderately demanding physical work outside, in, and around water, and sometimes in inclement weather conditions. The most qualified applicants will demonstrate their interest in coldwater ecosystems and public resource management, the ability to learn new skills quickly, and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. Previous experiences with scientific data collection, public resource management, coordinating volunteers, and operating handheld power tools are desirable but not required. Training will be provided with an emphasis on ensuring safe operations and data quality.