Start/End Dates: May 19, 2025 – August 9, 2025 (12 weeks)

Mosaics in Science seeks to engage ethnically and racially diverse young professionals in natural resource careers.

Requirements:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

No personal vehicle is required for this position.

Position Description:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PIRO) encompasses 14 inland lakes, 12 streams and rivers, and numerous wetlands. These aquatic resources are key focal points of the park, both for their aesthetic value to visitors and for monitoring by resource managers.

It has been over 40 years since any comprehensive study has assessed PIRO’s aquatic plant communities. The intern will focus on two primary responsibilities:

• Developing an early detection protocol for aquatic invasive plants.
• Using that protocol to sample aquatic plants in two high-priority inland lakes.

These lakes are particularly vulnerable to invasive species due to frequent recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and camping, as well as their proximity to other recreational waterbodies.

The intern will:

• Accompany aquatic biologists during lake and river sampling activities.
• Collect plant samples while learning to maintain and operate Manta water quality probes and HOBO conductivity loggers.
• Participate in macroinvertebrate sampling.
• Utilize taxonomic keys, microscopes, and online resources to identify plant samples to the species level when possible.
• Consult with regional experts as needed for accurate plant identification.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a protocol for detecting invasive aquatic species.
• Survey aquatic plants.
• Identify plants using a microscope and taxonomic keys.
• Summarize findings in a report.

Qualifications:

• Relevant fields of study: Natural resources, aquatic biology, and botany.
• Strong communication skills and self-motivation.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience with boats and/or paddle craft.
• Proficiency in using taxonomic keys.
• Ability to work in a lab setting.
• Capable of hiking up to five miles on uneven and steep terrain while carrying a backpack.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours toward Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below for more information.

Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority (PLC)
The Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority is a special hiring authority available to qualifying interns. The intern must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, inclusive, or a veteran up to age 35 and complete 640 hours of work on an appropriate conservation project to be eligible for this hiring authority. Upon successful completion of the PLC project(s), the intern is eligible for two years to be hired non-competitively into a federal seasonal, term, or permanent position. The applicant must apply to a PLC-eligible position advertised on USAJobs.gov and selected off a non-competitive certificate of eligibility. For more information, see DOI Personnel Bulletins 11-02 , 12-13, and 17-03.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.