Start/End Dates: June 2, 2025 – August 24, 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.

A personal vehicle is RECOMMENDED for this position.

Position Description:
Lava Beds National Monument offers a unique volcanic and cave environment for biological and physical science research. An intern with the Integrated Resources Division will focus on three primary areas:

• Scientific Communication and Outreach:
• Develop and share materials to educate visitors and the local community about bats and caves.
• Complete an independent project analyzing bat occurrence data and creating visitor engagement opportunities.
• Deliver public presentations, outreach events, and "Bat Chat" programs using real-time echolocation software during the park's 100th-anniversary celebration.
• Bat Monitoring Program:
• Implement an ongoing bat monitoring program, including deploying acoustic detectors, conducting in-cave surveys, population monitoring, and collecting climate data.
• Contribute to the North American Bat Monitoring Protocol (NABat).
• Resource Management Support:
• Assist in wildlife, plant phenology, and cave monitoring programs.
• Participate in cross-training activities such as cave restoration, native seed collection, and archaeological surveys.
• Work independently on data analysis, reporting, and training to understand how science informs park management decisions.

This internship combines office and fieldwork, providing opportunities for critical thinking in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver at least ten public "Bat Chat" programs to park visitors.
• Prepare a 3–5-page written summary report on the 2025 bat monitoring activities, including:
• At least three figures.
• At least one table.
• At least five citations.
• Recommendations for future management guidelines.
• Facilitate public engagement with the outdoors and protected lands to facilitate environmental stewardship among current and future generations.

Qualifications:

• Must have or be pursuing a B.S. in physical or biological sciences.
• Professional communication skills.
• Experience working with the public or delivering interpretive programs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in office and field settings.
• Basic map reading and GPS orientation skills.
• Comfortable hiking cross-country in rugged environments.
• Proficiency with MS Excel and MS Office.
• Willingness to work evenings, nights, and weekends in both developed and undeveloped areas.
• Comfortable in underground settings, including tight cave spaces.
• Knowledge of bat biology or experience with bat surveys (preferred but not required).

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.