Multiple Internships and Undergraduate Research Opportunities, Summer 2022

The Nature Conservancy in MN seeks two Manoomin/Psiŋ (Wild Rice) Interns to participate in a collaborative climate adaptation project designed to provide meaningful experience relating to native/indigenous cultural ecology, environmental communication, wild rice lake ecology and monitoring, and climate adaptation in MN and WI. Manoomin and Psin are the Ojibwe and Dakota names for wild rice, respectively. The internships will support an interdisciplinary team of traditional ecological knowledge-keepers, natural resource managers, and social and environmental scientists seeking to understand: “What can Manoomin teach us about restoring ecological and social relationships and adapting to climate change?” The interns will learn about wild rice through research, relationships and direct field experience. Interns will also help raise awareness about wild rice ecological & cultural significance and foster respect, responsibility, & adaptation. 

This is designed as a 10–12 week full-time summer position (35 hours per week). The position timing is somewhat flexible, with a preferred start date of in early July in order to enable overlap with wild rice harvesting and processing season in August and early September. However, we will work with the selected applicants to determine a workable schedule, not to exceed 12 weeks/420 hours, including some flexibility on start /end dates. This position will require both office work and field work. There are two possible base office locations for this position, located in downtown Minneapolis, MN or in Cushing, MN. Due to COVID-19, office work may need to be conducted remotely; however, basic computing and other equipment needed to conduct job activities will be provided. This may allow greater flexibility for home base locations for interns. TNC-sponsored housing may be an option for interns near the Cushing, MN office. Field work will be conducted at a variety of locations throughout north central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, therefore willingness and ability to travel will be necessary at certain times. This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Interns will be provided with travel accommodations for field visits. Typical work schedule is Monday–Friday 9:00 am–5:00 pm with very occasional weekend events.    

The compensation for this position is $15 per hour, in addition to benefits.  Applicants will need to use the Conservancy’s online system to apply.  For more information about the position or to apply, please go to careers.nature.org and search system job ID # 51043 (or search on job title).  Applications will close March 25, 2022.