FIND YOUR PATH

The College Internship in Suburban Ecology Program (CISE) offers summer or semester internships to college students and recent graduates who are interested in learning about the unique challenges facing urban/suburban natural resource managers. Through a variety of research and land management projects, interns are trained in the skills needed to pursue a successful career in the environmental sciences.

Program Description

Length of Program: 10 weeks (Jun 9 – Aug 15, 2025)

The Mianus River Gorge offers summer internships for undergraduate students interested in the conservation of natural areas in urbanizing landscapes.

Each intern will work alongside Gorge staff and graduate students on a variety of projects including wildlife monitoring, non-native species management, and GIS applications.

Interns will be responsible for mentoring and supervising high school students in our hands-on research program (Wildlife Technician Program). We work with our interns to provide a learning experience that fits their interests and long-term educational goals.Typically our interns major in biology, ecology, or environmental sciences, etc. but this internship is open to anyone interested in conservation, natural resource management, ecological research, and field biology. The main qualities we are looking for are a passion for the natural world plus a strong work ethic.

Projects for 2025 include:

• Monitoring coyotes, black bears, deer, and other wildlife in Westchester, NYC, and Fairfield using camera traps and other non-invasive methods.
• Vegetation sampling, monitoring, and restoration.
• Invasive species control, habitat restoration, and other land management work.
• Data entry/management, GIS work, and analysis on several long-term projects.

Candidate Qualifications

All undergraduate students are eligible to apply. We do not require applicants to major in a particular discipline; however, exposure to or interest in the fields of ecology, environmental science, or geography is encouraged. We do accept interns that have graduated the academic year just prior to the internship (“rising seniors”).

Interns must be self-motivated and work well in group settings.

Applicants should be prepared for strenuous work outdoors in the summer (e.g., field research and land management projects) as well as perform indoor work when necessary (e.g., data entry and GIS projects).

Special Considerations

Housing is not available this year; preference must be given to local students or those able to commute. Please indicate whether you can commute to our location each day. Public transportation in our area is also limited, so it is preferable that interns have a car. Interns also may be asked to use their own vehicle for some work (with mileage/gas reimbursement).

Compensation

Interns will receive a stipend of $250/week.

Application Procedure

Please click here for our 2025 Summer Internship Application. Candidates must complete the application and submit along with a cover letter, one letter of recommendation, and a CV/resume. Applicants may be contacted for a phone/zoom interview.

Application Deadline: April 11, 2025

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Meet Our Interns

Click here for a full list of previous interns.