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JRBP 'O'O Stewardship Internship

Apply to be Stewardship Interns at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma)!

Overview

The Stewardship Intern Program is an opportunity for Stanford University undergraduate (and co-term) students to work at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve 'Ootchamin 'Ooyakma (JR'O'O) to further develop existing skills in ecology, natural history and field work, while learning about stewardship and research under the mentorship of a diverse team of scientists. This program is supported by The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Student sampling grasslands under a valley oak

The two interns will join the team and work with Jasper Ridge staff, faculty and docents to support expanding stewardship efforts at JR'O'O for land management, protecting biodiversity, and developing resiliency for climate change. The role will include a mix of field and office work. Field work responsibilities will include working outdoors in a team to collect data related to wildfire resiliency and watershed restoration. Data measurements to be collected: diversity and abundance of vegetation in multiple native ecosystems (oak woodland, chaparral, and grasslands), characterizing vegetative fuels, soil and vegetation moisture, camera traps, and animal burrows. Office responsibilities will include mentor- guided literature review and synthesis, data entry, mapping, brief presentations, and organization of field equipment.

The ideal candidates will have experience staying organized and be comfortable doing a mix of field and office work (sometimes under hot summer conditions or starting early to avoid extreme heat). Outcomes of this internship will directly support land management and stewardship efforts for JR'O'O, and interns may have the opportunity to continue involvement in long-term research. The successful interns will learn to work with increased independence through the summer and will complete the internship with experience working at a biological preserve, and gain an understanding of how research, education and stewardship are linked together. Interns will be encouraged to complete and present an independent project related to research, education, or stewardship, which they will develop under mentorship of Jasper Ridge staff, faculty, and docents. Overall, interns will be involved in climate change projects and gain an up-to-date working knowledge of regional stewardship issues.

Meet the JRBP ('O'O) Stewardship Interns!

2024:Nick Rodriguez and John Lowndes.

2023: Kiara Fufunan and Mary Ghebreselassie

Dates

The internships program term is from Monday, June 24 to Thursday, August 29, 2024. Interns are expected to report to Jasper Ridge Monday-Thursday (Fridays off) for 8-hour days. Hours may vary to reduce field work in extreme heat, but will not extend beyond 7am to 5pm (exact schedule will be discussed with selected interns). 

Eligibility

- The Jasper Ridge internship program is internally funded by Stanford and is intended for Stanford undergraduate students only.
- Co-term MS or MA students may be supported only if their undergraduate degree will not be conferred before the conclusion of the project.
- This internship is in-person and requires a full ten-week commitment.
- Housing is not provided, so eligible students must have secure housing on campus or be able to commute to Jasper Ridge.
- Interns may use personal vehicles to travel to Jasper Ridge (approximately 4 miles from campus) or may use a Jasper Ridge vehicle to travel between campus and the preserve (valid driver license and approval by Stanford University is required).
- Previous field experience is not required but interns should feel comfortable working outside with potential exposure to heat, poison oak, and ticks. If requested, interns can be provided field gear such as boots, coveralls, reusables water bottles, etc.
 

Physical requirements and working conditions include:

- Mobility on rough trails and rough terrain with no trails
- Carry/lift/push/pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds
- Frequent standing, walking, sitting, grasping lightly/fine manipulation, perform desk-based computer tasks
- Ability to use voice to present information and communicate with others.
 

Stipend Amount

Stipends are awarded at $7500 for a full summer commitment, paid the first week of the summer.

Application process and Deadlines

The application materials will be accepted until Friday, February 23, 5pm. Top candidates will be invited for a 45 min zoom interview February 28, 29, or March 1. Final candidates will be informed of selection by Friday, March 8. Please save the two documents as a single PDF before sending 

Application materials must include the two completed sections below 1) Personal Information and 2) Short essay and saved as a single PDF. 

1) Personal information (1 page max)
1. First name, Last Name
2. Email address
3. Student ID number
4. Phone number
5. Is your permanent home address in California? Yes or No
6. Do you have a driver license: Yes or No
 - 6a. Is it a California driver license: Yes or No
7. Current overall GPA
8. Current Class level (co-terms are eligible)
9. Major (if undeclared, state intended major)
10. List relevant classes which you have taken or intend to take during your career at Stanford.
11. Have you secured housing for the summer or have plans to secure housing? Please explain in 1-2 sentences.
12. Do you have a reliable means of transportation to Jasper Ridge for the duration of the internship? If not, will you complete a background check and training to use a Jasper Ridge vehicle for travel between campus and the preserve (valid driver license required)? Please explain in 1-2 sentences.
13. Please provide the information of one reference (letters of recommendation are not accepted). Include Name, Email, Phone number, and 1 sentence about your relationship with your reference (how do you know them and for how long?).'
 
2) Short essay (1 page max)
1. Interest: Explain why you want to participate in the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve Stewardship Intern Program, and what you hope to learn from the experience. Please include your short- and long-term goals.
2. Experience: Describe a previous work/research/extracurricular experience that used skills which would be relevant to being successful in this internship program.
 
Deadline and submission
 
Please email your completed application materials as a single PDF to Dr. Jorge Ramos (jramosh "at" stanford.edu) and Dr. Sheena Sidhu (cssidhu "at" stanford.edu) before Friday, February 23, 5pm, with email subject “2024 Stewardship Intern Program”.