The Yale School the Environment invites undergraduatestudents to spend the summer working on field ecologyresearch through the Ingalls Field Ecology Program. Internsare matched with graduate student researchers on a project in field ecology or ecosystem science, and spend the summerliving, working, and exploring the outdoors at the Yale-Myers Forest Camp in northeastern Connecticut.
Project 1: Tree methane fluxes. Methane is a greenhouse gas responsiblefor approximately one third of anthropogenic global warming to date. Despite this, we know remarkably little about the cycle of methane in forest ecosystems. In the last few years, living trees have been discovered to be potentially unaccounted sources of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to measure the methane released from trees and soils and to incorporate trees into the forest methane budget.
Project 2: Soil carbon storage. Soil organic carbon is the largest terrestrial ecosystem carbon pool, storing morethan the atmosphere and vegetation combined. However, studies often use older sampling methods and reporthigh local-scale variability within and among forest sites. As a result, meta-analyses have drawn opposing conclusions on the impact of forest management activities on forest soil organic carbon levels. We will use updated sampling methods to improve our understanding of how to reliably measure the effects of forest management on SOC stocks.
Program Details: The 2023 Ingalls Program will run from June 5 to July 28. Interns will live within the vibrant summer population of the Yale-Myers Forest camp — a small, close-knit community of researchers and graduate student apprentices in forest management. Bunkhouse-style housing is available, and food (including all hot dinners provided by a camp cook) is available during the work week. There are ample opportunities for recreation such as canoeing, swimming, hiking, and camp games. Yale-Myers Forest camp is located 40 minutes from Hartford, and is within a 1.5 hour drive of Boston, Providence, and New Haven. A stipend of $4,000 and housingwill be provided for the summer.
How to Apply: Interns should be undergraduate students looking for research experience to further theiracademic goals. Some coursework in environmental science and/or outdoors experience is useful, but not required.Please send a resume or CV, a brief statement of interest, and the name(s) of 1-2 academic or professionalreferences to:
jonathan.gewirtzman@yale.edu and michael.culbertson@yale.edu.Please use the email subject line “Ingalls Program Application”.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; please apply ASAP for full consideration!