Summer 2026 Field Ecology Internship

Seeking a field research assistant interested in environmental science, ecology, and/or earth sciences to join a field-based research project in biogeochemistry in the Western US from May - August of 2026. This internship has the potential to support data collection for an independent research project on a topic adjacent to the study. Independent projects have the potential to culminate in a manuscript ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. 

This project investigates how historical climate interacts with future climate change to affect soil greenhouse gases and carbon storage in grasslands. Field work will involve traveling the length of the North American Central Grasslands. Sites are in or near Marfa, TX; Portales, NM; Lamar, CO; Nunn, CO; Bill, WY; Malta, MT. The project will involve taking soil greenhouse gas samples, taking soil samples for carbon and nitrogen measurements, conducting nitrogen additions, and traveling between sites every few days. 

Accommodations during the trip will involve a mixture of field houses, motels, and camping. This project will provide experience in many of the research methods commonly used in ecosystem ecology and soil science. This job provides an opportunity to travel across the Western U.S. while gaining valuable field experience. There are opportunities for working in the lab during the school year as well. 

Qualifications & Requirements: 

● The candidate should be able to lift up to 50lbs. 

● They should be comfortable working outdoors for extended periods of time. 

● The candidate must be flexible to changing environmental and working conditions and ideally bring an open, positive attitude to this experience. 

INFO & HOW TO APPLY: 

Funding: Candidates will be expected to secure their own funding such as the Yale College, Summer Experience Award, Summer Environmental Fellowship, or Summer Climate Technologies Fellowship. Depending on project funding, housing, food and travel costs may be covered or partly covered by the project coordinator. We will provide guidance for students applying for Yale summer grant opportunities. 

If interested, please send a CV/resume and a short paragraph describing your interest in the project to uthara.vengrai@yale.edu