Lyme Land Conservation Trust is looking to hire two students for paid internships conducting field-oriented research on protected lands in Lyme CT. Student interns will have the opportunity to select and design research projects leading to successful senior essays or other independent research while enjoying a unique opportunity to work with leading land conservation professionals and organizations in a collaborative manner to achieve shared goals. Student interns would be the primary investigators with local support from Lyme LCT staff and volunteers and with Yale academic support provided by their thesis advisers and EVST affiliated faculty.
Here are two possible projects:
Carbon Offset Program
The town of Lyme and the Lyme Land Trust are looking into the possibility of aggregating about 5000 acres forested lands as part of a carbon offset program. Using Lyme as a working example, the student intern would trace the steps involved, offer analysis of costs and benefits and provide an overall assessment as to the feasibility of such an undertaking. This project has excellent senior essay potential in several concentrations in the BA track and could become a model analysis of carbon offset opportunities in other small communities.
“Rabbitat” Program
The Lyme LCT is working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife managers to provide critical habitat for the New England Cottontail, a potentially endangered species native to Connecticut. How will habitat manipulation—clearcutting on two sites to create early successional, forested habitat—change the wildlife dynamic and usage patterns between cut and uncut areas among a variety of species, especially birds? This project has excellent senior essay potential in at least two concentrations in the BS track and would be of great interest to wildlife managers and land conservation organizations throughout the region.
Internship details
The internship runs 6-8 weeks (TBD), mid-May to July. The exact period is negotiable but both students must be present at the same time. The weekly stipend of $400 may be used to offset food and personal expenses. Local housing will be provided by a land trust volunteer and a vehicle suitable for local transport and transit among research locations will be provided by Lyme LCT. A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record is required. Applicants must be able to work outdoors in difficult physical and weather conditions.
To apply, submit an application to the EVST Summer Environmental Fellowship (Deadline: March 27, 2020) titled “Lyme Land Conservation Trust Internship” and include details of your proposed project. For questions about the application process, contact Ms. Linda Evenson, Program Manager for EVST. For questions about the example projects above or possible alternatives, contact Professor Michael Fotos, DUS for EVST. To learn more about Lyme Land Conservation Trust, visit their website at http://www.lymelandtrust.org/.