Interns play a key role in Cedar Creek's long-term ecological research projects. An LTER internship at Cedar Creek is a great way to immerse yourself in the world of field research! You will be able to work outside in prairies, savannas, forested areas, and other landscapes, gain experience with a variety of scientific methods and techniques, and contribute to LTER research at one of the world’s foremost field stations. 

For more information and to apply for a Cedar Creek LTER internship, CLICK HERE.

We begin the summer with a day that highlights Cedar Creek’s experiments and researchers. Interns attend a symposium to learn about a wide range of active research projects at Cedar Creek. In addition to the indoor research symposium, interns also participate in field tours offered by Cedar Creek’s faculty, postdoc, and graduate student researchers. This provides opportunities for interns to meet Cedar Creek researchers in an informal setting.

Throughout the summer, we provide a series of research seminars. Seminars provide greater depth and context for a wide range of research projects at Cedar Creek and beyond.  As part of being a Cedar Creek intern, you may have the opportunity to work with researchers in a more in depth manner regarding experimental processes. 

During the summer, we also convene panels of graduate students and professionals from a wide range of environmental careers. Graduate students share about their experiences in graduate school, including offering guidance on identifying an advisor and navigating the application process. Environmental career panelists share about the various pathways that led them to their current careers and their experiences working for various agencies, private conservation organizations, and academic institutions. Interns are encouraged to use these panels to ask questions and begin thinking about future career options.

Here is a typical work day for the interns at Cedar Creek:

The interns meet every morning with their supervisor in order to discuss the tasks for the day. They get information on what they are doing and receive training on any scientific methods that they will be utilizing for the day. In the field, interns work in small or large groups to complete their daily tasks. These tasks include such things as percent cover measurements, fertilizer applications, harvesting biomass, taking light measurements, measuring soil moisture, and taking soil samples.

Interns return to the main campus area for lunch and either eat together or attend a lunchtime seminar. After lunch, interns meet with their supervisor again to discuss changes from the morning plans and to ask questions about what they have been doing. They continue their work in the field for the afternoon.

At the end of the day, interns spend their time off relaxing, having potluck dinners together, and sitting by the campfire!