American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History’s SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION

Student Intern Job Description

Interns perform chores necessary to the daily functioning and long-term maintenance of the facility. The three main chore areas are kitchen, housekeeping, and maintenance.

Interns are scheduled into specific work times each week. Although work takes first priority, every effort is made to adjust the schedule to ensure that interns have time off when needed to address their research needs. Discussing your research requirements with the staff will aid us in helping you meet your goals.

Research Activities

Research opportunities abound at the Southwestern Research Station. The intern is responsible for aggressively seeking out those opportunities and actively pursuing her/his individual goals. Most interns participate in research projects of onsite researchers. With approval of the Director, an intern may carry out an independent research project.

The nature of research activities varies widely, as do the skills and techniques to be learned. A partial list of skills that can be learned includes data collection, behavioral observations, mist netting and bird banding, collecting reptiles and amphibians, live trapping desert rodents, excavation of bee or ant nests, pain marking insects of lizards, radio-telemetry, foliage sampling, establishing study area grids, censusing techniques, habitat or vegetation mapping, plant identification, and more. All activities are carried out under the direction and supervision of researchers or research assistants.

To help interns locate promising projects, a list of research projects is compiled each spring. Interns can check the list available in the main office, dining hall porch, or on our website under the “Researchers” link to gather information from work that best interests them. From here they are welcome to contact and discuss with researchers the details of their work. Most researchers are happy to share their knowledge in exchange for intern assistance.

In addition to field work, seminars by researchers are often held. These are both a forum to share research information and an opportunity to toss around ideas in current biological theory. Researchers are also a valuable source of advice on graduate schools and may be willing to write letters of recommendation.

Qualifications

Interns are expected to be mature, responsible, dependable, and friendly individuals willing to pitch in and help with whatever needs doing.

Time Commitment

Intern appointments are typically for a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of eight weeks, but exceptions have been made. In the spring and fall, there are a few researchers, but there are many nature tours and individual naturalists staying at the Station. These are good times to work on one’s own project. In the summer, there are more researchers and more competition for intern positions.

Additional Information

Interns are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the Station. If arriving by plane, shuttle service can be arranged to Douglas, Arizona, where we pick up volunteers on Wednesdays at 11:30a.m. and, upon departure, deliver them back to Douglas on Wednesdays by 11:30a.m.

International students should obtain a B-2 Tourist visa.

IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, contact: Intern/Volunteer Coordinator, Southwestern Research Station, P.O. Box 16553, Portal, AZ 85632, 520/558-2396, [email protected].

Revised 10/2015 AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION

STUDENT INTERN APPLICATION

CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Address: City: State: ZIP: Telephone- Home: Cell: Email: Age range: 18-20 21-70+ Gender: Male Female

Earliest Date Available: Latest date Depart:

MEAL PREFERENCE Vegetarian No red meat No Other Diet Restricted Meals Offered Please list any food allergies (if applicable):

EDUCATION High School: Date of Graduation: Undergraduate College: Degree Earned: Field of Study/Major # years attended: Class Year: Graduate Study/University: Degree Earned: Area Study:

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Current Employer: From: To:

Business Type: Position Held: Supervisor Name: Phone #:

Previous Employer: From: To:

Business Type: Position Held: Supervisor Name: Phone#:

VOLUNTEER WORK Organization: From: To: Position/Duties: Supervisor Name: Phone #

Have you volunteered with us in the past? Yes No If yes, what year How did you hear about us?

Who/What encouraged you to apply for the student intern program:

Revised 10/2015 Fluent in what languages?

Special skills or training:

Why do you want to serve as a student intern at SWRS?

What do you hope to accomplish while at SWRS? Include descriptions of any personal research projects you may wish to pursue:

Is there any other information that might be useful in reviewing the application, including career goals and interest in pursuing graduate education:

REFERENCES: (Submit two letters of recommendation; one personal, one employer.) Applications without two letters of recommendation will NOT be considered.

Letters of recommendation are attached: , or will follow from:

Name, Address, Phone #, Relationship:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, PLEASE NOTIFY:

Name: Phone #: Address: Relationship:

Because of our remote location, please:

1. Describe any physical/medical needs you may have; 2. Any medications you take regularly; 3. If you carry an inhaler or epi-pen, please note where you keep these items:

If I agree to accept a volunteer appointment at the Southwestern Research Station, I will work for 24 hours a week on assigned work chores , including, kitchen, maintenance, grounds, room clean up, and other miscellaneous chores in exchange for room and board. The balance of my time is available to pursue personal endeavors. I will provide transportation to and from the Southwestern Research Station.

Electronic Signature: Date:

Revised 10/2015