In addition to offering the following list of potential projects, we also encourage students to contact Cary scientists and other staff for internship projects that are developed by the student and performed under the mentorship of a Cary employee.
To solicit an internship, please submit an email with a cover letter to the intended mentor explaining your interest in their work and how your project might fit in with their program.
Cary Institute views credit-bearing internship arrangements as a 3-way partnership in which the student develops professional skills, the college provides credit and Cary Institute acts as mentor for the development of those skills through the completion of an internship project.
White-tailed Deer Ecology and Management
Note: we are suspending this internship for Spring 2021
Availability: Ongoing, spring and fall semesters
Compensation: Unpaid position with the expectation the intern will receive credits through his/her school
Browsing by overabundant deer can degrade plant communities and cause declines in animal populations that use those habitats. Protection of our forested ecosystems from excessive browsing by deer is one of the priority management goals for the Cary Institute property.
The White-tailed Deer Ecology and Management Intern will assist the Manager of Field Research and Outdoor Programs with aspects of the Institute's deer management program. The intern will gain field experience monitoring deer and other wildlife using trail cameras. Data collection and management experience will be gained by downloading and organizing photos/videos, recording animal incidence and behavior data from photos/videos, and related tasks.
Depending on the time of year, the student may also be involved in other aspects of deer management such as field surveys quantifying deer browsing of trees or oversight of our annual controlled deer hunt.
This internship is most suitable for a student in biology, wildlife biology, conservation/environmental sciences, or a related field who is interested in gaining real-world experience with wildlife ecology and management.
The student must be able to hike to remote parts of the property and work outdoors under adverse conditions such as in inclement weather and around insects and poison ivy. The student should be willing to learn to use a GPS, trail cameras, and computer programs including spreadsheets. The student must have a valid driver's license.
We will work with academic institutions to provide credit for this unpaid internship. The scope of the internship can vary depending on college requirements and the number of credits the intern would like to earn.
Contact: Mike Fargione | fargionem@caryinstitute.org