#37 (1) Manteo
Education Intern, Aquariums, Aquarium on Roanoke
Island
Major(s): Biology, Environmental Science,
Oceanography, Parks and Recreation, Marine Biology,
Education
Project Objective: The education intern will gain
teaching and public speaking experience in a fun and
exciting non-formal environment.
Major Tasks: The education intern will present live
animal programs, dive shows, interpretive talks at touch
tanks and feeding programs, and intereact with large
numbers of visitors to the aquarium. Intern must be able
to handle live animals such as invertebrates, reptiles,
amphibians, and small mammals. Will work with other
education staff and volunteers to engage all ages.
Final Product or Outcome: The education intern will
gain confidence, experience, and knowledge and have a
great summer living and working at the beach. A final
project will be required at the end of the internship - may
develop an educational program, teaching aids or props
to enhance the education department's offerings to the
public.
#38 (1) Jefferson
Environmental Education and Natural Resource
Projects Intern, NC State Parks, Mt. Jefferson State
Natural Area
Major(s): Education, Environmental Education,
Environmental Studies, Natural Sciences, Parks and
Recreation Management
Project Objective: Actively participate in the
development and presentation of park education
programs for adults and children. Continue monitoring
lichen samples by taking photos and simple
measurements in the field. Update, create, and develop
new public programs and displays. Assist with visitor
services at visitor Center. Develop interpretive and
historical site bulletins or audio CD's. This may include
conducting oral history interviews. Finally you will have
fun hiking, canoeing and exploring the parks while you
make new friends at New River and Mt. Jefferson State
Parks.
Major Tasks: Present interpretive programs, conduct
monitoring of lichens,research, improve visitor center
services. roving/hiking, working with the public and
children. Public programs,hikes, park orientation, and
book development including oral history interviews,
Some photography.
Final Product or Outcome: Continued lichen
monitoring, new park education programs, satisfied and
enlightened park visitors, new junior ranger programs,
oral history recording on CD.
#39 (1) Kure Beach
Environmental Educator/Assistant Park Ranger,
Parks and Recreation, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Major(s): Parks and Recreation Management,
Environmental Education, Environmental
Science/Studies, Natural Resource/Coastal
Management, Biology, Marine Biology and other related
sciences
Project Objective: To enhance the visitor's overall
experience through educational programs focused on
the park's unique species of flora and fauna. To
monitor, protect and promote the successful nesting of
sea turtles along the park's five miles of undeveloped
beach.
Major Tasks: To enhance the visitor's overall
experience through development and presentation of
educational programs focused on the park's unique
species of flora and fauna. To monitor, protect and
promote the successful nesting of sea turtles along the
park's five miles of undeveloped beach. To assist
permanent staff in the day to day operations of a state
park.
Final Product or Outcome: Park visitors will have a
better understanding of nature and efforts to protect and
preserve natural resources. Park staff will have
additional programming to continue educating the public
long after the internship is completed. The intern will
gain a working knowledge of natural resource
management through participating in the protection of
the endangered Loggerhead sea turtle.
#41 (1) Elizabeth City
Fisheries and Habitat Assessment Surveys of
Albemarle Sound Intern, Marine Fisheries
Major(s): Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, Biology,
Zoology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Wildlife
Management, or any related fields
Project Objective: The intern will assist fisheries
technicians and fishery biologists in a wide range of ongoing
research and monitoring of anadromous and nonanadromous
stocks in Albemarle Sound. The field office
conducts fishery dependent and independent surveys
which employ an array of gear and techniques in order
to research, monitor, and assess finfish species
important to the state, as well as many east coast
fisheries.
Major Tasks: Actively participate in a variety of field
and laboratory work experiences in order to collect
biological data from commercially and recreationally
important fish species:Fishery dependent sampling of
finfish landed by seasonally employed commercial gear
(pound nets, fyke nets, gill nets, crab pots); Collect and
prepare ageing structures (scales, otoliths, and spines)
from finfish; Juvenile surveys using trawls and seines to
sample various juvenile finfish species as part of a long
term data base of juvenile abundance; Habitat
characterization of the inshore waters of North Carolina's
Albemarle Sound including Submerged Aquatic
Vegitation density, and identification.
Final Product or Outcome: The intern will experience
a variety of field and laboratory techniques that are basic
to fishery science data collection and essential input for
stock assessments.
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#42 (1) Raleigh
Genetics and Biodiversity Summer Internship, NC
Museum of Natural Sciences
Major(s): Biology, Zoology, Genetics, Wildlife, Ecology,
Biological Services, Conservation, Conservation Biology,
Fisheries Sciences, Invertebrate Biology, Life Sciences,
Natural Sciences, Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Resources,
Wildlife Science, and others considered on case-by-case
basis
Project Objective: This internship provides a unique
opportunity to learn and perform a combination of
genetic techniques on NC species under study at the
Museum (fishes, freshwater mussels). The intern will
learn laboratory techniques currently used in museumbased
science to aid in the identification of new species
and track population genetic dynamics. These skills
combined with interaction with our curators and their
taxonomic expertise form the foundation of biodiversity
studies. This irreplaceable combination of experiences is
offered less frequently at the collegiate level but is
absolutely essential to the training of future biologists.
Major Tasks: DNA extraction, PCR amplification, DNA
sequencing, STR (microsatellite) genotyping, data &
sample organization. Attention to detail is essential when
mastering genetic techniques.
Final Product or Outcome: The intern will learn basic
genetic techniques as applied to research in the natural
sciences. While these skills will focus on conservation
genetics and basic species identification, these
techniques can be applied broadly to almost any
biological discipline the intern should pursue. In addition,
the intern should have the opportunity to generate
sufficient data to develop a brief scientific manuscript for
publication shortly after the internship is completed.
#43 (1) Chimney Rock
Historical Archives Manager/Curator, Parks and
Recreation, Chimney Rock State Park
Major(s): History, Library Science, Museum Science,
Archaeology
Project Objective: Preserve 100-year written history of
internationally known state park.
Major Tasks: Catalog, organize, digitize and preserve
100-year history of state park’s documents, photos, film,
brochures and etc.
Final Product or Outcome: An anthology of the history
of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park that
showcases a chronology of pictures, film, significant
documents, maps, brochures, press releases, articles
and other items that represent the 100-year history of
this iconic tourist destination. Oral presentation of
information to general public.
#44 (1) Manteo
Husbandry Intern, Aquariums, Aquarium on Roanoke
Island
Major(s): Biology, Marine Biology/Science, Ecology,
Natural Science, and Environmental Science
Project Objective: Intern will be immersed in all
aspects of aquarium animal and plant care. During the
summer program interns will discover the inner workings
of a large public aquarium. After a short training period,
they will become involved in the daily workings of the
Aquarium facility.
Major Tasks: Summer interns will be involved in most
of the tasks performed by our husbandry staff. This will
include: water quality monitoring, animal acquisition,
transport, quarantine protocols, disease identification,
disease control, diet preparation, feeding, exhibit
maintenance, and aquarium maintenance.
Final Product or Outcome: At the end of the program,
interns will be familiar with many of the aspects of caring
for an aquarium’s live animal and plant collection.
#46 (1) Raleigh
Laboratory Data System and Analysis Intern, Air
Quality
Major(s): Computer Science, Information Systems,
Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental
Engineering, Environmental Studies, Engineering,
Mathematics, Statistics
Project Objective: Toxics Protection Branch
Laboratory operates an urban air toxics monitoring
network across North Carolina, conducts special studies
and responds to emergencies involving toxic releases.
Samples are routinely collected at 6 sites in NC cities
and sent to the lab for analysis. At present there is no
comprehensive system to track the entire process and
manage data. The objective is to continue creating a
data base system for the Toxics Protection Branch
Laboratory. Several modules have been created
previous summers by interns. Several more modules
are needed for the system to be fully functioning.
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Major Tasks: Study laboratory operations, create data
tables, data transfer procedures and software, create
standard queries and reports using JAVA, Visual Basic
for Applications in MS Access, MS Excel etc., or other
legally obtained software (true freeware) on a network
drive. Write instructions and procedures. Ruggedness
test software and procedures. Train staff on the use of
the software. Make oral, PowerPoint presentations on
progress and completed system segments.
Final Product or Outcome: A data system to track
samples and analyses, to analyze results into
meaningful presentation quality tables and graphs, and
to track status. Commented source code should be
transferred to laboratory staff. For the intern, experience
creating a real world system and working with users
(customers) to deliver a product.
#47 (1) Raleigh
Living Conservatory Assistant Curator, NC Museum
of Natural Sciences
Major(s): Biology, Zoology, Horticulture, Botany,
Education, Museum Studies, Environmental Education,
Entomology, Parks and Recreation, Science Education,
Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources, Natural
Sciences, Conservation Biology, Adult Education,
Conservation, Biological Sciences, Wildlife Biology,
Environmental Science, Museum Science, Life Science,
Invertebrate Biology, Ecology or related majors.
Project Objective: Enhance the knowledge and
experience of an intern with the NC Museum of Natural
Sciences as an institution, educational resource and
research facility, using the Living Conservatory as a
jumping off platform. The Conservatory, a re-creation of
a Central American dry tropical forest, is the Museum's
premier immersion exhibit where Museum visitors
experience stepping into a live tropical forest surrounded
by butterflies and other live plants and animals. Staff
interacts with visitors answering all sorts of questions
related to the tropics and their connections to NC.
Major Tasks: The intern will help run the Conservatory
daily, presenting education and interpretation of the
tropics. In addition to presenting the Conservatory, the
intern will also learn to present educational cart
programs to the visiting public. This person will also be
responsible for the husbandry of some plants and
animals within the exhibit and will work with volunteers
and staff on other tasks as necessary and design /
develop a special project.
Final Product or Outcome: The intern will gain
knowledge and skills working with the public in a unique
immersion setting. This person will complete a final
project to be included in their portfolio, documenting their
Museum experience and develop additional educational
materials for use by staff & volunteers. The intern will
become an integral part of the Conservatory staff
especially pertaining to the communication of tropics
related information to the general public
#48 (1) Raleigh
Mapping Rare Species using GIS and Biotics
Conservation Database, Office of Conservation
Planning and Community Affairs (OCPCA)
Major(s): Biological Sciences; Biology; Botany;
Conservation Biology; Ecology; Environmental Science;
Natural Resources; Zoology and related majors
Project Objective: Assist biologists at the N.C. Natural
Heritage Program with updating records of rare,
threatened, or endangered species in the Program’s
conservation database.
Major Tasks: Review and assess reports of rare species,
map the location of rare species observations
using a GIS-based application, and enter supporting
data into a standardized database. This work may
involve reading technical reports, including natural areas
inventories and floristic surveys to identify data on rare
species; performing searches of other biological
databases to gather data; and evaluation of rare species
information using N.C. Natural Heritage methodology.
Final Product or Outcome: The intern will help
develop and maintain an accurate and up-to-date
dataset on the location and status of North Carolina’s
rare species. The N.C. Natural Heritage Program’s data
is provided to landowners, conservation organizations,
and private citizens and is routinely distributed to
consulting firms and local, state, and federal agencies. It
is used in conservation planning and facilitates the
design and implementation of ecologically sound
development, infrastructure, and conservation projects.
#49 (1) Connelly Springs
Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Intern,
Parks and Recreation, South Mountains State Park
Major(s): Biology, Natural Resources Management,
Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology or other Natural
Science related major
Project Objective: Identify and inventory flora and
fauna found within South Mountains State Park and
where each species is located. Monitor known
populations of various species such as bats, black
bears, migratory songbirds, fish species and various
flora.
Major Tasks: Investigate current databases and
research papers to identify floral and faunal elements
occurring in South Mountains State Park. Identify,
inventory, and record flora and fauna through field notes
including GPS locations and digital photography. Assist
with ongoing monitoring of certain species found within
the park.
Final Product or Outcome: Expand the park's list of
known flora and fauna on the Division of Parks & Rec.
Natural Resource Inventory Database (NRID). Increase
the knowledge of the park's flora and fauna to allow park
managers to make the best possible management
decisions to protect native resources.
#50 (1) Connelly Springs
Natural Resources Management Educator, Parks and
Recreation, South Mountain State Park
Major(s): Biology, Natural Resources Management,
Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology or other Natural
Science related major.
Project Objective: Provide the general public and
organized groups with environmental education
programs. Educate park visitors and make them more
aware of ongoing natural resource management
practices in the park.
Major Tasks: Develop, and conduct educational
programs. Plan and advertise programs. These
programs will focus on but not limited to natural
resources and natural resource practices of the park.
Final Product or Outcome: Increase knowledge and
awareness of the park's natural resource management
and environmental education programs.
#51 (1) Raleigh
Ornithology Research and Collections Intern, NC
Museum of Natural Sciences
Major(s): Biology, Botany, Ecology, Environmental
Studies, Environmental Science, Natural Resource
Management, Natural Sciences, Wildlife/Wildlife Biology-
Management-Studies, Zoology; Museum Studies.
Project Objective: Provide the intern with an array of
experiences related to the study of birds, both in
Museum and field settings. Many researchers use
specimens and our Museum provides those, as needed.
The intern will “learn by doing”, aspects of building and
caring for a major research collection; and conducting
field work on live birds. We are conducting field studies
of two bird species to learn more about their life cycles.
Major Tasks: Assist with all of the following: Museum:
prepare specimens and record pertinent data into
catalogs. Field: capture/mark birds. Use radio telemetry
equipment to locate individuals in the forest. Locate and
monitor bird nest activities. Use GPS unit to record
locations of birds as found. Collect vegetation
measurement data. Enter data into spreadsheet or
database.
Final Product or Outcome: The intern will come to
understand the value, and uses, of a major research
collection. S/he will also gain experience in standard
techniques to study birds, dead or alive. Data collected
using radio telemetry is part of an ongoing research
project that will ultimately be published, and used to
inform land management decisions. Data from Bald
Head/Bear islands are part of an ongoing Citizen
Science project.
#52 (1) Manteo
Propagating and Maintaining NC Native Plants for
Educational Display, Aquariums on Roanoke Island
Major(s): Horticulture, Botany, Biology, Ecology,
Environmental Science, Landscape Design
Project Objective: Coastal native plants of North
Carolina are selected, propagated and grown for use in
the Aquarium’s conservatory and other exhibits, for
demonstration landscaping, and for the annual native
plant sale.
Major Tasks: Develop and carry out a propagation
project to increase Aquarium’s stock of selected native
plant species, Propagate plants by various methods, e.g.
seeding, stem cuttings, layering & division, Assist with
maintenance of container nursery, including watering,
pruning, pest management, transplanting, and Assist
with installation of plants in aquarium exhibits and
landscaping.
Final Product or Outcome: The Aquarium’s
horticulture program will be better able to meet goals
and objectives, including increased diversity of the native
plant collection, with the assistance provided by a
seasonal intern.
#53 (1) Manteo
Special Activities Instructor Intern, Aquariums on
Roanoke Island
Major(s): Biology, Marine Science, Marine Biology,
Conservation Biology, Education, Environmental
Science, Environmental Education, Environmental
Studies, Natural Resources, Natural Science, Parks &
Recreation, Wildlife, Zoology.
Project Objective: The Special Activities Intern will
educate the public through an array of fun activities in an
effort to "inspire appreciation and conservation of North
Carolina's aquatic environments." This project will
immerse an intern in environmental education
experiences, both on site and in the field, with groups of
all ages.
Major Tasks: The Special Activities Intern at the NC
Aquarium on Roanoke Island will be involved in
preparations and instruction of indoor and outdoor
activities, such as: children’s summer camps, fishing
programs, kayak eco-tours, behind-the-scenes tours,
animal/feeding programs, birthday parties, overnights,
beach ecology trips, and salt marsh excursions. Daily
requirements include leading programs, assisting with
camps, handling live animals, assembling education
materials, and driving a fifteen-passenger van. The
intern may also assist with other daily programs inside
the public areas of the Aquarium, such as animal
encounters, dive programs, games, and information
stations. Programs run heavily during weekdays, and
occassionally on evenings and weekends.
Final Product or Outcome: The intern will gain
teaching experience, practical work experience, and
exposure to associated skill sets in a non-traditional
marine science setting with both families and summer
campers. Visitors who participate in Special Activity
programs will benefit from additional staff who can
provide a more personal and safe program experience. 
