RISE Internship: Desert Wildlife Intern at Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
Position Title: Desert Wildlife Intern
Reports to: Jessica Moreno, Conservation Science Director
Hours/Week: 8
Internship Date Range: 1/20/2025 to 5/15/2025 (17 weeks)
Location: 738 N. 5th Ave., Suite 205, Tucson, 85705
About the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) Program
The RISE Program is hosted by the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) and provides undergraduate and graduate students with paid internships related to resilient environments and societies. RISE internships give students experience in workplace settings with an opportunity to grow their interpersonal skills and prepare them for careers after graduation.
About the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP) protects the biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona through science-based advocacy, education, and collaboration. We do this through proactive habitat conservation planning, opposing destructive projects, and protecting and enhancing wildlife linkages. CSDP has four paid staff and is guided by a Board of Directors and Advisory Committee. We work on a grassroots level, leveraging the expertise, experience, and knowledge of our Coalition member organizations, volunteers, and community scientists into long-lasting positive change for the Sonoran Desert. Learn more at www.sonorandesert.org.
CSDP is committed to cultivating a culture that values differences and fosters inclusion. Our volunteer, internship, and employment positions are open to all. We value diversity and do not permit any discrimination against applicants, employees, or volunteers based on race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, neurodiversity, ethnicity, marital status, familial status, economic circumstances, and/or veteran status. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on traditionally Native lands, including those belonging to the O’odham, Tohono O’odham, and Pascua Yaqui.
Internship summary:
Interns with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP) actively contribute to meaningful conservation projects that protect wildlife and open spaces and, working directly alongside the CSDP team, are exposed to many elements of running an environmental non-profit. Interns will be mentored and managed by CSDP staff, both collaboratively and independently completing tasks. There are opportunities for specific mentorship in an area of interest through a chosen final project.
Internship description:
Duties and Responsibilities
Interns assist the Conservation Science Director with maintaining CSDP’s wildlife camera photo database to help translate community science into tangible conservation in our Wildlife Camera Program. Interns will gain knowledge in wildlife camera research, photo database management, image analysis software, and wildlife species identification through image analysis. They will also gain experience in data entry and basic analysis for wildlife research projects. Interns will work on a variety of habitat connectivity research projects focusing on wildlife movement and wildlife-highway interactions in Pima County, with field work as an optional component. Finally, interns will assist CSDP with its outreach work, to include planning, managing and hosting visitors and volunteers at relevant events.
Interns will complete one final project that meets a desired mentorship or skill training goal, to be chosen at the beginning of their internship. Examples of final projects include (but are not limited to): producing a written or video blog post, writing a scientific white paper, creating a GIS map or Story Map, leading a webinar or outreach event, completing a relevant class assignment using CSDP wildlife data, conducting field work, or another specific project that teaches a skill set related to data analysis, field research, project management, volunteer management, policy and advocacy, science communication, outreach, or another area of interest to the intern. This position offers a hybrid in-office and remote work-from-home model, as well as flexible hours.
Preferred skills
- Interest in wildlife and habitat conservation
- Strong work ethic
- Detail oriented
- Ability to work independently
- Open to learning new skills
- Commitment to community building and fostering equity
- Curiosity and willingness to ask questions
- Familiarity using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, or other database experience a plus
- Sonoran Desert wildlife species identification (training provided)
- Experience with wildlife camera monitoring and research (training provided)
Compensation:
The intern will be compensated by the University of Arizona. The pay rate is $18/hour.
How to Apply:
Applicants must be active U of A students enrolled in at least 6 credits. The intern will be hired as a U of A student employee. Student employees are limited to 25 hours/week (20 hours/week for international students) across ALL U of A positions.
International students should consult with International Student Services (ISS) if work authorization is needed before securing an internship. ISS advising information can be found here.
Send your resume or CV and a one-page cover letter that describes your interest and experience to admin@sonorandesert.org with the subject line “CSDP Desert Wildlife Internship.”
If you need any special accommodations for the application or interview process, please contact us at admin@sonorandesert.org or at (520) 388-9925. Please note that proof of up to date vaccination (including boosters) for Covid-19 is required for this position.
Applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, December 15, 2024. Applicants can expect a response from CSDP by Friday, December 20, 2024. Interviews for this position will take place in early January 2025 with the Desert Wildlife Intern beginning the week of January 20, 2025.