Biological Field Intern

Description

Trout Unlimited is looking for energetic, intelligent, and motivated individuals to join our staff for seasonal employment in 2026. The job will assist activities that support native trout and aquatic resource conservation. We are looking to fill 3-4 summer internship positions with a start date of May 26, 2026 with positions ending at the end of August and end of November 2026 depending on availability. The team will work 40-hour weeks (typically 4 days at 10 hours/day) that require driving on rural roads with limited cell phone coverage, traversing difficult terrain while carrying field gear up to 50 pounds, and working in all types of weather conditions. 

Location: Lock Haven, PA 

Requirements

  Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assist with culvert assessments using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocol.
• Collect field data through activities such as electrofishing, benthic macroinvertebrate surveys, water quality sampling, and fish habitat surveys.
• Assist with restoration project implementation. 
• Maintain rigorous data collection and assessment protocols; identify and report any concerns to supervisor. 
• Wade streams and rivers in a variety of flow regimes and weather conditions. 
• Maintain equipment and report maintenance/equipment needs to supervisor. 
• Provide data entry and database management, as well as prepare maps and assist with reports. 
• Assistance to other program staff as needed.
• Maintain a high level of integrity while on the job.

Requirements 

• Current undergraduate, recent graduate, or graduate student pursuing a degree in environmental science, fish and wildlife biology, biology, ecology, or related field of study.
• Demonstrable experience with physically demanding work.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to pass background checks for employment.
• Ability to quickly acquire skills and learn new techniques. 
• Willing to work long days in outdoor field conditions.
• Willing to frequently travel overnight throughout Pennsylvania and potentially neighboring states.
• Possess strong organizational and communication skills.
• Desire to learn about stream ecology and watershed science.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team with varied skills, abilities, and perspectives.
• Ability to think creatively, keep an open mind, and take constructive criticism.
• Travel costs associated with sampling work (mileage, lodging, meals, etc.) are covered by TU when traveling for work. 
• This position does not include housing. 

It will be necessary for the chosen applicant to report to the Lock Have, PA office daily. Travel (lodging, meals, travel expenses) away from the office may be provided by or reimbursed by TU. 

At TU, we value a diverse representation of staff, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those who have been most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and clean our shared waters. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome you to read more about TU's equity practice and values https://www.tu.org/equity/.