Research Assistant Intern (Water)

Woodwell Climate Research Center 

Summer Internships Program 2026

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.  

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary:

Join Woodwell’s 2026 Summer Internship Program as a Research Assistant Intern in aquatic ecology and water chemistry in the Water program. The Research Assistant Intern will conduct field work on a project that measures water quality in Buzzards Bay estuaries using both wet chemistry and continuously-recording dataloggers. Field work will involve water collections in shallow estuaries, deployment, and maintenance of both loggers at fixed locations and loggers deployed on robotic gliders. Be part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes scientists from the Woodwell Center, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and scientists at the Buzzards Bay Coalition, a regional non-profit organization. In this role, the intern will gain experience through field and laboratory work across fields including water chemistry, data management, and data analysis of the factors that control estuarine water quality. The applicant will gain experience through field and laboratory work across fields including the social science of what motivates water quality volunteers, water chemistry, data management and data analysis of the factors that control estuarine water quality.

Responsibilities include but not limited:

• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in aquatic ecology and water chemistry

• Participate in field and laboratory measurements of water quality

• Process and analyze project data

• Travel to several Buzzards Bay field sites at various designated times throughout the day and week

• Conduct an independent project using data collected

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated organizational skills, the ability to work as a member of a team, and the ability to communicate with colleagues

• Demonstrated skills in data organization and analysis

• Ability to work independently as well as productively as part of a team

• Basic proficiency with word processing, data management and presentation software (e.g., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or equivalent programs)

• Willingness to operate small boats or willingness to take safety courses to become certified

• Demonstrated skills in data organization and analysis

• Ability and willingness to endure exposure to sun and occasional insects, ticks, and poison ivy

• Ability and capable of rigorous outdoor activity (lifting 25+ pounds, bending, carrying heavy equipment, and walking through uneven terrain, waist-high waters and marsh)

• Ability to visit multiple local field sites

• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and/or some field experience preferred

• Ability for local travel at various locations for field work within in Massachusetts 

• Willingness to operate small boats or willingness to take safety course to become certified.

Qualifications:

• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate program within Environmental Science, Ecology, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Marine Biology, Natural Resources or related field

• Must be eligible to work for Woodwell Climate in the US without visa sponsorship now or in the future

Physical Requirements:

In the field, the physical requirements of this role include:

• Air, train, vehicle travel to access field locations

• Driving a vehicle or ATV to access field locations

• Walking, hiking, climbing to access field locations

• Paddling, canoeing to access field locations

• Standing and sitting for sustained periods

• Frequent bending, squatting, and kneeling

• Reaching overhead

• Climbing ladders

• Use of manual and power tools including shovels, saws, drills, and hammers

• Ability to lift up to 25 (up to 50)lbs up to 10 times/day

• Ability to carry up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

• Ability to push/pull up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

Work Environment

The functions of this role are conducted in:

• A variety of environments, both indoor office, lab and outdoor

Hours of Work

• This role is paid on an hourly basis. Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek

Application review will be ongoing

Desired Start Date:  June 8, 2026  (90 days maximum)

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, temporary, internship position, the  salary is up $700/week stipend with some housing allowance. Internship will not exceed more than 90 days.

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts Onsite

Application Instructions: To apply, please complete the application, attach your resume and cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position in a single PDF to our career’s portal. Please reference your name on your resume/cover letter. Resumes without cover letters will not be reviewed.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work. 

Woodwell is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.