What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Biologist - Summer Internship position at City of Elkhart, Indiana?
Summer 2025
POSITIONS OPENING
POSITION TITLE: Field Biologist - summer internship position
LOCATION: Office of Public Works, Elkhart, Indiana
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 2 to 3 summer positions (mid-May to mid-August)
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
These positions assist with the collection and identification of fish for a biological monitoring program on the rivers and streams in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana.
Interns work in a team setting with the Aquatic Biologist and other interns. We are seeking motivated, well rounded individuals that like to get dirty, like to work hard, work well with others and their supervisors, have attention to detail, and like interacting with people and the public. While these are mostly fieldwork positions, ideal candidates will be those that also enjoy laboratory work.
DUTIES:
Duties include, but are not limited to, electrofishing, preliminary sorting and identification of fish samples, habitat surveys, collecting physical data from streams, obtaining fish tissue for analysis, maintenance of field equipment, aging fish using scales, and data entry. There may be an opportunity to assist the Aquatic Biologist with studies of additional aquatic organisms or complete independent research that fits within the goals and schedule of the program Employees will receive special training instructions and supervision on field collection activities and laboratory procedures. Hours are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday (40 hours per week) with occasional weekend work for public outreach and educational activities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must have completed at least one year of study in a Biology, Natural Resources, or environmentally oriented college program. Experience handling fish preferred, but not required. These positions require working during inclement weather as well as in extreme heat. They are tough and very physically demanding jobs. Interns can handle several hundred fish per day, with some being large, strong, and difficult to hold. Heavy lifting and equipment hauling occurs every day. Candidates must be able to carry and transport over 50lbs for long distances often through rough terrain and up and down stream banks while wearing hot chest waders.
The successful candidate will have to pass a mandatory pre-employment drug test, and will be subject to the Elkhart Office of Public Works Drug and Alcohol Policy.
POSITIONS OPENING
POSITION TITLE: Field Biologist - summer internship position
LOCATION: Office of Public Works, Elkhart, Indiana
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 2 to 3 summer positions (mid-May to mid-August)
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
These positions assist with the collection and identification of fish for a biological monitoring program on the rivers and streams in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana.
Interns work in a team setting with the Aquatic Biologist and other interns. We are seeking motivated, well rounded individuals that like to get dirty, like to work hard, work well with others and their supervisors, have attention to detail, and like interacting with people and the public. While these are mostly fieldwork positions, ideal candidates will be those that also enjoy laboratory work.
DUTIES:
Duties include, but are not limited to, electrofishing, preliminary sorting and identification of fish samples, habitat surveys, collecting physical data from streams, obtaining fish tissue for analysis, maintenance of field equipment, aging fish using scales, and data entry. There may be an opportunity to assist the Aquatic Biologist with studies of additional aquatic organisms or complete independent research that fits within the goals and schedule of the program Employees will receive special training instructions and supervision on field collection activities and laboratory procedures. Hours are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday (40 hours per week) with occasional weekend work for public outreach and educational activities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must have completed at least one year of study in a Biology, Natural Resources, or environmentally oriented college program. Experience handling fish preferred, but not required. These positions require working during inclement weather as well as in extreme heat. They are tough and very physically demanding jobs. Interns can handle several hundred fish per day, with some being large, strong, and difficult to hold. Heavy lifting and equipment hauling occurs every day. Candidates must be able to carry and transport over 50lbs for long distances often through rough terrain and up and down stream banks while wearing hot chest waders.
The successful candidate will have to pass a mandatory pre-employment drug test, and will be subject to the Elkhart Office of Public Works Drug and Alcohol Policy.
Salary : $14 - $16