What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ecological Monitoring Intern position at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture?
Location: Stone Barns Center For Food & Agriculture
Supervisor: Senior Ecological Monitoring Coordinator, Director of Ecological Monitoring
Employment Classification: Internship - hourly, non-exemptFrequency of Pay: Bi-weekly
Compensation: $17/hr
Schedule: June 2 - August 15, 2024; Up to 30 hours/week for 9-10 weeks. Typically Monday through Thursday, some flexibility with advance notice.
This is an opportunity for two (2) individuals currently studying environmental science who are interested in participating in and supporting an extensive ArcGIS-based ecological monitoring program on a diversified working farm, primarily on pastures grazed by cattle, and goats. This work will help build an understanding of how decisions affect the health of the soil, water quality, plants, and biotic communities we steward. Findings will inform creative solutions to food system issues and how our food choices can impact the land.
Working under a variety of field conditions (e.g. sun, heat, insects, rain, and dense vegetation), you will work as part of a team to collect soil and water quality samples from across the farm landscape. You will use a variety of tools to measure water quality characteristics at 14 stations spread across the farm and surrounding Park Preserve and physically extract soil samples from transects and experimental plots. This position will also include a laboratory component; processing, measuring, and analyzing the soil samples and preparing them for archiving or further analysis. While the soil and water sampling will be your primary focus, all interns will be expected to work collaboratively to achieve the overall goals of the monitoring program.
These individuals will gain a deep understanding of how the ecological data is used in conjunction with various areas of focus on the farm through collaboration and scheduled check-ins with Stone Barns Center leaders and other interns. This cross-departmental opportunity will allow the individuals to obtain valuable professional work experience, knowledge and skills.
Responsibilities
This is a highly physical role. While performing these job duties, the individual is regularly required to see and reach. The individual is regularly required to sit, walk, and stand for long periods of time (e.g., up to 8 hours or longer) as well as required to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, bend, squat, kneel, and reach above shoulder level. The individual may be exposed to extreme temperatures, dust, dampness, moving machinery, food allergens, and cleaning agents. Due to the nature of the farming industry, the individual may be required to work longer hours and varying schedules to reflect the business needs, which may include overtime, weekends, and holidays. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, so long as they do not cause undue hardship.
Preferred Skills / Knowledge
For over 20 years, Stone Barns Center and Blue Hill have demonstrated the power of farmer-chef collaborations to inspire change in the food system. We are now poised to deepen our impact and address some of the greatest environmental, health, and economic challenges of our time. We have a bold vision to catalyze an ecological food culture that supports a thriving regenerative food and farm economy.
We will build on our long standing work at the intersection of farmers and chefs to activate critical areas with the potential for exponential impact on ecological and human health, farm viability, and other elements of thriving food systems. In service of this vision, we will reimagine how we use our Lower Hudson Valley campus to serve as the R&D lab for the ecological food culture we seek.
Stone Barns Center is committed to equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this learning opportunity.
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify
Supervisor: Senior Ecological Monitoring Coordinator, Director of Ecological Monitoring
Employment Classification: Internship - hourly, non-exemptFrequency of Pay: Bi-weekly
Compensation: $17/hr
Schedule: June 2 - August 15, 2024; Up to 30 hours/week for 9-10 weeks. Typically Monday through Thursday, some flexibility with advance notice.
This is an opportunity for two (2) individuals currently studying environmental science who are interested in participating in and supporting an extensive ArcGIS-based ecological monitoring program on a diversified working farm, primarily on pastures grazed by cattle, and goats. This work will help build an understanding of how decisions affect the health of the soil, water quality, plants, and biotic communities we steward. Findings will inform creative solutions to food system issues and how our food choices can impact the land.
Working under a variety of field conditions (e.g. sun, heat, insects, rain, and dense vegetation), you will work as part of a team to collect soil and water quality samples from across the farm landscape. You will use a variety of tools to measure water quality characteristics at 14 stations spread across the farm and surrounding Park Preserve and physically extract soil samples from transects and experimental plots. This position will also include a laboratory component; processing, measuring, and analyzing the soil samples and preparing them for archiving or further analysis. While the soil and water sampling will be your primary focus, all interns will be expected to work collaboratively to achieve the overall goals of the monitoring program.
These individuals will gain a deep understanding of how the ecological data is used in conjunction with various areas of focus on the farm through collaboration and scheduled check-ins with Stone Barns Center leaders and other interns. This cross-departmental opportunity will allow the individuals to obtain valuable professional work experience, knowledge and skills.
Responsibilities
- Participate in the analysis of Quick Carbon soil samples in the lab
- Assist team in collecting and variety of soil health samples and data across the farm environment
- Conduct laboratory soil measurements
- Assist in performing water quality tests at key sampling points in Stone Barns watershed as needed
- Enter data into an ArcGIS-based database system and store samples in accordance with protocols developed with the ecological monitoring team
- Assist with presentation of information to the team and stakeholders in verbal or written format
- Participate occasionally in pastured livestock activities with the Livestock team
- Other ecological monitoring projects and assignments as needed
- Stone Barns Center will provide educational materials at no cost.
This is a highly physical role. While performing these job duties, the individual is regularly required to see and reach. The individual is regularly required to sit, walk, and stand for long periods of time (e.g., up to 8 hours or longer) as well as required to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, bend, squat, kneel, and reach above shoulder level. The individual may be exposed to extreme temperatures, dust, dampness, moving machinery, food allergens, and cleaning agents. Due to the nature of the farming industry, the individual may be required to work longer hours and varying schedules to reflect the business needs, which may include overtime, weekends, and holidays. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, so long as they do not cause undue hardship.
Preferred Skills / Knowledge
- Committed to exploring the intersection between a food and farming culture
- Able to follow a research project through to the end report and to integrate feedback from collaborators and organizational leaders throughout the process
- Interested in learning to use GIS, and basic database software, for data entry and basic analysis
- Able to work effectively in a variety of environmental conditions (heat, rain, insects, etc.)
- Pursuing studies in environmental science, with a preference for a strong background in soil science and/or ecology
- Interested in a solutions-oriented approach
- Able to work independently and as a part of an academic pod
- Effective in verbal, written and interpersonal communications; able to communicate clearly with various personnel to share/gather information
- Experienced with field work, sample collection, and data organization/entry
For over 20 years, Stone Barns Center and Blue Hill have demonstrated the power of farmer-chef collaborations to inspire change in the food system. We are now poised to deepen our impact and address some of the greatest environmental, health, and economic challenges of our time. We have a bold vision to catalyze an ecological food culture that supports a thriving regenerative food and farm economy.
We will build on our long standing work at the intersection of farmers and chefs to activate critical areas with the potential for exponential impact on ecological and human health, farm viability, and other elements of thriving food systems. In service of this vision, we will reimagine how we use our Lower Hudson Valley campus to serve as the R&D lab for the ecological food culture we seek.
Stone Barns Center is committed to equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this learning opportunity.
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify
Salary : $17
