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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The <a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/">
Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Program</a> (<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/">GCE LTER</a>) is looking for undergraduate interns for summer 2026. Some opportunities are limited to students who have not yet graduated. All positions
will receive either a stipend or an hourly salary. Most internships last ~8-10 weeks between May and August. However, start and end dates are flexible based on the schedule of the intern and supervisor. Please read the position descriptions carefully as some
positions have different requirements, dates, and/or locations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The deadline for applications is 11:59 PM EDT on Sunday, March 1, 2026.</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="https://uga.questionpro.com/t/AcINuZ739N" target="_blank">Link to online application</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Tracking Ecological Variability Across Habitation Transitions in Coastal Salt Marshes.</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=spennings">
Dr. Steven Pennings</a> (University of Houston) and <a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=aspivak">
Dr. Amanda Spivak</a> (University of Georgia). The intern will help study how variability in ecological communities changes across habitat transitions along a salt marsh-to-creek bank gradient. This individual will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and contribute
to collection and processing of samples representing plant and benthic invertebrate communities. On a daily basis, the intern will report to Steven Pennings, but will interact with Dr. Spivak during periodic field campaigns. Collections will involve long days
hiking through uneven and soggy terrain in salt marshes and upland borders, working with marsh plants and invertebrates, digging in soils, and observing ecological features (e.g., crab burrow holes). Field days can occasionally be up to 10 hours or more depending
on tides and require carrying 40 lbs or more. Experience with coastal field work is desirable but not required. This position will be based on Sapelo Island, GA for ~10 weeks during May-August; housing will be provided and reasonable travel expenses to and
from Sapelo Island will be reimbursed. This position will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hr. This position is limited to students who have not yet graduated.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Variability across salt marsh-to-upland elevation gradients.</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=aspivak">
Dr. Amanda Spivak</a> (University of Georgia) and <a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=spennings">
Dr. Steven Pennings </a>(University of Houston). The intern will help study variability in ecological and biogeochemical processes along elevation gradients in salt marsh to upland transitions. The intern will assist with a range of lab and field tasks and
preliminary data analyses. This includes preparation for sampling trips (e.g., vial cleaning and labeling), sample collection and notetaking in the field, and measurement of gas fluxes between plants and soils and the atmosphere (CO2, CH4). Following sampling
trips, the intern will be involved in laboratory analyses and data entry and visualization. The intern will work closely with and report daily to Dr Spivak and a postdoc in the Spivak lab, and will interact with Dr. Pennings when on Sapelo Island. The intern
should be comfortable with long days in the field (up to 12 hours or more depending on tides) and be able to carry 40 lbs or more. Field days in the summer can be hot, buggy, and muddy and involve hiking over uneven (and squishy) terrain with sensitive equipment
and samples. The 10-week internship (May-August) is based at UGA’s Athens, GA campus but will involve several multi-day trips to Sapelo Island (GA) where the field sites are located. Housing in Athens will not be provided. Reasonable travel expenses to and
from Athens will be reimbursed, and travel expenses to and from Sapelo for field work (including food and housing) will be covered. This position is limited to students who have not yet graduated. This position will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hour.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Geospatial Analysis of Coastal Ecosystems’ Primary Production and Effects of External Drivers.</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=jschalles">
Dr. John Schalles</a> (Creighton University). This position, in June and July, involves field, laboratory, and computer work for the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, Georgia. On workdays,
the intern will report to John Schalles. The intern will receive training in marsh and coastal water sampling, satellite and drone imagery acquisitions, use of ENVI and Pix4D geospatial software for imagery processing and analysis, and use of MINITAB’s multivariate
statistics, including Random Forest, to identify and rank external variables that best explain four decades of spatial-temporal patterns of Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus and newer data on phytoplankton chlorophyll in Georgia’s ten main estuaries
and adjacent waters. The intern should be comfortable with some long days in the field and ability to carry some heavy loads (up to 40 lbs). Experience with small boats and computer data processing are desirable but not required. Housing will be provided and
reasonable travel expenses to and from Sapelo Island will be reimbursed. This position will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hr. This position is limited to undergraduate students who have not yet graduated.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Field assistant in coastal science.</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=jwilliams">
John Williams</a> (GCE LTER lead technician). The intern will work as a general assistant to the GCE technicians on Sapelo Island. Duties may include assisting in water quality sampling, plant and invertebrate monitoring, boat and flux tower maintenance, helping
a variety of research groups with field work, and light construction. On a daily basis, the intern will report to John Williams and the other GCE technicians. This position will be primarily in the field, often in small boats, and will require strenuous physical
activity and irregular hours. The position will be based on Sapelo Island, GA for ~10 weeks during May-August, but we can also consider applicants wishing to work for ~10 weeks in the Fall or Winter. Housing will be provided and reasonable travel expenses
to and from Sapelo Island will be reimbursed. This position will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hr. This position is open to all undergraduate students and recent graduates.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Recovery from disturbance in intertidal marshes.</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=spennings">
Dr. Steven Pennings</a> (University of Houston). The intern will assist with monitoring two experiments in intertidal marshes that are designed to understand factors that affect marsh recovery from disturbance. This will include sampling marsh soils, plants
and invertebrates; and some laboratory work processing soil and plant samples. The intern will enter data and have the opportunity to learn how to graph data in R. On a daily basis, the intern will report to Steve Pennings and his graduate students. The intern
should be comfortable with long days in the field and have the ability to carry 40 lbs or more. The position will be based on Sapelo Island for ~10 weeks during May-August; housing will be provided and reasonable travel expenses to and from Sapelo Island will
be reimbursed. This position will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hr. This position is limited to students who have not yet graduated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Salt marsh molecular ecology</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=jwares">
Dr. John Wares</a> (University of Georgia). The intern will support field collection of environmental data and specimens, as well as learning genomic methods to distinguish organisms by environmental drivers. In addition to learning proper field collection
and tissue preservation methods, the intern will be involved in laboratory work associated with specimen curation and genotype-by-environment analysis. On a daily basis, the intern will report to Anderson Smith, a Double Dawg MS student with whom Wares has
been working for approximately 2 years, as well as Wares; all interactions will be advised by Wares. The intern should be able to support long field days for 7-10 day periods of field collections. The position will be based in Athens, Georgia for ~8 weeks
between June and August 2026, with 1 or 2 extended trips to Sapelo Island. Other time will be spent in the Wares lab at the University of Georgia processing tissues and data. Housing in Athens will not be provided. Reasonable travel expenses to and from Athens
will be reimbursed, and travel expenses to and from Sapelo for field work (including food and housing) will be covered. This position will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hr. This position is limited to students who have not yet graduated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Marine Science Communications and Media internship</span></u></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Supervisor:
<a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=nuette.gordon">
Dr. Nuette Gordon</a> and <a href="https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/personnel_bios.asp?id=jrigdon">
Jonah Rigdon</a> (<a href="https://ugami.uga.edu/">UGA Marine Institute</a>). This internship offers an exciting opportunity to support and amplify coastal and marine research and education activities at the UGA Marine Institute on Sapelo Island during the
peak summer season. The intern will play a key role in science communication through dynamic social media engagement, helping to share the story of coastal ecosystems with diverse audiences. Key responsibilities include the development and implementation of
creative strategies for science communication across social media platforms, capturing and curating compelling content from ongoing research and educational activities, and engaging with diverse audiences to promote awareness of coastal and marine science.
Background experience in communications and social media management, proficiency with digital tools and content creation platforms, the ability to work independently, and being comfortable working outdoors in challenging conditions (mud, heat, insects) are
required for this internship. The position will be based on Sapelo Island for ~6 weeks (16 May – 27 June 2026). Housing will be provided and reasonable travel expenses to and from Sapelo Island will be reimbursed. This position will receive a stipend equivalent
to $15/hr. This internship is open to undergraduate and recently graduated students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Amanda Spivak<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Professor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">University of Georgia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Marine Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">762.499.6228</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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