Summer Research Internship in Fire Ecology

Assist with field work in the Rocky Mountains!

The PaleoEcology and Fire Ecology Lab at
the University of Montana is seeking an en- thusiastic, hard-working student to assist with
ecological research. The student would participate in and contribute to the Big Burns Project, an
interdisciplinary study funded by the National Science Foundation focused on understanding the
history and ecological impacts of wildfires in the Rocky Mountains. We are using lake-sediment
cores to develop records of ecological change over the past 2500 years in high-elevation forests in
Montana
and Idaho. In addition, the student will contribute to ongoing research studying the effects of
microclimate, soil nutrient availability, and burn severity on post-fire tree regeneration in large
wildfires from 2017. The student will learn about the fire and forest ecology of the Rocky
Mountains, and gain experience with field data collection and laboratory techniques for processing
soil samples and
lake-sediment records.
Qualifications: Enthusiasm for ecological research and field work. Previ-
ous research experience is helpful but not required. Experience with hiking and backpacking
strongly preferred.
Location: Missoula, MT. We will be travelling locally in
Montana and Idaho for field work, and camping part of the
time.
Dates: Flexible. Ideally the student would start in early- to
mid-June and stay for 10 weeks.
Housing and transportation: Affordable summer hous- ing is available on campus. We provide all
transportation for field work, and Missoula has a free public bus system for getting around the
city.
To apply: Send the following to Kyra Wolf
([email protected]): (1) a cover letter describing your interests in the position, previous
outdoor and
research experiences, and relevant coursework (including GPA); (2) a resume no longer than two
pages; and
(3) contact information (name, e-mail, phone) for two references with knowledge of your work
experience. For questions or more information, please contact
Kyra Wolf at the e-mail above.
Summer Research Internship in Fire Ecology
Assist with field work in the Rocky Mountains