Part-Time Agriculture and Environment Center Summer Intern

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) was founded in 2008 by the College of Agricultural Sciences and its Environment and Natural Resources Institute (now the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science (SAFES)), to enhance the communication and integration of science to inform policy and improve and build partnerships that benefit working landscapes across the Commonwealth.

For over a decade, the AEC has helped establish Penn State as a leader on complex environmental problem solving, particularly related to agriculture and water quality, through initiatives such as the Ag 101 training modules, the Conewago Creek Initiative, Greening the Lower Susquehanna, the Lower Susquehanna Regional Partnership, Pennsylvania in Balance, and climate-smart agriculture through a leadership role in Penn State's CARAT Project (Climate-Smart Agriculture that is Profitable, Regenerative, Actionable, and Trustworthy).

The AEC seeks to establish its vision of healthy land, water, and environment through research, extension, education and collaborative community engagement as it fulfills its mission: to catalyze integrated research and engagement related to the impacts of land use and land management on water and the environment. The AEC builds and sustains partnerships with stakeholders engaged in agriculture and conservation issues and integrates Penn State University's education, research, community outreach and extension assets to help communities and stakeholders solve land and water-related environmental problems at multiple scales.

The AEC has two offices, one located at the University Park Campus and the other at the Harrisburg Campus (Lower Susquehanna Office).

The AEC is in need of part-time summer interns at both its University Park and Lower Susquehanna Offices. Interns may work up to 40 hours/week over the summer. The interns will work collaboratively in a cohort of student interns at the AEC and the related Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) at Penn State Extension.

The University Park Intern will assist AEC staff in the delivery of a multitude of its projects and programs across the Commonwealth. In particular, the intern will work on projects and programs collaboratively with central Pennsylvania partners in watersheds in proximity to University Park seeking to accelerate the implementation of riparian buffers and green infrastructure and other conservation practices on agricultural and urban lands. The intern will work closely with the AEC GIS Specialist and CACAT Agricultural Conservation Extension Educators to develop decision support tools, deliver educational programming, and facilitate partnership collaboration in watersheds. For the University Park position, we are looking for an intern with GIS skills and familiarity with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and other GIS applications. Primary duties will include: developing GIS maps, tools, and data analytics to support strategic outreach, education, and implementation efforts; conducting watershed assessments to identify watershed improvement opportunities in priority watersheds; assisting Penn State Extension and other partners to help deliver educational programming related to practices to improve water quality and mitigate climate change impacts; conducting field work on restoration and best management practice (BMP) implementation, including conducting maintenance on riparian buffers, native meadows, rain gardens, and other green infrastructure practices; assisting in watershed planning and water quality monitoring; assisting AEC and CACAT staff in facilitating and managing watershed based partnerships; and assisting in the delivery of outreach materials, events and approaches that build partnerships with entities involved in conservation work. Because of the partnership nature of the AEC's work, the intern will gain exposure to different partners from private, public agency, and nonprofit sectors. Other duties (as assigned) to assist the AEC Director and other staff.

The Lower Susquehanna Intern will assist AEC staff in the delivery of a multitude of its projects and programs in the Lower Susquehanna region. In particular, the intern will work on projects and programs related to implementation of riparian buffers and green infrastructure and other conservation practices on agricultural and urban lands throughout the Lower Susquehanna. Much of the work will be performed at the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) and in the surrounding Chiques, Conewago, Conoy, Little Conestoga, and Spring Creek watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties. For the Lower Susquehanna position, we are looking for an intern with a strong horticulture background or knowledge of native plant care and maintenance and interest in field work. Primary duties will be field based work, including: managing and maintaining the Lower Susquehanna Native Tree Nursery at SEAREC; maintaining native plant conservation practices at SEAREC, including forest riparian buffer and native meadow; working with Penn State researchers to collect survival and growth data on research buffers; visiting farmers, landowners, and municipalities to discuss opportunities for implementing conservation practices, riparian buffers and "turf to trees" reforestation projects and developing planting plans; organizing and coordinating tree pickup for restoration projects in the Lower Susquehanna region; assisting AEC staff in planning, coordinating and supervising volunteer plantings and other events through the AEC's Lower Susquehanna Volunteer Conservation Corps; working with local nurseries to promote native species for conservation projects; assisting Penn State Extension and other technical partners to help deliver green infrastructure trainings; conducting field work on restoration and best management practice (BMP) implementation, including conducting maintenance on riparian buffers, native meadows, rain gardens, and other green infrastructure practices; assisting in watershed planning and water quality monitoring; assisting AEC staff in facilitating and managing watershed based partnerships in the region, in particular in the adjacent priority watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties (through our Lower Susquehanna Regional Partnership); and assisting in the delivery of outreach materials, events and approaches that build partnerships with entities involved in conservation work in the Lower Susquehanna region and beyond. Because of the partnership nature of the AEC's work, the intern will gain exposure to different partners from private, public agency, and nonprofit sectors. Other duties (as assigned) to assist the AEC Director and other staff.

Qualified Candidate: Should have relevant major and interest in water resources, natural resources, and environmental and/or agricultural sciences; interest and skills in community and landowner engagement and outreach; be upper-class (Jr. or Sr. level, but all are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on experience/background); have excellent writing and communication skills; have ability to work from home; and be willing to conduct occasional travel (valid driver's license and reliable vehicle required).

Application Instructions: Applications must include a cover letter/letter of interest and a resume. In your cover letter, please specify your interest in the University Park position, the Lower Susquehanna position, or both.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

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