Part-Time Agriculture and Environment Center Summer Intern

Penn State University - University Park, PA

Part-time - Intern

Hybrid - University Park, PA

Educational Services

About the position

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).

Responsibilities

• Assist AEC staff in the delivery of projects and programs across the Commonwealth.
• Work collaboratively with central Pennsylvania partners in watersheds to implement riparian buffers and green infrastructure.
• Develop GIS maps, tools, and data analytics to support outreach and education efforts.
• Conduct watershed assessments to identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist in delivering educational programming related to water quality and climate change mitigation.
• Conduct field work on restoration and best management practice (BMP) implementation.
• Assist in watershed planning and water quality monitoring.
• Facilitate and manage watershed-based partnerships.
• Deliver outreach materials and events to build partnerships with conservation entities.

Requirements

• 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.
• Upper-class (Jr. or Sr. level, but all are encouraged to apply).
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work from home.
• Willingness to conduct occasional travel (valid driver's license and reliable vehicle required).

Nice-to-haves

• GIS skills and familiarity with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and other GIS applications for the University Park position.
• Strong horticulture background or knowledge of native plant care and maintenance for the Lower Susquehanna position.