Internships

 


Natural Resources Extension Internship Program

Extension provides non-formal education and learning activities to both rural and urban residents and communities throughout the country. The FNR extension program has a broad environmental scope including fisheries, forest management, invasive species, urban forestry, sustainability, wildlife, and wood products (purdue.edu/fnr/extension). The Natural Resources Extension Internship program was developed to provide an opportunity for students to enhance their career skills through practical, hands-on experience. Our extension internship program can help students:

  • Develop leadership and decision-making skills in handling creative challenges
  • Gain experience developing extension products including publications, online videos, presentations, and/or more
  • Participate in professional development opportunities
  • Build professional references and contacts
  • Clarify career goals
  • Learn from a diverse and experienced group of natural resources professionals

Eligibility Criteria

Internships are open to Purdue and non-Purdue students. Requirements for the position(s) include status as a junior or senior level college student in natural resources or related discipline at a U.S. institution of higher learning, or individuals who have completed a 4-yr degree after January 1, 2021 in natural resources or related discipline; a minimum 3.0 GPA; evidence of initiative; ability to work independently; and commitment to conservation of natural resources.

Application Process

FNR extension professionals post their own internship positions on Job Boards and List-serves. Interested applicants may also contact a FNR extension mentor who fits your area of interest.

  • FNR Advisors/co-advisors submit a proposal to the FNR review panel by the deadline of December 17, 2021.
  • The project/activities which interns undertake MUST address at least one RREA issue area.

Additional Information

  • Funds are available to fund three (3), 8-week internships for 2022 at a rate of $13.00/hr
  • A $1,000 housing stipend is provided to each intern
  • Internship start dates and work hours are flexible and project specific. The amount of hours per week cannot exceed 40 hours. There are also hour limitations for work conducted during the academic school year.

Renewable Resources Extension Act

The FNR Extension Internship Program is funded by the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA). Natural Resources Extension Interns focus their work on one or more RREA program areas. The RREA, Public Law 95-306, was passed June 30, 1978 to address educational needs in managing the nation’s renewable resources. Funds are appropriated annually by the Congress and allocated to the various States by U.S. Department of Agriculture under an established formula. RREA funds for Indiana, administered by Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, are used on programs to help woodland and rural landowners enhance forest health and wildlife resources. Critical issues in the 2018-22 RREA Strategic Plan are:

  • Ecosystem Services
  • Fish and Wildlife Habitat
  • Generational Succession and Other Land-Ownership
    Changes
  • Invasive Species
  • Landowner Engagement
  • Public Awareness and Youth Engagement
  • Rural Communities
  • Water and Wetlands
  • Wildfire Prevention and Management

Open Intern Positions:

The proposals are completed in January with a full review in the month of February. The funded positions are announced approximately the end of February for the Spring and Summer season.

Internship Program Contact

Brian MacGowan, Project Investigator, RREA Program in Indiana, macgowan@purdue.edu.

Current Student Intern

Nick Paramore's Headshot

 

 

Nick Paramore (2023-present), nparamor@purdue.edu
FNR Extension web designer & videographer

Past Student Interns

  • Miranda Mauck (2022-2024) FNR Extension student web designer
  • Jeremy Chen (2022-2023), FNR Extension web designer & videographer
  • Jackson Montgomery (2021-2022), FNR Extension web designer
  • Shree Sathiyan (2021-2022), FNR Extension web designer & videographer
  • David Li (2021), FNR Extension web designer and videographer
  • Qiyan Ba (2019-2021), FNR Extension web designer and videographer
  • Rebecca Hahn (2019-2021), FNR Extension web designer
  • Maddi Hoverman (2017-2019), FNR Extension web designer
  • Ken Thompson (2019), FNR Extension web designer and videographer
  • Emi Chan (2019), The Nature of Teaching
  • Emily Musenbrock (2019), Pond Management Outreach & Extension
  • Aaron Provencio (2019), Forest Management for Wildlife
  • Kainen Morgan (2018), FNR Extension videographer and web designer
  • Cody Widner (2018), Forest management for game species on private lands
  • Tevin Tomlinson (2018), Pond and land management for Indiana Landowners
  • Ashwin Prasad (2017), FNR Extension web support and videographer
  • Moriah Boggess (2017), Early Successional Habitat Management
  • Kelsey Rearick (2017), The Nature of Teaching
  • Jake Burch (2015-2017), FNR Extension web support and graphic designer
    Sustainable Communities
    Wood Research Laboratory
    Heart of the Tipppy-Healthy Mussels, Healthy River
    Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment
  • Aaron Doenges (2015-17), FNR Extension web support and videographer
    Helping the Hellbenders at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
    Help the Hellbender Day at Columbian Park Zoo
    Help the Hellbender Sing-Along Video
  • Cullen Harris (2016), Eastern Hellbender Outreach Project
  • Zach Musser (2016), Controlling Winged Burning Bush
  • Jacob Venable (2015-2016), web designer
  • Rebecca Busse (2015), Eastern Hellbender Outreach Project
    HelpTheHellbender.org
    Eastern Hellbender ID Video
  • Neil Osborn (2015), Development of Multimedia Tools and Assistance with Forest Products Industry Training Programs
  • Daniel Thomas (2015), Stopping Weeds by Spreading Knowledge
    Invasive Plant Species: Oriental Bittersweet
    Invasive Plant Species: Wintercreeper
  • Bridget Wellman (2014-15), web support and graphic designer