Posted: January 18, 2018

Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) is seeking a full-time intern for summer 2018.

Job Description and 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 to enhance the communication and integration of science to inform policy and improve and build partnerships that benefit working landscapes across the Commonwealth.
Over the last 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 Manure de Jour webinar series, Ag 101 training modules, the Conewago Creek Initiative, Greening the Lower Susquehanna, and Pennsylvania in Balance.
The AEC seeks to establish its vision of healthy land, water and environment through integrated 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 land and water 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 focus of the AEC's work is one of the great environmental problems we face today: nonpoint source water pollution caused by land use and land management. This focus on the land and water interface helps position the College as a leader in land and water research, engaged scholarship, and extension and outreach.

The AEC has two offices located at the University Park Campus and the Harrisburg Campus (Lower Susquehanna Office).
The AEC is in need of a full time summer intern at its Harrisburg Campus (Lower Susquehanna) office to assist the AEC Director, Project Coordinator, Watershed Technician and other 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 throughout the Lower Susquehanna. Primary duties will be field based work, including: maintaining the Lower Susquehanna Native Tree Nursery located at nearby Sunset Park in Londonderry Township; visiting landowners and municipalities to discuss opportunities for implementing 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 Conewago Creek and Chiques Creek watersheds; 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. 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 Lower Susquehanna Project Coordinator and AEC Director.

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; and be willing to conduct occasional travel (valid driver's license and reliable vehicle required).
Application Deadline: January 26, 2018
Application Instructions:
To apply, please email a resume (with 3 references), a letter of interest, and a writing sample (10 page maximum) to Anna Marie Nachman, , by January 26, 2018.
Company Name: Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center
Company Website: www.aec.cas.psu.edu
Contact Name: Matt Royer
Contact Title: Director, AEC
Contact Email:
Phone Number: (814) 863-8756