Summer Research Fellowship – Plant Conservation at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

[Christa Horn]

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance offers Undergraduate Summer Student Fellowships in our Conservation Science teams: Recovery Ecology, Population Sustainability, Community Engagement, Conservation Genetics, Plant Conservation, Reproductive Sciences, and Disease Investigations.

Applications for the 2022 Summer Conservation Science Fellowships can be submitted until February 4, 2022. Applicants should specify which team’s fellowship they are applying for; applicants can only apply for one team, not multiple teams. To apply: Submit resume and cover letter to Corinne Sylvestre at csylvestre@sdzwa.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our current plan is to hold the 2022 Summer Fellowships in person, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that plan is subject to change depending on conditions at the time of the fellowships, as mandated by federal, state, and county government. We will update applicants on those conditions as fellowship dates approach.

Current undergraduate students must be officially associated with a college or university in order to be eligible for the fellowship program. Undergraduates who are currently enrolled in college meet this criterion, as do graduating seniors who are continuing their education in the fall following graduation. Recent graduates who are not continuing their education in fall of the same year are not eligible to apply.

Summer 2022 Conservation Science Fellowship dates are:
Monday, May 16 to Friday, August 5
Monday, June 13 to Friday, September 2

Fellowships are 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Fellows will receive a $7,000 stipend.

Plant Conservation researches the restoration and management of plant populations and communities. In addition to focusing on threatened and endangered species, they concentrate on keystone species, interactions, and processes that benefit not only plants, but also the animals and people that depend on them.

Plant Conservation is seeking one fellow to work with our team focused on Torrey pine restoration and monitoring stands of this rare tree threatened by drought and bark beetle outbreaks. For the independent project, the fellow will examine the impact of light on survival of enhancement plantings and/or stress within adult tree stands by analyzing hemispherical canopy photos. The position will require both field and office work (at the Beckman Center in Escondido), with the candidate able to safely traverse steep slopes with loose soil and heavy gear in warm weather, as well as sit for long periods at a computer to analyze photos and data.

Plant Conservation is also seeking one fellow to work on potential projects such as seed collections of San Diego County rare plant species, germination and storage trials, and propagation for restoration; restoration site preparation and vegetation surveys; weed management; or population genetics. Projects are developed with mentors to meet program and conservation needs and aligned with the skill sets and interests of the selected applicants. In addition to independent projects, selected fellows will round out their fellowship with work on all facets of Plant Conservation programs.

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