Calendar of Events
Environmental Studies

Community Reforestation (CoRe) Short Course Internship

Dreaming of warmer days? Applications are open for a paid internship opportunity to work for Dr. Jackson from spring break to the end of the semester, focused on outdoor work to help with our Community Reforestation Grant. Applications are due Feb 15th!

This spring, the Environmental Studies department is starting work on a 5 year, $500,000 grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to build a forest! Called “the Common Experimental Forest”, it will be located between the Commons Apartments and the West Loop road, in an area that is currently covered with vines and invasive plants. I’m looking for interns with some experience with native plant identification and ability to use iNaturalist, but also will provide training.

Spring 2026 intern responsibilities

  • Learn how the experiment forest will be configured and help with advertising and outreach about the project.
  • Work outside in all weather conditions to survey the area and remove invasive vines. Training and protective gear will be provided but the weather can be cold in March and April so you will be responsible for dressing appropriately.
  • Assist in setting up the native plant nursery for spring, including maintenance of grounds, care of seedlings, potting plants, and general upkeep

Timing

I am looking for interns who can stay over spring break to start work on this project and then continue to work part-time throughout the rest of the semester. Here is how the timing would work:

  • Spring break Monday March 23 – Thursday March 26. Work approximately 6 hours each day, 10am – 4:30pm with time for lunch.
  • End of semester: March 29 – May 3, work 10 hours per week, based around your current class schedule (approximately 1-2 hours per day, would coordinate plant watering schedules around intern availability).

Pay and academic internship opportunity

Pay is $20 per hour. Must be eligible to work in New York State and able to complete employment paperwork with the SUNY Research Foundation. Each intern can work a maximum of 75 hours from March through May.

If you would like to get internship credit for this, you can also sign up for a 2 credit internship in the short course format. These credits are 3000 level, so can be helpful to fulfilling major requirements and upper level class requirements. Registration for short course internships starts on Feb 23.

How to apply

Submit a cover letter to Dr. Allyson Jackson (Allyson.jackson@purchase.edu) that details the following:

  1. Current class year and major
  2. Reasons why you are interested in this position
  3. Any coursework taken related to Environmental Studies and how it relates to this project
  4. Any information about your knowledge of native plants that might not come from Environmental Studies classes (if you haven’t taken any ENV classes, do you have other experience that you can talk about?).
  5. Whether you are interested in receiving academic credit in addition to pay

Applications are due February 15th (email the cover letter above to apply).