Overview

Dr. Eugene Odum, regarded as one of the fathers of ecosystem ecology, launched his scientific career at the Huyck Preserve in the early 1940s as one of the first Senior Research Fellows at the Huyck Preserve's biological research station. In honor of his legacy, the Huyck Preserve offers an internship for undergraduate students who are interested in conducting ecological field research.  Interns work with scientific professionals, conduct and present original research, and gain valuable environmental education experience through involvement in our high school summer program.

Internship summary

• This is a full-time, residential internship lasting eight weeks from mid-June to early August.
• Four highly qualified undergraduate students will be selected each summer.
• The internship is unpaid; however, housing and equipment is provided.
• Arrangements for college credit must be made with the applicant’s home institution.
• Applications are due the third week of February each year.

Odum Internship Information

Due to COVID-19 the program will not be offered in 2021.

About the Internship

Interns will work under the direction of Dr. Susan Beatty, the Summer Research Fellow (SRF). Dr. Beatty has been Professor of Geography and Associate Dean of Natural Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Portland State University, and served as Provost of the Sage Colleges.  Her research interest are broad and include plant ecology, soil science, disturbance ecology, biogeography, conservation and restoration ecology.  Dr. Beatty has acted as SRF in 2019 and in two previous summers and looks forward to returning to share her knowledge and love of science and the Huyck Preserve with another group of students this year.

Previous Research Fellows have included:

• Dr. Seth Bigelow, Forest Ecologist, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center
• Dr. George Robinson, Associate Professor of Biology at University at Albany, SUNY
• Dr. Eddie Watkins, Assistant Professor of Biology at Colgate University​
• Dr. Radka Wildova, Plant Ecologist, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at U. Michigan 

Interns from previous years have come from Colleges and Universities such as Allegheny, Bard, Bates, Binghamton, Colgate, Cornell, Fordham University, Hamilton, Macalester, Skidmore, SUNY ESF, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, UMBC, and Vassar.