Odum Internship
The 2025 application is now closed.
Please check back in December 2025 for 2026 application details.
Overview
Dr. Eugene Odum, regarded as one of the founders of ecosystem ecology, launched his scientific career at the Huyck Preserve in the early 1940s as one of the first 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.
- Up to four highly qualified undergraduate students will be selected each summer.
- The internship provides a $400 living expense stipend and includes housing and equipment.
- Arrangements for college credit must be made with the applicant’s home institution.
About the Internship
Summer 2025 interns will perform their own independent research project under the direction of the Summer Research Fellow (SRF). This year's SRF is Sarah Snyder, Ph.D. Dr. Snyder has been an Associate Professor of Biology at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, in Great Barrington, MA, since 2014. She has conducted field-based research that addresses conservation concerns for reptile and amphibian populations in the Caribbean, desert southwest, and northeastern US. Many of the ecological questions she is interested in are conducted collaboratively through research networks that actively involve undergraduate students. She is passionate about teaching and educational community outreach and serves on the board of the Berkshire Bird Observatory.
Interns will also interact with other visiting researchers performing their own research projects at the Huyck Preserve. Find the list of some of our recent researchers here.
The range of intern projects is broad and focused on the natural systems of the Huyck Preserve. Under Dr. Snyder's mentorship, students are encouraged to explore their own interests within the scope of the program.
The upcoming program will be held from June 29 to August 9, 2025.
Previous Summer Research Fellows have included the following:
Interns from previous years have come from Colleges and Universities such as Allegheny, Bard, Bates, Binghamton, Brown, Chatham, Colgate, Cornell, Fordham, Hamilton, Macalester, Skidmore, Soka University of America, Kenyon College, SUNY ESF, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Rochester, University of Richmond, UMBC, and Vassar.
Application or program questions may be directed to Anne Rhoads, Ph.D., Huyck Preserve Executive Director: [email protected].
All application materials, including letters of reference, should be received by the application deadline of February 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm.
If you do not receive confirmation of your application within 24 hours please email [email protected].
Interns will also interact with other visiting researchers performing their own research projects at the Huyck Preserve. Find the list of some of our recent researchers here.
The range of intern projects is broad and focused on the natural systems of the Huyck Preserve. Under Dr. Snyder's mentorship, students are encouraged to explore their own interests within the scope of the program.
The upcoming program will be held from June 29 to August 9, 2025.
Previous Summer Research Fellows have included the following:
- Dr. Mark Lesser, Associate Professor of Environmental Science from SUNY Plattsburgh
- Dr. Walter Carson, Retired Associate Professor from University of Pittsburgh
- Dr. Jonathan Titus, Retired Professor of Biology from SUNY-Fredonia
- Dr. Susan Beatty, Emerita Professor of Biology and Past Provost for The Sage Colleges (Troy and Albany, New York); Emerita Professor of Geography, University of Colorado, Boulder
- 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, Brown, Chatham, Colgate, Cornell, Fordham, Hamilton, Macalester, Skidmore, Soka University of America, Kenyon College, SUNY ESF, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Rochester, University of Richmond, UMBC, and Vassar.
Application or program questions may be directed to Anne Rhoads, Ph.D., Huyck Preserve Executive Director: [email protected].
All application materials, including letters of reference, should be received by the application deadline of February 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm.
If you do not receive confirmation of your application within 24 hours please email [email protected].
