Conservation Ecology Intern

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is offering a paid Conservation Ecology Internship for summer and fall 2025, providing hands-on experience in conservation and ecological research. Interns will sort and curate arthropods, assist with field surveys, and may help with bird surveys. The position requires relevant coursework or experience, attention to detail, and a reliable means of transportation. The internship is not remote and pays $18/hour.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden seeks applicants for a paid summer and fall internship. This internship provides real world conservation and ecological research experience to early career scientists. The Conservation Ecology Intern will spend a significant amount of time in the lab at the Garden identifying, sorting, and curating insects and other arthropods (e.g., spiders), and will assist with field surveys of these tiny animals at local plant community restoration sites. Depending on interest and experience, the intern may also assist with bird surveys at these same sites.

This temporary position is being offered from June to December, 2025, with the potential to continue into spring 2026, depending on the hourly schedule. Hours range from 20 hours per week for 20 weeks (with an option of 10 – 20 hours/week for a longer duration than 20 weeks). The pay rate for this position is $18/hour. There is no opportunity for remote work. This position reports to the Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist.

Applicants must /submit a curriculum vitae and a cover letter detailing their interest in tiny animals (e.g., insects and spiders) and/or large animals (e.g., birds), and what they hope to get out of the internship, and how it fits into their long-term education and/or career goals.

What You’ll Do
• Sort and curate arthropod specimens from field-collected samples
• Photograph arthropod specimens using a microscope camera
• Assist with the collection of arthropods in the field
• Assist with bird surveys in the field
• Interact with volunteers and SBBG staff as needed

You Will Definitely Need
• Previous coursework or experience with ecology, organismal biology, or a related field, and/or demonstrated enthusiasm for the Garden’s mission and bugs.
• The ability to follow instructions, work successfully with others, and seek guidance as needed
• Manual dexterity and acute attention to detail
• Basic computer skills
• Support for the Garden’s mission and goals
• A reliable means of transportation to and from the Garden

You Must Be Able To
• Sit for up to 2 hours at a time and using computer for lengthy periods
• Stand/walk for extended periods of time
• Dig soil samples in exposed habitats for extended periods of time

More About Us

The Garden is a beautiful place to work! And in this role, you are often outdoors. In addition to beautiful views, outdoor work environments also include exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure.

Disclaimer

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.