Intern, Research Assistant (Boreal wildfire and permafrost thaw)

Woodwell Climate Research Center is seeking a Summer Intern, Research Assistant for 2025 to join their Arctic team, focusing on boreal wildfire and permafrost thaw. The role involves analyzing remotely sensed data, using GIS to assess landscape changes in Alaska's boreal ecosystems, and contributing to climate policy. Interns will gain practical experience, network with professionals, and enhance their skills in a supportive environment.
Woodwell Climate Research Center

Summer Internships Program 2025

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary

Join Woodwell’s 2025 Summer Internship Program as a Research Assistant Intern (Boreal wildfire & permafrost thaw) on our Arctic team. This is a great opportunity for an intern who wants to build their GIS and other science technical skills, learn about boreal wildfire, permafrost ecosystems and wildfire-permafrost thaw interactions, and contribute to real policy and management impact in the climate solution space. We are looking for an intern to analyze remotely sensed data to assess landscape changes in boreal ecosystems in Alaska that are undergoing abrupt permafrost thaw after wildfire. This work is an essential component of our broader research goals of understanding how to protect carbon and permafrost with fire management in the boreal and assess its efficacy as a climate mitigation strategy. To do this work, we need to tackle existing knowledge gaps in our ability to quantify the potential carbon emission consequences of post-fire permafrost thaw.

As an intern at the Center, you will be provided with overall knowledge of scientific and operational programs of the Center as well as the knowledge you will gain working directly with your team. Interns will be provided challenging assignments, feedback, and opportunities to learn and contribute to our organization's success.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to: (samples)
• Use GIS to locate and digitize abrupt thaw events occurring after wildfire.
• Identify and analyze the environmental factors associated with those abrupt thaw events.
• Gain practical experience by working on projects and tasks within research and/or operations
• Network with professionals in field of interest, including mentors, managers and other interns
• Develop and enhance skill sets within chosen scientific and/or operational programs
• Participation and learning of the Center’s scientific interdisciplinary and operational program such as staff meetings, employee engagement activities.

Must Have the Following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Motivated and interested in using remote sensing science to better understand how boreal and permafrost affected ecosystems are impacted by climate change and escalating wildfire
• Willingness to apply theoretical knowledge in a professional setting
• Willingness and ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Open to receive guidance from experienced professionals and learn new techniques and tools
• Data analysis and statistics
• GIS experience preferred (Beginner experience ok)
• Good communication (Written, verbal and interpersonal)
• Collaboration and problem solving skills and ability to work independently
• Course work: Environmental policy, landscape and disturbance ecology and carbon cycling science a plus

Qualifications:
• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program majoring in ecology, biology, environmental science, global change, atmospheric science, geology or related field
• If remote or hybrid, must have access to reliable internet/wifi

Physical Requirements

In the office:
• Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Ability to communicate
• Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Frequent phone use required
• Ability to use computer
• Repetitive movements
• Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event

Work Environment

The functions of this role are conducted indoors

Hours of Work
• This role is paid on a salary basis.
• Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required to complete the duties of the position. This may mean weekend hours and/or hours beyond 40 per week.

Application review will begin on March 26th and be ongoing

Desired Start Date: Monday, June 16, 2025 through August 22, 2025 (90 days maximum)

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, temporary, hourly, non-exempt position, the salary range is the minimum wage, determined on state employee works or comes funded by specific program. Internship will not exceed more than 90 days.

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts Onsite, Hybrid or Remote, depending on specific internship.

Application Instructions: To apply, please complete the application, attach your resume and cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position in a single PDF to our career’s portal. Please reference your name on your resume/cover letter. Resumes without cover letters will not be reviewed.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.