Internship
Become a Project TRUE Field Research Assistant! You will spend your summer and fall conducting field research at the Bronx Zoo with a team of college students, scientists and Educators from Fordham University and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Eligibility
- High school sophomore or junior in good standing.
- Comfortable in both indoor and outdoor settings.
- Interested in science and the environment.
- Curious about how things work.
- Live in the Bronx. If you do not currently live in the Bronx but have an extenuating circumstance that you would like to discuss, please email us at ProjectTRUE@wcs.org.
- The goal of Project TRUE is to increase the representation of women, black, and Latinx people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). However, we encourage anyone interested in Project TRUE to apply.
What field research assistants do
- Contribute to ongoing research projects that improve our understanding of NYC wildlife and green spaces.
- Collaborate with Fordham University and WCS scientists.
- Design and conduct an authentic research project.
- Present research findings to the scientific community and the general public.
- Work at the Bronx Zoo, the global headquarters of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
What field research assistants receive
- Mentoring from Fordham University graduate and undergraduate students, as well as WCS educators.
- For the summer, interns either receive a $750 stipend + MetroCard to cover travel OR are paid $16/hour through SYEP if eligible and work with WCS's authorized provider.
- For the fall, interns will receive a stipend of about $350.
- In-depth training and direct experience in planning, conducting, and presenting research.
- Assistance in applying for college and obtaining financial assistance.
- Memories, friends and mentors that will last a lifetime.
What WCS receives from the field research assistants
- Assistance collecting large-scale ecological data describing the NYC ecosystem.
- Help communicating to the public about urban ecology and conservation issues.
- Life-long environmental stewards conservation advocates.
- Yearly follow-up survey data to learn from your experiences and improve the Program.
Program requirements
- Attend all sessions in the summer (3 days a week in July and August) and fall (12 Saturdays). Unexcused absences will result in dismissal.
- Work with a small research team to develop and carry out an authentic urban ecology research project.
- Participate in yearly follow-up surveys (20 min).
Program timeline
|
What |
When |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | January - February |
| Applications Due | Late February |
| Interviews | Early March |
| Offers Made | Mid March |
| Summer Program | Late June - August |
| College Boot Camp | August |
| Fall Program | September - December |
| Bronx Science Consortium Poster Symposium | January |
THE 2024 PROJECT TRUE APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED
Applications closed on Saturday February 24, 2024 at 5:00 PM. 2024 applications are currently under review. Offers will be made by mid-March. Want to learn more about Project TRUE and our 2025 internship process? Click to complete our interest form and stay in touch about future opportunities.
If you have any questions, please email projectTRUE@wcs.org.