Project TRUE 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.
- Resident of the Bronx
- Eligible to work in the United States
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 OR are paid NYC hourly minimum wage through SYEP if eligible to work with WCS's authorized provider.
- For the fall, interns will receive a stipend of approximately $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 and 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 (14 Saturdays). Please note that unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, and other attendance-related issues may result in dismissal from the program.
- 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 | Late February- March |
| Offers Made | March |
| Summer Program | Late June - August |
| College Boot Camp | August |
| Fall Program | September - December |
| Bronx Science Consortium Poster Symposium | January |
The application period for 2026 has closed
Complete the interest form and we will contact you when it opens again next January
Complete the Interest Form
If you have any questions, please email projectTRUE@wcs.org.