Internship in Reproductive Science

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s (SCBI) Center for Species Survival is offering five-month laboratory management and support internships to assist with ongoing research on rare and endangered species.

Interns will receive training under the supervision of our technicians and lab managers on basic laboratory management and assisting scientific staff in reproductive research. Internships provide a unique opportunity to learn skills pertaining to management of a large-scale conservation biology laboratory.

These internships will be located at the SCBI’s Front Royal, Virginia campus. Selected intern(s) will be provided free dormitory-style housing on site. These are unpaid positions and interns are responsible for all living expenses.

Project Description

The Center for Species Survival is a world leader in the study of rare and endangered species. Our faculty is diverse, but specializes in reproductive physiology, endocrinology, cryobiology, embryology, molecular biology, behavior, and assisted reproduction. Staff scientists have pioneered important concepts in reproductive biology for threatened and endangered species and created new conservation tools, including new approaches for noninvasive monitoring of hormone profiles; artificial insemination; implementation of a "mobile laboratory research" unit; and databases to track cryopreserved biomaterials.
 
Interns will receive research training under the supervision of the Department of Reproductive Sciences laboratory staff. Work will entail lab-based research, record keeping, data analyses, and data presentation. Interns will gain first-hand experience in conducting endocrine research on endangered species. Pripary duties will be assisting staff scientists in ongoing reserach. Research activities may include noninvasive hormone monitoring and monitoring animal behavior.

Species studied include cheetah and fishing cat.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assist with:

• Cataloging research samples
• Laboratory management including cleaning, restocking, and preparing materials
• Ongoing endocrine biology research
• Summarizing data and data analyses

Desired Qualifications and Abilities

• Candidates should have completed at least three years of undergraduate coursework, including at least two laboratory-based courses.
• Candidate should be efficient, organized, and possess strong computer skills.
• Candidate must be able to travel to and from internship site.

Term of appointment

This is an ongoing internship.  Interns may start at any time and work for five months or longer from May/June through December 2012.

Stipend

These are unpaid positions and interns are responsible for all living expenses.

Housing

Dormitory-style housing will be provided at SCBI-Front Royal. Interns will be responsible for food and other living expenses.

We are no longer accepting applications for this internship.