Water Science Intern

Water Science Intern (Full Time) – Summer 2025

The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) seeks a paid summer intern to assist with water quality, water quantity, and aquatic ecology monitoring across the Huron River watershed. The intern will support maintenance of a sensor node network, data collection to develop a watershed flow model and its use, the organization’s long-term Chemistry and Flow Monitoring Program, as well as other field, lab, and data processing activities that arise throughout the summer. 

Duties 

• Work with HRWC staff, partner organizations, and volunteers to execute flow monitoring, velocity profiling and smallmouth bass nest observations.
• Conduct in-stream water quality monitoring to support volunteer programming, including measuring flow, collecting water samples, monitoring native mussels, and using handheld water quality meters.
• Coordinate and lead teams of volunteers and interns, including training, communication, scheduling, and technical support.
• In collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Digital Water Lab, install, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair electrical and mechanical equipment to maintain functionality of a water level sensor node network.
• Assist HRWC and University of Michigan staff in social data collection and analysis around flow data use.
• Clean, process, and analyze incoming data.
• As necessary, assist with other HRWC fieldwork, monitoring, and analytical tasks.
• Based on experience, digitize data in ArcGIS to support development of watershed-wide flow model.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Minimum of 2 years of experience working on environmental and/or water resources issues, or an upper-class undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in environmental science, ecology, environmental studies, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Access to a vehicle, valid driver’s license, and ability to travel to monitoring sites in Southeast Michigan.
• Self-motivated, organized, and collaborative; ability to work independently.
• Experience leading groups of people.
• Able to occasionally lift and move 50 pounds, walk on uneven ground, wade in streams and rivers, and swim while wearing a personal flotation device.

Duration 

This is a full-time internship that requires a commitment of 40 hours per week. The preferred duration is May through August, however, start and end dates can be adjusted based on availability.  

Location 

The intern will spend time at HRWC’s offices in Ann Arbor, MI as well as at partner facilities and sampling sites across Southeast Michigan. 

Compensation 

The intern will be paid an hourly rate of $16-19, depending on experience and education level. Travel mileage will also be reimbursed. 

Application Process 

Please submit an application that includes a cover letter and resume via hrwc.org/about/staff/jobs/ by March 7, 2025. Contact rlawson@hrwc.org with any questions.   

Huron River Watershed Council is committed to diversity and inclusion within the workplace. We are committed to prohibiting discrimination against volunteers, clients, and applicants on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental handicap/disability, social economic class, ethical values, and/or political beliefs.