Biology Opportunities

The Arboretum is hiring Restoration Technicians this summer.  These positions help with native plant seed collection, invasive species control, trail maintenance and ecological restoration of the Arb prairies and woodlands (full-time, ten weeks of employment). These positions are great experience for anyone interested in field work in the sciences or a natural resources career path. Applications are open now and positions will be filled as qualified applicants are found. See the Arboretum web site for the application form.

The University of Minnesota is home to leading clinical and translational research programs focused on improving outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer and blood diseases. They support comprehensive clinical, research, and education programs with a focus on five core areas: epidemiology, leukemia, brain tumors, solid tumors (sarcomas), and childhood cancer survivorship. They are currently looking for exceptional undergraduate students to complete an 11-week, intensive research experience, designed to provide immersive research training for students interested in a career in academic research/medicine.  Each student will conduct a small, independent research project focused on a scientific question using computational biology.

Students have been taking field courses at Itasca since 1909. The U of MN legacy program embodies experiential learning by fully immersing students in the natural world. Hands-on field learning experiences foster a deep connection to the environment and provide real-world insights that can’t be replicated in a classroom. Students don’t just learn what mammalogists (people who study mammals), mycologists (people who study fungi), ornithologists (people who study birds), entomologists (people who study insects) or animal behaviorists (that one is easy to guess) do… they do what they do on a daily basis. They live-trap and handle mammals and birds, key out fungi and plants, collect and identify invertebrates, and design experiments, all with the guidance of supportive faculty mentors and in collaboration with their peers. The station’s unique location at the convergence of three of North America’s largest biomes (coniferous, deciduous, and prairie), and at the pristine headwaters of its largest watershed, provides the perfect setting for students to explore a broad range of ecosystems, flora and fauna.

The Kolenkow-Reitz fellowship empowers Carleton students to engage in summer or winter break research with non-Carleton science and math faculty. This initiative is aimed at nurturing scientific talent and encouraging exploration of STEM fields as potential career paths. In 2026, the fellowship provides $580 per week for full-time research work, up to 10 weeks in summer or 3 weeks during winter break. Additional funding up to $550 ($200 for winter break) is available for travel and research supplies. Full-time engagement in the project is mandatory.

Carleton Summer Science Fellows have the opportunity do research at Carleton or at another institution for two summers. Summer Science Fellows participate in group meetings and activities both before and after the summer research experience by and are expected to enroll in the 1 credit Science Fellows Research Colloquium in the spring before and the fall following their research experience.

Harvard Forest is seeking motivated individuals to join our team as Field Assistants to support ongoing research/current experiment based in a temperate forest plot at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. This role involves hands-on fieldwork in a dynamic outdoor environment, contributing to critical forestry and ecological research under the direction of Dr. Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Professor of Biology, Harvard University. The position is ideal for individuals who enjoy physical labor, have an interest in environmental sciences, and are eager to work as part of a collaborative team.

With plant biodiversity as a unifying theme, research at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University by staff and visiting scientists from around the world builds on a broadly integrative program that will advance knowledge about how plants function, how they have evolved and diversified over time, how they shape ecosystems, and how they respond to a rapidly changing planet. The DaRin Butz Foundation Research Internship Program at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University gives undergraduates in the life sciences a unique opportunity to experience research from start to finish while gaining training and connections among scientific colleagues. DaRin Butz interns will not only conduct research, but will also develop their project with their advisors and be guided through the process of sharing their research through written reports and oral presentations, an important component of scientific research. Interns will participate in activities with the other DaRin Butz interns, including a weekly reading group and tours of the Arboretum’s diverse collections.

The Coe Wilderness Field Station Scholarship provides full tuition, travel expenses, and a $2500 stipend to one Carleton student to take a summer course at the field station. This opportunity is supported by a gift from a generous Carleton alum who attended the Wilderness Field Station more than 50 years ago. Her experience at the field station changed her trajectory at Carleton and led her to a career in Environmental Policy. With this gift, her hope is that Carleton students will take the opportunity to try something different, perhaps out of their comfort zone, and potentially change their self-perception and direction. The scholarship is open to any Carleton student with an interest in taking a course at the Coe Wilderness Field Station during the summer of 2026. Applicants do not need previous wilderness experience to be eligible. First year students are particularly encouraged to apply. Many students that attend the field station have no previous experience with wilderness education or wilderness travel.