Bat Forage Phenology Intern at USA National Phenology Network

Submitted by littin on

Position Title: Bat Forage Phenology Intern
Reports to: Erin Posthumus
Hours/Week: 15
Internship Date Range: May 22, 2023 – Aug 18, 2023
Location: Remote work acceptable; office space available on campus

About the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) Program:

The RISE Program is hosted by the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) and aims to provide
both undergraduate and graduate students with paid internships related to resilient
environments and societies. RISE internships give students experience in workplace settings
with an opportunity to grow their interpersonal skills and prepare them for careers after
graduation.

About the USA National Phenology Network:

The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN), based at the University of Arizona, brings together volunteer observers, government agencies, non-profit groups, educators, and students of all ages to monitor the impacts of climate change on plants and animals in the United States.

Internship summary:

The USA-NPN is collaborating with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to support the post-delisting
monitoring program for the migratory lesser long-nosed bat, which was removed from the
Endangered Species List in 2018. A component of this monitoring program is tracking the
phenology of food resources used by the bats during the period they are in Arizona and New
Mexico. Since 2017, the USA-NPN has coordinated a data collection campaign, called Flowers
for Bats, that engaged volunteer and professional scientists in collecting data on the timing of
flowering and fruiting of columnar cacti and agave used by the bat. The goal of this internship is
to undertake an analysis of the overlap between food resources and the presence of the bat in
Arizona and New Mexico. This analysis will inform updates to the post-delisting monitoring
program that will be finalized in the coming year.

Internship description:

The student will work closely with Erin Posthumus, USA-NPN Outreach Coordinator and Liaison
to the USFWS, to compile, synthase, plot, and analyze flowering and fruiting data for columnar
cacti and agave along with bat migration data. Ideally, the intern will already have experience
with basic data analysis and should have familiarity with Microsoft Excel. The intern would have
ample opportunity to interface with members of the USA-NPN team and learn more about
botany, ecology, and phenology and all that the organization does. The internship would also
contribute to the post-delisting monitoring plan for a formerly federally listed species.

Compensation:

The Bat Forage Phenology Intern is compensated by the University of Arizona. The pay rate will
be $18/hour.

How to Apply:

Application portal or send resume directly to Erin Posthumus (erin@usanpn.org).

Applications for the Bat Forage Phenology Intern must be submitted no later than May 26,
2023.

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