Student Internship - Campus Sustainability Office

Intern – Tree Inventory and Processing

ENCAP, Inc. 

Campus Sustainability, Office of the President

Position Description

This is a 120-hour internship with ENCAP, Inc. and Campus Sustainability, Office of the 

President, reporting to ENCAP, Inc. and Director of Campus Sustainability. This internship is 

anticipated to run from May 12, 2025 to June 13, 2025 (5 weeks). In this role, the intern will 

assist with conducting a comprehensive tree inventory of the NIU Main Campus in DeKalb, IL. 

The anticipated length of the inventory will take place over 8-10 days (May 12 – May 23). After 

the inventory has been completed, the intern will assist ENCAP, Inc. with data analysis. 

Additional labors could include benchmarking and research for Urban Forestry Management 

Planning, research and knowledge building of trees for a virtual arboretum database, and other 

duties as assigned. 

General Duties and Responsibilities

1. Tree Inventory

Working with ENCAP, Inc., you will assist an Arborist in the data collection process of existing 

trees located across campus. The inventory is anticipated to take place over 8-10 business days. 

This process requires business to be conducted outside, rain or shine, walking over potentially 

uneven terrain, and over the distance of the main NIU campus. 

2. Data analysis

After the Tree Inventory has been conducted, the intern will assist with data analysis of the data 

collected during the inventory. After data analysis, ENCAP, Inc. will suggest new trees for 

planting. 

3. Urban Forestry Management Plan

The creation of an Urban Forestry Management Plan will be explored after the tree inventory is 

conducted. The intern may assist in benchmarking, research, and informational interviews for an 

Urban Forestry Management Plan for NIU. 

4. Engagement

Another goal is to begin developing a virtual arboretum for the NIU website. This database will 

consist of general forestry information, facts about our current trees, and anticipated additions to 

the campus. The intern may have the opportunity to compile research and assist in the co-creation of this database. 

5. Other Duties as Assigned

To reach the 120 hours of this internship, the intern may be asked to perform other duties as 

assigned in relation to naturalist work or research and engagement. These duties would be 

assigned by the Director of Campus Sustainability.

Qualifications

- Current NIU student 

- GIS experience strongly preferred

- Passion for ecological restoration

- Ability to follow instructions from colleagues/coworkers/team members

- Ability to work in a team environment

- Meet the physical requirements of the position

Pay

The intern will earn $15/hour for the 120-hour internship. This pay is subject to tax withholding. 

The intern may also receive course credit when working with their academic advisor and the 

Director of Campus Sustainability for approval.

One year post-bac/ RAMP employment opportunity at The Morton Arboretum for recent graduates

 Hoban lab project at Morton Arboretum: The Tree Conservation Biology team will be hosting a RAMP participant to advance our knowledge about conservation and restoration of the threatened butternut tree, while developing conservation partnerships with indigenous peoples and state, federal and other partners, and engaging with communities, including through citizen science. Butternut is a native tree dying off due to a disease that has been reducing populations for about 70 years, resulting in current populations that are about 95% reduced from their size a century ago. The main research project will focus on assessing individual tree health, habitat suitability, disease progression, seedling growth, and other aspects of the ecology of this system. We will collect data in the field and use genetic tools, forest health assessments, soil ecology, GIS, and spatial statistics, along with traditional knowledge, to better understand why some trees are healthier than others, why some populations have seedlings while many do not, how quickly the disease progresses, and how to foster adult tree and seedling survival. In addition to collecting and analyzing data to test hypotheses developed in collaboration with the mentree, we will engage in youth education and outreach, working with citizen scientists, and sharing our findings with diverse audiences. Success factors include an interest in a combination of field, lab, desk, and computational work; teamwork and communication skills; experience with or an interest in learning and using computational tools including R and GIS; ability to work outdoors in hot, cold and wet conditions; enthusiasm for conservation, restoration and environmental stewardship; passion for trees and forests. Work will take place primarily in the Chicago region but may include trips to other locations.

Morton Arboretum summer internship Application deadline is January 31, 2025.

 REU Site: Integrative Tree Science for the Anthropocene at The Morton Arboretum

Morton Arboretum

May 2025 - Aug 2025

Award Title

REU site: Integrative tree science for the Anthropocene at the Morton Arboretum

Application deadline is January 31, 2025.

 

Overview

Experience careers that explore solutions for climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resources management, and urban life through the National Science Foundation REU Program: Integrative Tree Science for the Anthropocene at The Morton Arboretum

The era of unprecedented transformation of the biosphere due to human activities is termed the Anthropocene and calls for directly addressing the ecological and environmental challenges of the present and near future. The REU at The Morton Arboretum uses trees as model systems to investigate questions related to evolution, ecology, conservation, and management in natural and built environments.

Participants will:

• Engage in a paid, 10-week summer program, with housing and travel provided, conducting an independent research project under the guidance of a PhD-level mentor.
• Gain direct experience on all aspects of a research project, from hypothesis and research question development, experimental design, collecting and analyzing data, to presenting the results at a final symposium.
• Develop critical thinking, independence, self-confidence, perseverance, and collaborative skills, interact with interns from other Chicago institutions, and benefit from workshops on science communication and professional development.

The 10-week research program includes:

• $7,500 stipend
• Housing, research supplies, and travel
• Professional development workshops in science communication, responsible conduct in research, resume building, and more

Research areas:

• Soil ecology
• Forest ecology
• Conservation biology
• Root biology
• Plant systematics and biodiversity
• Urban forests and arboriculture
• Plant breeding and horticulture

Learn more:

• Present your research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• Work on unique projects.
• Meet new people and grow your network.

Eligibility Requirements

Students participating in the National Science Foundation-supported REU program must be:

• Citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. 
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student (graduating seniors or recent graduates are not eligible to apply). 
• Able to participate from May 27 to August 1, 2025.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a passion for the natural world and a willingness to engage in research across diverse environments. A commitment to collaboration, attention to detail, and scientific inquiry is essential. Experience with specific methods or data analysis is often useful but not required, as mentoring teams will teach project-specific techniques. Applicants will be matched to projects based upon interests, personal background, and enthusiasm.

We encourage applicants from colleges with limited research opportunities, groups underrepresented in STEM, first- and second-year undergraduates, and first-generation college students.

Website

https://mortonarb.org/science/opportunities-in-science/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-program/#overview

REU Opportunity at Morton Arboretum

Below is a flyer detailing the REU opportunities at Morton Arboretum for 2023. There are also a number of other opportunities with different labs. More details can be found here.