Part-Time, RVCC Water Quality Intern

Job Description

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is hiring interns to assist with water quality sampling and analysis through RVCC's Water Quality Testing Laboratory. The interns will assist in collecting samples from streams and other water bodies on campus and in the local community and analyzing them for nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacterial concentrations in the lab. The interns will also participate in a research project related to downstream transport of cyanotoxins from harmful algal blooms in the Raritan River Basin.

The interns will receive training on the lab instrument that analyzes for nitrogen and phosphorus and the procedure for measuring bacteria. With supervision from faculty, the interns will communicate and coordinate with research collaborators, maintain an inventory of lab supplies, contact vendors to obtain price quotations, establish written protocols for laboratory analyses, and document and troubleshoot instrument performance. The interns will be responsible for providing periodic status updates to their supervisor and documenting their work through spreadsheets, written reports, and photographs or videos.

Interns may be asked to assist in preparing grant proposals and outreach to local environmental organizations to solicit new business for the lab. Interns may have the opportunity to present research results at conferences and workshops.

Preferred Skills/

Qualifications:

• Current RVCC student or recent RVCC alumnus/alumna.
• Interest in environmental science and/or ecology, including topics such as water quality, stream and ecosystem health, stream restoration, watershed management, etc.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow directions.
• Good working knowledge of word processing and basic spreadsheet programs and functions.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in small groups.
• Prior experience collecting environmental samples in the field, a plus.
• Prior experience with laboratory analytical equipment, a plus.
• Mechanical and/or field experience/skill, a plus.

Duration and Compensation:

This internship will run year round. Interns are expected to work approximately 5-10 hours per week during the summer and 3-7 hours per week during the semester, occasionally more as needed to complete sampling and analysis tasks. Interns will be paid $15 per hour. Scheduling will be negotiated with the supervisor.

As a New Jersey First Act Employer, new employees must establish a primary residence in New Jersey within one year unless an exemption applies.

For consideration of the above position, please submit your cover letter and resume online, by clicking the apply now button. We regret that we are unable to respond to each and every resume received. Only those candidates of interest will be contacted directly.