RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:   A five year interval tree census has begun in the 16-ha Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest.  The LFDP is a member of the Center for Tropical Forest Science network, an organization funded through the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.  We also receive support from the National Science Foundation funded Long Term Ecological Research Program.  To complete the census we are seeking volunteer interns in two phases over the course of several months.  For the second phase of the project, we seek the help of two (2) additional volunteer interns.  After training in census protocol and database management, volunteers will work in the forest identifying,
measuring, and mapping trees in marked grids.  Data will then be entered using database software.  Volunteers work together in teams of three under the supervision of a field technician, spending long hours in the field (8 am until 4 pm, Monday-Friday, with weekends free), often in wet and muddy conditions and on challenging topography.  While in Puerto Rico volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about diverse aspects of tropical ecology from scientists involved in the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program.
PERIOD:  June 1st through September 30th, 2016.
STIPEND: $600 per month to cover food and general living expenses.
ACCOMMODATION: Free accommodation at the El Verde Field Station in Puerto Rico.  Housing is communal using shared resources.  The field station is relatively isolated and transportation is available on a limited basis.
TRAVEL: Refund of up to $750 towards a round-trip plane ticket from mainland USA, if not already living in Puerto Rico.
NOTE: We are unable to provide any medical insurance.
REQUIREMENTS: College graduates with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, preferably with background in biology, ecology, or environmental science, field-work experience, and knowledge of plant identification.  Tropical experience useful, but is not required.  We are currently only considering US citizens and permanent US residents for these opportunities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested applicants must fill out the online Application Form (seehttp://sites.google.com/a/ites.upr.edu/el-verde-field-station/internships/luquillo-forest-dynamics-plot-internship-opportunities/lfdp-internship-application).The following additional materials must also be submitted via email to Seth Rifkin at lfdp@ites.upr.edu by April 11th:
1) A letter of interest indicating why you wish to work in the tropical forest and describing your relevant experience.  Include a statement that you understand your application is for a volunteer position;
2) Full resume;
3) University transcripts (scanned unofficial transcripts are fine). All email attachments must include the name of the applicant as part of the file name.
Please email further inquiries to lfdp@ites.upr.edu.
Following phone interviews, we will inform successful applicants in early-May, 2016.
For more information, please see https://sites.google.com/a/ites.upr.edu/el-verde-field-station/Home,http://luq.lternet.edu/, http://www.ites.upr.edu/, andhttp://luq.lternet.edu/research/projects/forest_dynamics_description.html.