Community Science Internship

San Diego Coastkeeper, a non-profit organization working to protect and restore San Diego’s swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters, seeks an energetic, well-organized, and self-motivated individual to fill the volunteer position of Community Science Intern. The intern will assist in the preparations and execution of water quality monitoring events, update data on the website, and educate the public about the importance of our Watershed Watch monitoring programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in planning and preparations for water quality monitoring events, including but not limited to organizing and calibrating equipment, labeling sample bottles, and cleaning sampling gear
• Assist Coastkeeper staff in administrative tasks related to water quality monitoring events
• Assist the Community Science Director with sample collection and volunteer engagement following protocols and training
• Maintain supply inventories
• Update the San Diego Coastkeeper’s website with the most recent data
• Complete a project of your choice within your scope of work: bring education to monitoring events in innovative ways, create community science-themed blog posts, use our community science database to analyze data in a new way, use creative volunteer recruitment and engagement tactics, etc.
• Flexibility to assist other Coastkeeper staff with water quality monitoring-related tasks, such as informing the general public of San Diego Coastkeeper’s work and/or conducting water quality monitoring demonstrations at tabling events
• Flexibility to potentially assist with somewhat unpredictable stormwater sampling when applicable 

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants should be comfortable in the outdoors and able to work in all weather conditions (as long as the situation is deemed safe) while considering the possibility of getting wet, and have the following: basic understanding of water quality parameters (e.g. pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrients, metals. etc.), familiarity with environmental science with emphasis on aquatic ecosystems, experience or coursework in water sampling protocols, techniques, data collection, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC); familiarity with data entry and Google Sheets, Excel, etc.; basic skills or the eagerness to potentially learn data visualization programs like Tableau or GIS, problem-solving abilities to address challenges in fieldwork or volunteer coordination, and proficiency in safe and conscientious practices.

In addition, we are looking for candidates who have excellent oral and written communication skills, highly developed organizational skills, and a demonstrated ability to engage, motivate, and manage community volunteers. Experience with Gmail and Google Drive is required. They must be hard-working, self-motivated, demonstrate a deep commitment to and passion for environmental protection, and be able to work independently and prioritize multiple projects. Familiarity with the region’s water issues is preferred, as is Spanish language proficiency. Some level of physical exertion – carrying sampling gear, loading the San Diego Coastkeeper van with gear and coolers of ice (lift up to 50 lbs), collecting samples along the water’s edge, setting up a pop-up tent and table, etc. – is required. Reliable transportation is also required. Candidates must have, or be in the process of obtaining, a college degree, and highest priority will be given to those who must complete an internship for college credit, or have an equally decisive way of verifying a deep commitment to the success of their Coastkeeper internship. Finally, occasional weekend availability is preferred.

While applicants may not have every qualification, a passion for environmental conservation, an eagerness to learn, and adaptability are essential attributes.

SALARY, BENEFITS, & TERMS

This is an unpaid internship. Priority will be given to candidates seeking an internship to meet a university class or graduation requirement.

SCHEDULE

40 hours per month with varying hours each week, including occasional weekends. Can be flexible around work and school schedules, but applicants must commit to at least one day a week in the office, as well as attending scheduled Coastkeeper water quality monitoring events when there are no school/work scheduling conflicts.

TO APPLY:

We are currently accepting applications for our Spring 2025 Community Science Internship program – DEADLINE is January 10, 2025. Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a resume, brief position-specific cover letter, and a short sample blog post (200 word max) electronically to the internship program manager at [email protected]. This internship is a minimum 4-month commitment. Applications for other seasons are accepted on a rolling basis – please specify which period you would like to intern for: 

Spring*: Jan./Feb. – May/June, 

Summer*: May/June – Aug./Sep., 

Fall*: Aug./Sep. – Dec./Jan.

*Dates are flexible based on intern’s availability. There may be some overlap between internship seasons.