High School Soil Ecology Intern

High School Ecology Intern

Who We Are + What We Do

The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501c3 non-profit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature’s economy, starting with food. The transdisciplinary team of scientists, together with global partners, are developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza©, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature’s limits while researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.

How You’d Fit In + Stand Out

As a high school ecology intern with the Soil Ecology program, you’ll bring your enthusiasm and curiosity to our team to learn about diverse, perennial grain agriculture through hands-on participation, observation, and educational opportunities. You’ll join a team of technicians and scientists to maintain and collect data from our many field projects through the growing season both outdoors and in the lab. Many of our tasks are physically demanding as they require weeding, clipping plants, collecting soil cores, and weighing both plant and soil samples. You’ll learn many basics about how to conduct field and ecological research as well as the philosophical and practical considerations needed to develop perennial polycultures. To stand out for this position, you’ll have a passion to learn about and experience the challenges and rewards of scientific inquiry and agriculture as well as a tolerance for the heat—Salina summers are toasty! You’ll be someone who enjoys working in a team environment but who is also able to perform repetitive tasks consistently and independently as this is fundamental to our data collection. Maybe you are considering whether to pursue ecological or agricultural related work, education, or research—this would be a fantastic opportunity to dive deeper as well as meet others with similar interests. While not required, there are ample opportunities to conduct a short, independent project, and we would love to support those interests should you bring them.

Job Overview:

The Land Institute is looking for an ecology intern who is excited and interested to learn about diverse, perennial grain agriculture through hands-on participation, observation, and educational opportunities. Activities include work indoors and outdoors. Specific dates for the summer internship will be determined based on applicant availability. The internship is specifically for those currently in high school or recently graduating from high school; no experience or background in a relevant field is required.

This program internship is possible through The Land Institute’s participation in the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute (https://newroots.squarespace.com/), a National Science Foundation-funded initiative whose goal is to advance restoration of natural and agricultural ecosystems through enhanced understanding of how plant roots influence communities and the soil ecosphere.

The intern will be based in Salina, Kansas and will be mentored and supervised by the Lead Researcher in Soil Ecology and members of the Soil Ecology Lab. The intern will actively participate in The Land Institute and the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute and will join a near-peer mentoring system in which they work closely with high school students, research technicians, REU interns, and researchers across sites to achieve research, training, and diversifying goals.

Primary Responsibilities + Expectations:

• Help researchers conduct field and lab work which may sometimes involve repetitive tasks or sitting/standing for long periods of time as well as working in extreme heat.
• Follow field and lab safety procedures and voice any safety concerns when warranted
• Participate in educational events such as research seminars, group trainings, and field trips, including in-person and virtual meetings.
• Meet regularly with mentors and engage in discussions and reflections.
• Participate in fieldwork with other staff, post-bacs, and trainees to gain experience working with multiple perennial grain crops.
• Ask questions, share interests, and engage in the soil ecology team 

Who you are:

• Must be at least 16 years of age at the start of the position.
• Interest in agriculture, ecology, and soils
• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where some guidance and standardization exists
• Ability to follow instructions, including written safety warnings
• Legible handwriting and accurate labeling are required skills
• Ability and willingness to provide and/or diligently use provided personal health and protective equipment or supplies including drinking water, sunscreen, shade hat, insect repellent, and shoes and clothing appropriate for field work

Diversity + Inclusion:

• Participate in The Land Institute’s diversity initiatives
• Develop, maintain, and honor relationships with diverse groups and people
• Build relationships with diverse partners with a mind toward further collaboration

Organizational Competencies 

• Mission Driven: You are passionate about the mission of The Land Institute and are interested in aligning your skills and personal genius to benefit this work.
• Courageous: You do not retreat or shy away from hard things. You face challenges and conflict with professionalism, grace, and resolve.
• A Boundary Spanner: You bring an interdisciplinary skill set and you model self-awareness in your own preferences. You are motivated to always be learning and you adapt to span boundaries with people across a range of different perspectives.
• Inspiring and Inspired: You are inspired by the people around you, finding and harnessing the genius in your colleagues to meet the organizational objectives, and you are inspiring to others through example and your own genius applied.
• Growth Mindset: You have the vulnerability to know what you don’t know, admit your flaws, and learn from others to grow and develop yourself and the organization.
• A Creative Collaborator: You believe in the power of a diverse collective to generate ideas and solutions. You excel at strategic thinking, being open to new perspectives, and managing innovation. You bring a playful, positive approach to the work and like meeting new people and deepening connections with those you already know.
• Excited by change: You embrace nascent and evolving situations and enjoy engaging new people, ideas, and possibilities. You think about change holistically: internal, external, organizational, and cultural. You like iterating systems, building efficiency and operationalizing design.  You are willing to jump in and contribute to new projects as needed. 

Location + Travel:

This role is based at the Land Institute’s main campus in Salina, KS. Occasional travel to conferences and to visit or assist other collaborators may be necessary. You must be able to provide your own transportation to 2440 E Water Well Rd each day.

Compensation + Benefits:

The compensation for this educational experience will be $14.00/hr, paid on a biweekly basis. Benefits are not included. Housing may be available at no cost. Must be at least 18 years of age to live in housing. 

Hours

Consistently available to work thirty hours per week in person to complete necessary field and lab tasks. Work days generally run from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM but may occasionally need to be adjusted to accommodate weather and/or field tasks, particularly in the summer. 

The position is either for one person for up to 10 weeks (starting May 30 or June 13) or two people concurrently for 5 weeks (starting June 27 or July 11) though approximately fitting within the timeframe May 30 – August 23, 2025.

Environmental + Working Conditions

This work also involves many repetitive physical tasks both in and outdoors often in adverse weather conditions. Kansas weather is highly variable and can be uncomfortable for months at a time with high humidity and temperatures coupled with limited access to shade or air conditioning. While we are mindful and intentional about our exposure to these conditions, they can be challenging and require good body awareness and proactive measures to protect oneself from dehydration and over-exposure to the sun. You must be prepared to take these measures and have endurance to work in a challenging physical environment. We feel that the best of human company makes this work rewarding and even fun despite the degrees, but that does not make it easy.

• Prolonged periods of working outdoors in adverse conditions, including temperatures in excess of 95֯F
• Work in exposed field and laboratory research settings.
• Work in a general office environment.
• Demonstrate sustained physical fitness and the ability to lift 60 pounds safely and without assistance

Who We Are + What We Do:

The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. Founded in 1976 along the Smoky Hill River just south of Salina, Kansas, we are an independent 501c3 non-profit organization that seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature’s economy, starting with food. Our transdisciplinary team of scientists and researchers, together with global partners, are developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza®, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature’s limits and researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.

To Apply: Submit a resume and a letter answering the following questions: 

1. Why are you interested in this position?
2. What are some things you would hope to gain from this intern position? 
3. What is something you want to know more about The Land Institute or our mission?
4. What dates are you available for this position?

Timeline: Apply by January 24, 2025 for full consideration.