Jug Bay Summer Internships

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is one of ten parks operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It is also one of three sites that comprise the Maryland Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR-MD). It contains 1,700 acres of open water, tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forests, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields. Jug Bay is located in the tidal reaches of the Patuxent River (about 43 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay). The Sanctuary's mission is to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of estuarine ecosystems through outdoor education, research, stewardship, and volunteerism. The Friends of Jug Bay (FOJB) is a non-profit organization that supports education, stewardship, and research programs at the Sanctuary.

 

FOJB annually funds two research and one education undergraduate/graduate summer research internships.  These internships advance the Sanctuary's knowledge on topics of interest regarding its natural resources and social history.

 

Internships are open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who will conduct a summer research project within Sanctuary property. Interns are mentored by a staff member or an associated researcher. Students are encouraged to work with staff to coordinate the use of office and laboratory space, field equipment, and other amenities (canoes, boats, storage space, etc.) to support their research project.

Application period is now OPEN!

Deadline for submitting applications: March 29th, 2024

Send your complete application for RESEARCH to Patricia Delgado at: rpdelg88@aacounty.org

Send your complete application for EDUCATION to Elizabeth Sieglinger at: rpsieg21@aacounty.org

Research  Internships

Research internships run for approximately 12 weeks during the summer time: June - August. The exact start and end time of the internship will vary depending on the research project and the intern's availability. Students applying for our research internships will submit a short proposal (five pages or less) on a specific topic/question chosen from a  list of projects of interest to the Sanctuary, or the applicant can choose to develop his/her own research question. The list of research topics/questions provided is updated every year.

 

Topics for 2024 Research Internships

Students applying for a research internship will submit a short proposal (five pages or less) on one of the topics/questions listed here, which are selected from a list of projects of interest to the Sanctuary:

 

Accessing the Archaeological Collections of Jug Bay:

Over the last 30 years, archaeologists with Anne Arundel County and the Lost Towns Project have conducted archaeological research throughout the Jug Bay area. In 2019, the Lost Towns Project updated the documentation of known archaeological sites as well as identified and recorded new sites. This project will build on the 2019 work by focusing on the status of the artifact collections from those sites that Anne Arundel County curates. The intern will create a database detailing the nature of the collections, both artifacts and associated paper and digital records from multiple seasons of fieldwork, and identify the next steps in making the collections more accessible to researchers.

The intern would be based at the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Laboratory in Edgewater, MD. Undergraduate and graduate students of Archaeology, Anthropology, and related disciplines are invited to apply.

Mentor: PhD Candidate Andrew Webster, Archaeologist for Anne Arundel County, Cultural Resources Division.

 

Determining Use of Sanctuary Meadows by Butterflies and/or Native Bees: The intern will design an experiment to compare the presence and use by butterflies and/or native bees, between a newly established and an old pollinator meadow. Research questions can explore spatial and temporal variability and plant species differences. This study will provide valuable information about the importance of pollinator meadow habitat. 

Mentor: Dr. Patricia Delgado, Wetland Ecologist (JBWS), and Dr. Timothy McMahon, Volunteer Researcher, USGS Native Bee Lab.

 

Measuring Stream Discharge and Total Suspended Solids of Different Stream Reaches Found at the Jug Bay Emory Waters Nature Preserve: The intern will sample and calculate stream discharge and total suspended solids during baseflow and storm events at three different stream reaches found within the Jug Bay Emory Waters Nature Preserve. Additional biological sampling can be added to determine species of fish and/or microinvertebrates found at these sites. These streams are being targeted for restoration and the information collected through this study will help create a baseline to evaluate restoration success after implementation.

Mentors: Dr. Patricia Delgado, Wetland Ecologist (JBWS) 

 

Characterizing the Pollinators of Two Marsh Plants of the Jug Bay Tidal Freshwater Marshes:  The intern will study both Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed) and Nuphar lutea (the yellow water-lily) to find which insect pollinators visit the plants and which seem to be pollinating them. The intern will collect pollinators for identification and estimate the pollination success of the pollinators for each plant. This project will shed light on the pollination success of individual insect species for each plant. The intern must be able to collect specimens from a watercraft (i.e. canoe or kayak).

Mentor: Dr. Timothy McMahon, Volunteer Researcher, USGS Native Bee Lab.

 

Choose Your Own Research Topic: The intern is encouraged to visit Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary before developing the proposal so she/he can learn about what we do and our research needs. With this information on hand, the intern will develop her/his own research project based on personal interest, experience, and Sanctuary needs. The proposed research question would have to be approved by Patricia Delgado before moving forward with writing the proposal. This is an open opportunity to develop your own research question!

Mentor: Dr. Patricia Delgado, Wetland Ecologist (JBWS).

 

For more information regarding project topics/questions, please contact Patricia Delgado via email at rpdelg88@aacounty.org

Qualifications

Internships are open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who are capable of working independently with mentor guidance. Students should be self-motivated, have good communication and writing skills, and be comfortable working in physically challenging environments.

Application Requirements

Qualified applicants should submit the documents listed below via email to Patricia Delgado at rpdelg88@aacounty.org

  • A short proposal (five single-spaced pages or less that include a title, introduction, literature review, methodology, and cited literature);
  • One-page resume;
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts;
  • Two letters of recommendation.

Internship Requirements

The successful applicant is expected to fulfill the following requirements during the time of the internship:

  • Develop an expanded, detailed research project;
  • Conduct independent research with support from the project mentor;
  • Develop a final report;
  • Give a presentation at the Jug Bay's Annual Volunteer Picnic;
  • Write an article for Jug Bay's newsletter, "Marsh Notes," or our website summarizing research findings.

Financial Support

The Friends of Jug Bay will provide a stipend totaling $4,000; two equal installments of $1,500 will be given during the first two months of the internship. A final payment of $1000 is made upon receipt of the final report. Interns should expect to work approximately 12 weeks during the summer (June through August).

Housing: If needed, housing at the residence of a FOJB member and volunteer will be available at no cost for one of the interns.

Transportation: Applicant must provide his/her own transportation.

 

To submit your application or for more information contact:

Patricia Delgado at rpdelg88@aacounty.org

Download Proposal Template

Environmental Education & Interpretation Internship

 

Internship Experience and Expectations 

This 12-week, 32-hour/week internship will focus on enhancing Jug Bay's educational programs by creating new programs/materials/curriculum to enhance our experiential outdoor education programs and assisting with and providing leadership to the summer camps provided at Jug Bay. The intern will also work with staff to enhance the participation of volunteer naturalist educators throughout the year.

Outcomes of the internship may include:

  • Create new environmental education curriculum materials and programs to support Sanctuary public education programs, field trips, and/or camps that extend public and student learning and appreciation of nature. Staff will work with the intern to identify projects that meet the needs of the Sanctuary and the interests or skills of the applicant.
  • Gain firsthand experience in managing and leading summer camp activities for school-age children. Six-week-long summer camps are expected to be held this summer. 
  • Work with staff to enhance volunteer participation in Jug Bay field trips and other environmental education experiences. 
  • Other projects may be developed based on the intern’s interests and Sanctuary needs.
  • Give a presentation to Jug Bay staff and others about your summer project at Jug Bay's Annual Volunteer Picnic in August.
  • Write an article for Jug Bay’s newsletter, “Marsh Notes,” or our website summarizing research findings.

Qualifications

  • Internships are open to people who are capable of working independently with mentor guidance as well as in a team with patience and flexibility.
  • Interns should be self-motivated, have good communication and writing skills, and be comfortable in a leadership position with adults and children.
  • Applicants must have the ability to exercise patience, flexibility, courtesy, and tact when working with campers, parents, volunteers, and fellow employees.
  • The successful applicant will have a demonstrated interest and passion for environmental education and the natural world. 
  • An educational background in environmental education, biology, environmental science, or related field is preferred.
  • Must be able to help launch and paddle canoes, walk several miles, perform light manual labor, and camp out.
  • Current First Aid and CPR certification and Canoe Safety certification are preferred. A love for the natural world is a must!

Application Requirements

Qualified applicants should submit the following:

  • A letter of interest detailing the applicant's current skill set that would meet the internship requirement and an explanation of how the internship could help the applicant meet his/her personal and professional goals;
  • One-page resume;
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts;
  • Two letters of recommendation.

Financial Support

The Friends of Jug Bay will provide a stipend totaling $4,000; two equal installments of $1,500 will be given during the first two months of the internship. The final payment of $1000 is made upon receipt of the final report. Interns should expect to work approximately 12 weeks during the summer (June through August).

 

Housing: If needed, housing at the residence of a FOJB member and volunteer will be available at no cost for one of the interns.

Transportation: Applicant must provide his/her own transportation.

 

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Sieglinger at rpsieg21@aacounty.org