Ecological Data Science Intern

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) in La Crosse, Wisconsin is seeking several Student Services Contractors (SSCs) to support ecological modeling and data science projects related to invasive species control and ecological forecasting. Interns will gain hands-on experience developing and applying models that support scientific decision‑making.

Interns will assist with the development, improvement, and application of statistical and mathematical models. Projects may include:

• Developing a point‑and‑click Python Shiny App to support invasive carp management
• Building fish population assessment and trend‑estimation models
• Using machine learning to predict fish movement based on environmental conditions

Interns will have opportunities to build technical skills, develop professional experience (such as résumé building and presenting), and engage with federal partners and research scientists. Previous interns have gone on to roles in academia, federal agencies, and industry.

How to apply:

Submit the following materials to rerickson@usgs.gov:

• Cover letter (brief letter describing your interest in the position and ecological/environmental work)
• Résumé (2‑page limit) including three references
• Unofficial transcript showing degree earned and, if applicable, Superior Academic Achievement

Will start reviewing resumes when received.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities vary by academic level, but may include:

• Running, adapting, and improving existing Python and R modeling code
• Assisting with model analysis and documentation
• Assisting with communications among project partners
• Using or quickly learning R, Python, Git, Markdown, and Jupyter Notebooks
• Summarizing modeling products with minimal supervision (BA/BS level)
• Leading documentation efforts (BA/BS with Superior Academic Achievement)
• Operating independently on modeling tasks (MA/MS level)
• Identifying future development directions (PhD level)

When:

Start date: As soon as possible, likely June 2026 following background check
Duration: Up to two year; part‑time options available during the school year

Eligibility:

Students are eligible if they are enrolled in a degree program or have graduated but received a college/university degree less than 12 months ago and are at least 18 years of age. Non-US citizens may be eligible to participate, depending on their immigration status and the applicable regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. USGS employees, their spouses, and their children are not eligible to participate in this program.

Qualifications:

Qualifications depend on academic level and each level builds upon the previous level:

• Current students: Basic data science skills; interest in ecology or biology
• BA/BS: Dat science project experience (courses, jobs, volunteer projects, or similar experience) and relevant coursework
• BA/BS with Superior Academic Achievement: Additional biological coursework or experience
• MA/MS: One year of graduate‑level coursework in data science, biology, ecology, or related fields
• PhD: Experience with scientific publishing (dissertation, thesis, or peer‑reviewed papers)

Pay:

Hourly rate varies by academic level:

• $18.78/hour — current undergraduate student (GS‑04 equivalent)
• $21.01/hour — BA/BS degree (GS‑05 equivalent)
• $26.03/hour — BA/BS with Superior Academic Achievement (GS‑07 equivalent)
• $38.52/hour — MA/MS‑level (GS‑11 equivalent)
• $46.17/hour — PhD‑level (GS‑12 equivalent)

Additional information:

• Position is paid hourly as an independent contractor
• No holiday or personal leave; sick leave accrues at 1 hour per 30 hours worked
• Pay rates include cost of self‑employment tax
• Multiple positions will be filled
• Non‑US citizens may be eligible depending on immigration status