Eco Team Summer Intern

Overview:

The mission of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is to conserve California native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and the planet. Since the 1930s, Garden staff have built deep expertise in California flora, especially the plant communities of the Central Coast and Channel Islands. 

Today, the Garden takes an integrated “genes to ecosystems” approach to conservation, combining restoration ecology, fire ecology, pollination ecology, community ecology, and rare plant science to address urgent environmental challenges such as habitat loss, invasive species, altered fire regimes, and climate change.

The EcoTeam Summer Internship is designed to provide hands-on, interdisciplinary training in applied ecology and restoration science. Interns will contribute directly to active research and conservation projects while building foundational field and laboratory skills. This temporary position is being offered at 20 hours per week, for 8-10 weeks, between June and September 2026 and reports to the EcoTeam Principal Investigators.

Fieldwork may occur at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Elings Park, and other regional restoration sites. Some weekend participation may be required depending on project needs.

What You’ll Do:

Laboratory & Office Work (~50%)

• Assist with fire ecology experiments, including sample dissection and plant trait measurement (e.g., fuel moisture, mass, leaf area, stem traits, water potential)

• Contribute to the development of plant flammability tools, including literature review and species data entry

• Sort invertebrate samples from soil and plant litter preserved in ethanol

• Identify insects and other invertebrates to order level (e.g., beetles, flies, ants, wasps)

• Photograph specimens using microscopy and focus stacking techniques

• Enter ecological data and help maintain research datasets

• Support science communication efforts, including educational and outreach content for EcoTeam projects

• Potential GIS or spatial data support, depending on project needs

Fieldwork (~50%)

• Participate in habitat restoration, including native plant installation and maintenance

• Remove invasive species using hand tools, sheet mulching, tarping, and related methods

• Assist with pollinator and invertebrate sampling in restoration sites

• Conduct plant monitoring, including survival, growth, and diversity assessments

• Support Elings Park and other site-based ecology projects (e.g., vegetation surveys, maintenance, and restoration support)

• Assist with seasonal field events such as bloom counts and seed monitoring

You Must Be Able To:

• Work independently and collaboratively in field and lab settings

• Follow instructions and complete tasks with attention to detail

• Perform physically demanding outdoor work, including:

• Stand, walk, dig, and haul materials for extended periods

• Lift and carry up to 40 pounds

• Work in variable outdoor conditions (heat, cold, dust, sun, insects, poison oak exposure)

• Sit for extended periods (up to ~2 hours) using microscopes or computers

• Communicate effectively with staff, interns, and collaborators

You Will Definitely Need:

• Strong curiosity about ecology, conservation, and restoration science

• Reliability, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic

• Good manual dexterity and visual acuity for handling small specimens

• A reliable means of transportation to the Garden and nearby field sites

• Enthusiasm for the mission of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

It Would Be Nice If You Had:

• Coursework or experience in ecology, biology, environmental science, or related fields

• Familiarity with California native plants, insects, or restoration practices

• Experience with lab work, microscopy, or field sampling

• Interest in science communication or outreach

• A good sense of humor and a strong stomach for field conditions

Your Application Must Include: 

• One letter of recommendation

• A letter of interest where you address at least three of the following questions that describe your commitment to conservation:

  • What about this internship is most exciting to you?

  • What conservation or research experience do you have? 

  • What skills do you expect to gain, and how will that benefit you?

  • What are some characteristics about you that you think make you a good candidate? 

**Incomplete applications will not be considered**

More About Us:

The Garden and surrounding restoration sites such as Elings Park are dynamic outdoor laboratories where interns directly contribute to real-world conservation science on California’s Central Coast.

Outdoor work may include exposure to heat, cold, dust, allergens, insects, poison oak, and sun. In return, interns gain hands-on experience in active ecological research and restoration projects that support biodiversity conservation.