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Subject: Ecological Benefits Modeling Internship, U. S. National Park Service Description: The U. S. National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region (NCR), Office of Natural Resources and Science (NRS) is seeking an upper level student with a background in Forestry, Arboriculture, Modelling Ecological Benefits, or related fields. The intern will use iTree Eco, a modeling program, to quantify the benefits of trees on National Park land in the National Capital Region. The intern will have the opportunity to analyze the relative ecological benefits conferred by trees using 10 years of data from 425 vegetation plots across the region. The highly urbanized and rapidly growing region around NCR parks makes them increasingly important as a critical refugia for biodiversity as species expand their ranges from the south in response to climate change. We anticipate that the internship will begin in January of 2018 and continue through May of 2018 for a total of between 300 and 480 total hours. The intern will work closely with the NPS Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance’s Science Education Coordinator. The intern will have the opportunity to present findings to NPS staff in the National Capital Region. This position will begin as soon as possible in 2018 and continue for 5 months depending on the student’s interest and available funding. Hours are anticipated to be a combination of full-time and part-time. During January and over Spring Break full-time, up to 40 hours a week, but part-time, not to exceed 20 hours/week, during the semester. Duty station is flexible but visits to the Natural Resources and Science Office in Washington, DC will periodically be necessary. Additionally, the intern should have access to a computer with experience in analysis, modeling, scaling up, and be able to quantify ecological benefits. UERLA is a National Park Service Research Learning Center that serves 16 parks in National Capital Region. We translate complex research results into readily understandable information, providing research, education, and technical assistance for parks. UERLA also provides science communication outreach to park managers and external audiences via websites, workshops, and publications. UERLA maintains research and education partnerships with universities, not-for- profit, education, and other federal agencies. The education activities of UERLA include providing training opportunities for NPS staff and partners, participating in science education programs, and building external partnerships that support science education in parks. Within the Natural Resources and Science Office, other science programs, such as botany, wildlife, geology, air resources, and inventory and monitoring, aquatic ecology work with the Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance on interdisciplinary projects. Students must be enrolled in spring and fall semesters of 2018 in a degree program. The position will be a University of Maryland paid internship. If interested, provide a current resume, transcripts, and letter of interest electronically to [log in to unmask], Science Education Coordinator, Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance, National Capital Region, National Park Service, 4598 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Washington, DC 20007, Cell: (240) 461-6171. The deadline for applying is 12-22-2017 at 5 pm ET. We expect to begin interviewing candidates by telephone 12-28-2017. Contact Person: Kaci Thompson Contact Email: [log in to unmask]