Job Description

Internship Title: Project TRUE Field Research Assistant Intern
Location: Bronx Zoo 
Department: Education 
Supervisor/Trainer: Coordinator of Project TRUE 
Duration: 8 weeks in summer (June 30 – Aug. 21) and 15 weeks in the fall (Sept. 13 – Dec. 20; plus one Saturday in January 2026 for final presentations) 
Schedule:      

• Summer = Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9:30 am - 4:00 pm;  
• Fall = Saturdays, 9:30am – 4:00pm 

Number of Positions Available: 25 
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; candidates are encouraged to apply early. 
Compensation: In the summer, interns receive either a $750 stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon successful completion of the position OR are paid $16/hour through SYEP (if eligible to work with WCS's authorized provider). In the fall, all interns receive a $350 stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon successful completion of the position. Students will be able to use school-provided OMNY cards during the internship to cover travel. MetroCards will be provided to students who are not eligible for an OMNY card. Please note that both lump-sum stipends are subject to applicable taxes and your final amount will depend on personal tax status. 
 

Internship Summary: 
Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology) is an urban ecology research and youth development program at The Bronx Zoo. In Project TRUE, small teams of high school students are paired with a Fordham University undergraduate student, who serves as a near-peer research mentor, to conduct field research. Research topics range from bird behavior and mammal diversity to invasive species management and water quality. Throughout the summer, students learn and put into practice research and science communication skills. Interns continue this work in the fall portion of the program while expanding on their research projects while learning more in-depth research skills through field trips, lessons, and workshops. Learn more here.  
 

Learning Outcomes: 

• With guidance from your mentor and program staff, you will learn how to design an authentic research project and conduct ecological field research.  
• You will learn and practice field research and data collection techniques such as using camera traps, collection nets, plant surveys, point counts, etc.  
• You will contribute to ongoing research projects that improve our understanding of NYC wildlife and ecosystems. 
• You will have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University staff.  
• You will learn to analyze and synthesize your data and present research findings to the scientific community and the general public. 

Qualification Requirements

Requirements/Qualifications: 

• You must be a current high school sophomore or junior in good standing. 
• Resident of the Bronx.  
• Comfortable in both indoor and outdoor settings. 
• Interested in science and the environment. 

The goal of Project TRUE is to increase the representation of women, black, and Latinx people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). However, we encourage anyone interested in Project TRUE to apply. 
 

What to expect on the application: 

• The application will ask you to upload a resume, but this is not required. You DO NOT need to upload a cover letter.  
• You will be asked to provide the name, email, and phone number of at least 1 reference.  
• You will be asked to provide 100-150 word responses to the following long answer questions. Applicants who do not fully respond to these questions will not be considered.   
• Why are you interested in this position? What are you hoping to learn and/or how will you grow? 
• Why should you be selected to participate in this opportunity? In other words, what makes you stand out from other applicants? 
• What does "doing science" mean to you? 
• What are your career aspirations? Why? 
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until March 7, 2025.  

Strong candidates will be invited to the next step of the application: a virtual interview. If selected for an interview, you will receive an email with further information. Interviews are expected to take place starting in February.  

Salary Range

$750 Stipend