Finding an Internship

The Lloyd W. Swift Endowment Fund

The Swift fund supports experiential learning for WFCB undergraduates and is intended as an enabling opportunity for students who would not otherwise have access to these opportunities. Students can therefore apply to secure funds for (1) research opportunities in a WFCB lab, (2) research opportunities outside WFCB, (3) external internships with wildlife, fish, or conservation organizations, or (4) fees for field courses. The WFCB undergraduate awards committee oversees the fund, makes policy decisions related to implementing the awards, and decides on awards recipients. The committee is composed of 5 members: an academic coordinator and the departmental CAO (both advisory), and 3 faculty (voting members). Pernille Sporon Bøving [email protected] (WFCB Academic Coordinator) is in charge of coordinating undergraduate awards within WFCB and thus is the point person for the Swift opportunity.

Eligibility, rules, and restrictions:

• Only WFCB majors may apply (minors are not eligible), and the award will only go to the student.
• More than 50% of the award period must occur while the student is enrolled. Consistent with university regulations, students may not be paid as undergraduate researchers beyond 1 quarter after they graduate. For example, if you graduate June 15th and the experience is 8 weeks long, then the first 4 weeks of the experience must take place prior to June 15th.
• For research experiences, the project supervisor can be a graduate student, postdoc, research staff, or faculty; preference will be given to supervisors affiliated with WFCB versus those in other departments on the UC Davis campus.
• Students must be in good academic standing to receive an award.
• Students who have violated the WFCB Principles of Community may be denied awards.
• The maximum budget for an award is $7,500. Though students can apply for (and receive) multiple awards, no individual can receive more than $7500 over their career. Previous awardees seeking additional support from the Lloyd Swift Endowment should consider the amount in their previous award when designing budgets for subsequent proposals.
• No single organization (i.e., WFCB research lab or external organization) can receive no more than 5 awards in a year (i.e., from the Fall deadline to the following Fall deadline).
• Awards can occur at any time, including the  summer, the academic year, or span both periods.
• Before applying, students must meet with a WFCB professor to discuss their application. If they are applying for a research opportunity within a WFCB lab, then this would be the lab’s PI. If it is an opportunity external to WFCB, then this would be the applicant’s assigned faculty academic advisor. In either case, the student must procure a signed statement from the professor declaring their intent to host the award account and administer the funds should the student receive an award.
• Applications should demonstrate that the financial impact of the award will be instrumental in facilitating the learning experience, and not merely replacing existing funds for the same experience. The application should be brief; aside from the basic contact information, it should indicate:
• The nature and timing of the experiential learning opportunity
• How that opportunity will advance the student’s educational or career goals
• The amount of money needed to enable the opportunity, with a budget and justification. Students may request a salary equivalent to half-time (max 20 hrs/week) during the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters, and up to 40 hrs/week during Summer quarter. Salaries and benefits will be paid on the UC scale.
• As part of the application, the student must submit a letter of support. This letter would come from their proposed supervisor and must (1) discuss the nature of the opportunity, (2) confirm they are willing to host the student, (3) establish that other funds to support the student for the experience are not available, and (4) agree to ensure that a thank you letter is submitted. If the student is entering a WFCB lab, then this statement can be the same as the one declaring their intent to administer the funds. However, if the student is pursuing an external opportunity, then two letters would be required: one from the WFCB professor declaring their intent to administer the funds (please provide this form to your assigned WFCB faculty for their signature, and attach the filled form to your application), and one from their proposed supervisor declaring their intent to host the student and discussing the nature of the opportunity.

Review procedure:

Your application will be read and evaluated by the WFCB Swift Endowment Committee. The WFCB committee will meet to discuss the applications and make award decisions based on multiple criteria, including a rubric that includes the following four prompts. Each prompt will be scored from 1-5.

• To what extent has the student clearly conveyed how this experience would help them gain new knowledge and/or skills via experiential learning?
• To what extent has the student clearly described how this specific experience would help them advance their career goals?
• Are the student’s proposed activities and their role within the broader effort clearly defined?
• Is the budget request reasonable and adequately justified?

In addition, preference will be given to research opportunities in WFCB labs over other research labs on campus. However, externships (i.e., experiences outside UC Davis) will be placed on equal footing to research opportunities in WFCB labs.

How and when to apply:

• The Swift Endowment accepts applications four times a year:
  • February 15th
  • April 30th
  • July 31st
  • October 31st
• For summer experiences, we encourage students to apply for the February 15 and April 30th application deadlines.
• A full preview of an application can be viewed here.
• To apply, complete this google form and hit the submit button once you have filled all the required entries.

Administering the award:

• For students joining a WFCB research lab, the WFCB PI oversees fund administration. Depending on the budget request, the WFCB PI might help (1) hire the student as an undergraduate researcher, (2) approve all subsequent time sheets, (3) help the student procure necessary supplies and sign off on purchases, and (4) help the student submit travel expenses and sign off on travel reports.
• For students participating in an opportunity external to WFCB, the WFCB Experiential Learning coordinator (Pernille Sporon Bøving) will oversee fund administration. Depending on the budget request, Pernille might help (1) hire the student as an undergraduate researcher, (2) approve all subsequent time sheets, (3) help the student procure necessary supplies, and (4) help the student submit travel expenses. The WFCB PI who hosts the award (i.e., the student’s academic advisor) will approve purchases and travel reports.
• The student will indicate the award start and end date at the time of the application. Funds must be expended within 60 days of the conclusion of the experience.
  • If the student would like to request a ‘no-cost-extension,’ then they must submit a written request and justification for their request to the WFCB Experiential Learning coordinator (Pernille Sporon Bøving) before the end date of the award.
• Funds must be expended according to the original budget proposed.
  • If the student would like to request a re-budget during the award, then they must submit a written request and justification to the WFCB Experiential Learning coordinator (Pernille Sporon Bøving) before alterations to the budget are made.
  • Small changes to the budget (i.e., <10% of the total award value) are automatically approved and do not need to be submitted.
• At the conclusion of the experience, the awardee, in collaboration with the supervisor, will briefly explain how Swift funds were spent and will write a letter to the Swift family. The letter should summarize the experience and its importance, and thank the family for making that experience possible.

Credit For Internships:

Students can receive credit for internships via units and/or transcript notation.
92/192: Variable unit internship. Ask the faculty member if you can register for 92/192 units, and then contact the department staff adviser to obtain a Course Registration Number (CRN). The number on units your register for depends on the number of hours you work.  Use ICC guidelines to determine this number. You will need to register for your internship by the 12th day of the quarter. After this time, you will need to be issued a PTA by the department’s staff adviser. Transcript notation can be obtained through the ICC with cooperation from your employer. See the ICC's instructions for more
information.

Summer Research Opportunities:

The Smith Ecology Lab page is a great undergraduate research and internship resource.

Non-WFCB Field Courses:  

Field Science Fellowship
The NRS Field Science Fellowship funds UC undergraduate-faculty teams conducting field-based research within the UC Natural Reserve System, requiring at least one of the 42 reserves for a significant portion of the project. Funding for Field Science Fellowships is made possible by the Samuelsen Conservation Scholars Initiative, honoring Roger Samuelsen, the first director of the UC Natural Reserve System.
Eligibility: Open to current UC undergraduate students and UC faculty. 
Application deadline: February 15, 2026
Application instructions
Both undergraduate and faculty co-applicants must complete a brief application linked here: https://nrs.submittable.com/submit 

• Student applicants upload their resume, unofficial transcript, and financial aid award letter.
• Faculty applicants upload a short description of the proposed research.

For more information on the application process or evaluation criteria, visit Field Science Fellowship Application Information. 
 

The UC NRS California Ecology Course
The California Ecology and Conservation course lets you immerse yourself in California’s most awe-inspiring landscapes while conducting field-based research. 

Join us for Summer 2026 and spend 50-days conducting field-based research at the five UC Natural Reserve System field stations listed below.

• Blue Oak Ranch Reserve (UC Berkeley NRS)
• Rancho Marino Reserve (UC Santa Barbara NRS)
• Lassen Field Station (UC Davis)
• Sagehen Creek Field Station (UC Berkeley)

Eligibility: UC undergraduates in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA who have completed an introductory ecology or biology course.
Application deadline: Rolling admission begins Feb. 9 through Mar. 10, 2026, for Summer 2026.

Application instructions

• Step 1: Complete the CEC pre-application
• Step 2: Selected students complete the full application through the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP).

If you have any questions about the pre-application, please contact the course instructor at [email protected]. 
Need additional support? Email [email protected]

 

External Internships:

Cramer Fish Sciences (CFS) is accepting applications for an Internship based out of their West Sacramento office for fall ‘26 quarter. Make a meaningful impact in restoring aquatic ecosystems through collecting and measuring biomass data, conducting literature review where insufficient specimens are available, and comparing biomass values. This internship is anticipated to be 8 hours per week for 10 weeks and begin early September. Application deadline is June 15^th 2026.

HOW TO APPLY: To apply for this external internship, you must be a current undergraduate student in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology Department at UC Davis and in good standing. If you are interested, please contact the Cramer Fish Sciences Hiring Group  https://fishsciences.isolvedhire.com/jobs/1679883 directly, include a cover letter and recent resume.  Successful applicants will be encouraged to apply for a Lloyd W. Swift award to support their internship.

BACKGROUND:
The macroinvertebrate community is an important component of aquatic ecosystems and macroinvertebrate sampling is a common monitoring method employed by CFS to assess functionality and success of our riverine habitat restoration projects. Macroinvertebrates are sensitive to environmental change and have been used by many studies to assess ecosystem health and restoration success. Invertebrate communities can provide an indication of habitat productivity.  Additionally, juvenile salmonids primarily feed on a variety of drift macroinvertebrates and sampling this community can demonstrate resource availability for our most common focal species.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
Biomass is one of the most common metrics assessed for invertebrate samples. Our current protocols call for technicians to enumerate organisms by taxon, life stage, and size class from a field sample and this information is used to estimate total sample biomass using standard, taxon-specific biomass values. However, in many cases, biomasses are not available for a specific combination of taxon, life stage, and size class and we are required to substitute values from comparable taxa. Additionally, it would be helpful to measure expected accuracy of sample biomass estimates compared to direct sample weighing, which is a more accurate method, but destructive to the sample.

PROJECT GOALS: 
Contribute to a more complete and accurate table of biomass values and investigate accuracy of biomass estimates.

POTENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Collect data on missing biomass values – collect and weigh representative specimens of missing taxa.

Literature review – where insufficient specimens are available, review peer-reviewed literature for biomass estimates.

Compare estimated and actual biomass values – collect dry biomass values for whole samples and compare to values calculated through existing estimation protocol to contribute to a growing dataset on accuracy and precision of biomass estimation.

ABOUT CRAMER FISH SCIENCES: We are a fisheries research consulting firm serving throughout the Pacific States and Idaho. We are a growing, employee-owned company whose mission is to rigorously apply the scientific method to afford our clients innovative, scientifically robust solutions to address a variety of fisheries and environmental challenges. Our team achieves this through effective and unbiased data collection, insightful analysis and interpretation, and clear communications and publication of results in scientific journals.

The Cache Creek Conservancy offers internships to college and university students or recent graduates. Their internship programs usually follow the seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

Ecological and Environmental Interns assist Conservancy staff with habitat restoration for native wildlife and plants within the nature preserve and other sites along the lower Cache Creek watershed.

The internship program has three distinct special project teams. Applicants are encouraged to select a project team in their application.

These internships are unpaid by Cache Creek; however, credit units may be available with the support of a faculty sponsor from your major department plus as a WFCB major you are eligible to apply for Swift Endowment support for the hours served at Cache Creek.

 

Wild cat study in Belize
Please note this experience is volunteer and requires a project fee (see below), which covers room, board, and in-country transport. Additionally, participants must provide own transportation to Belize. We have worked with numerous students to find grant funding and to obtain university credit.

We are seeking 5-10 motivated field assistants for our wild cat study in Belize, Central America. This study focuses on jaguars, pumas, and ocelots using non-invasive detection methods and researches long-term demographics of jaguar populations and the impacts of selective/sustainable logging at multiple sites across Belize.

Interns will gain extensive field experience setting up large remote camera grids across tropical broadleaf and/or tropical pine forests, conducting habitat surveys in neotropical forest, orienteering with GPS and map and compass, field vehicle maintenance, organizing and entering data and maintaining a database.

Job includes EXTENSIVE driving and hiking on dirt roads and trails to remote camera stations and collecting vegetation data surrounding camera stations. Field assistants may be required to carry heavy equipment, and will hike long distances through rough terrain, and bushwhack through thick vegetation. Work will also include shared data entry, camp and vehicle maintenance, and other errands and household chores.

Rustic living conditions in a tropical environment (meaning very hot and humid weather, snakes, and biting insects). Field assistants will be living in close living quarters with their co-workers and will be expected to help out with group cooking, cleaning, and other basic field-house chores.

Qualifications
Preference given to students in wildlife biology or related field (biology, forestry, natural resources, etc.). No experience is necessary, but the applicant must have a positive and flexible attitude, be enthusiastic and ready to learn, have a strong work ethic and ability to get along with others in tight, close-knit, living conditions.

Ability to drive a standard (manual) transmission and backpacking skills are not required but are a plus.

This is an internships position where the technician will need to pay for their plane ticket and a project fee of $1850 per month (1 month minimum required). This project fee covers food, accommodations, and all in-country transport, while in Belize (except for days off or vacation days). The experience is a resume builder for wild cat work. It is much less expensive than a typical study abroad experience. A large number of past students have received funding and/or independent study credit from their host institution to participate.

Summer positions available from May through August.

Please e-mail a resume/cv, letter of interest, and list of three references with contact info to Darby McPhail at [email protected];  David Lugo ([email protected]) and Marcella Kelly at [email protected]

Application Deadline: Rolling, will be filled continuously.

Should you successfully land an internship with the Wild Cat project you become eligible to apply for a Lloyd W. Swift endowment to support project fee and airfare.  If you have any questions please reach out to Experiential Learning Coordinator Pernille Sporon Bøving; [email protected].

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) can place interns into diverse opportunities within its large multi-disciplinary science team (>200 researchers) dedicated to conservation, as well as its Veterinary Services and Applied Animal Welfare teams. All work provides meaningful applications for managing and recovering species at-risk of extinction, and will involve working with samples, live animals or plants living in the wild or under human care, and human communities. Example opportunities include the following (1) Conservation Genetics -processing genetic samples (DNA extractions and DNA quantification from tissue, blood, cells), basic molecular biology techniques (PCR, gel electrophoresis) and sequencing (Sanger sequencing, fragment analysis, and next generation sequencing). (2) Reproductive Sciences - apply basic physiological methods to conduct research on telomere loss and chronic physiological stress (using multiplex qPCR, endocrine assays, cell cultures) or evaluating extra-pair copulations (EPCs) in bird populations (DNA fingerprinting). (3) Disease Investigations - work with animal samples to assess health and diagnose disease, including time in one or more of our laboratories: clinical, molecular diagnostic, pathology, and histology. (4) Recovery Ecology and (5) Population Sustainability - apply the latest techniques and technologies for collecting ecological and behavioral data on animals living in the wild or human care, including field habitat surveys, electronic data collection and management, radiotracking, ArcGIS spatial mapping, camera trap photo analysis, and the techniques of animal care and reintroduction biology, including a Conservation Technology Lab that develops technological tools to advance conservation action. (6) Community Engagement -participate in curriculum design, informal science education, community-based participatory conservation, capacity building, and socio-ecological research. Veterinary and (7) Nutritional Services - mentorship in clinical and nutritional practice, including applying scientific principles to health management and intervention, collecting and analyzing data to inform management decisions, and partnering with the Conservation Technology Lab to monitor and enhance animals’ physical, nutritional and psychological health. (8) Applied Animal Welfare - employ behavioral data collection and analysis to develop-science based interventions to increase behavioral diversity and improve welfare. (9) Plant Conservation - opportunities include seed collections of San Diego County rare plant species, germination and storage trials, and propagation for restoration; plant-pollinator interactions; vegetation and associated animal surveys and weed management in natural areas.

HOW TO APPLY: To apply for an internship with SDZWA you must be a current undergraduate student in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology Department at UC Davis and in good standing. If you are interested, please contact Holly Davis, SDZWA Conservation Science Coordinator via email [email protected] directly to learn more, and include a cover letter plus recent resume. Should you be offered an internship with SDZWA, you will proceed to apply for a Lloyd W. Swift award. The SDZWA internship will ultimately be contingent upon you receiving a Swift award.

Wildlife Intake Center (WIC) Internship. The Wildlife Intake Center (WIC) Internship provides hands-on experience in the Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR) clinic working with injured and orphaned wildlife. Interns learn basic animal caretaking procedures, medical protocols, and in-depth species identification and natural histories.

Interns will work alongside staff and other volunteers/interns to complete all tasks associated with animal rehabilitation. Interns will primarily work in the WIC helping with cage cleaning, animal feeding, medication distribution and other daily tasks. Some duties, however, may include animal pick-ups from vets, or special projects as needs arise.

Gold Country Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife. We are permitted through the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. We have been serving the local community since 1991 and do so at no charge.

Internship Location: 11251 B Ave., Auburn, CA 95603. Start/End Date: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and admitted based on preset orientation dates. However, the best time to intern with us is during our busy baby season. Anytime from March through October we received our largest amount of animal intakes. During these months interns get to see and work with the largest variety of species.

Orientations are typically held February, April, June, and August. Additional orientations are held as needed. Dates can be flexible depending on intern availability and seasonal needs.

If interested in a specific timeframe, please contact [email protected] for additional information.

Minimum Age Requirement: 18+ years. Minimum Time Commitment: At least 16 hours per week, for a minimum total of 200+ hours over the course of the internship session. Housing/Transportation: No housing or transportation is provided to interns by GCWR. All housing and transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the intern. Salary: This an unpaid internship, but should you successfully land an internship with GCWR you become eligible to apply for a Lloyd W. Swift endowment as a WFCB major.

For more information and to apply visit: goldcountrywildliferescue.org/internships/

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve. With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making.

Where to find our jobs: All of ODFW jobs are posted on the Oregon Job Opportunities site and are updated frequently.

State of Oregon Agencies: All State of Oregon agencies use the Oregon Job Opportunities site to advertise openings. The State is one employer, so you are welcome to explore opportunities across other agencies as well. View current openings here.

How to sign up for job alerts: To receive notifications for positions that match your interests, you can set up job alerts after creating an account. Follow this job aide for step-by-step instructions.

How to apply for jobs: The State’s application process can feel complex at first. This job aide provides detailed steps, and if you prefer a video overview, you can watch one here. You can also reach out to the recruiter listed on the posting for assistance.

Volunteer Opportunities: Interested in gaining experience and working with hiring managers? Explore our volunteer page! For questions about volunteering, you can contact Don Robison, Statewide Volunteer Program Coordinator at [email protected]

Contact information: Luke Curtis, Recruitment Consultant - Email: [email protected] and
Laura Peterson, Recruitment Consultant - Email: [email protected]

Internships: Applications for 2026 summer internships are closed, but if you would like to be added to the 2027 notification list, please contact Luke Curtis, and he will email the application link in mid-January 2027.