Undergraduate Summer Research Internships

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Each summer, The Thomas More University Biology Field Station, home of the Center for Ohio River Research & Education (CORRE), offers up to 10 paid research internships for undergraduate students. These internships are in the fields of aquatic biology, conservation, ecology, and environmental science. Projects involve animal husbandry, bioassessments/biomonitoring, climate change, fisheries, harmful algal bloom monitoring and toxicology, among others. 

Time Period: Internships begin in late May, end in early August, and include a week-long break at the mid-point the week of July 4.

Internships include a $3,500 stipend and free on-site housing. Students are responsible for food and travel.

In addition to completing an independent study project of their choice, interns will be assigned to one of three crews:

These positions entail working in the aquaculture labs at the Station, designed for the propagation of freshwater fish and native mussels. Work includes daily monitoring of the fish and mussel tanks, physiochemical sampling, and tank maintenance. In addition, interns will conduct an experiment in aquatic toxicology in collaboration with the USEPA, located nearby in Cincinnati, Ohio. This internship is primarily lab-based, unlike the other two which are primarily field-based.

This study is part of the long-term monitoring of the Ohio River near Zimmer Power Plant in Moscow, Ohio which began in 1971. Work includes physiochemical sampling, fish collections and habitat analyses. The hours are generally from 9 a.m.-noon and 6-9 p.m., Monday-Friday. Night electrofishing will occur from 9 p.m.-midnight four times during the study. Fish tissues will be collected for DNA sequencing analyses.

This project entails extensive stream assessments throughout Northern Kentucky, in conjunction with the Sanitation District No. 1 and the Boone County Conservation District. Interns will work alongside biologists from these agencies to conduct bacterial tests, physiochemical sampling, fish and macroinvertebrate collections and habitat analyses. All work will occur during the day from Monday-Friday.

The deadline to apply for summer 2024 has passed. Check back in December 2024 to apply for summer 2025 research internships.

For any questions, reach out to Station Manager Molly Williams at williamsm@thomasmore.edu.