Prairie Fork Research in Aquatic Ecology & Evolution

Internship Opportunity

The Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems at the University of Missouri is pleased to announce an undergraduate internship opportunity, as part of the Chip and Teresa McGeehan Career Pathways Program.

Overview

The Pathways Program underscores the Johnny Morris Institute’s commitment to experiential undergraduate education.

In collaboration with the Prairie Fork Conservation Area, student interns will be working with the research group of Dr. Rick Relyea (Director of the Johnny Morris Institute) to conduct research on human impacts to wetlands, ponds, and lakes.

The internship is open to all undergraduates in the fields of Natural Resources or Biological Sciences. Preference may be given to undergraduates in the University of Missouri system, but all interested students are encouraged to apply.


Applicants should send the following to Dr. Rick Relyea (jmiinternships@missouri.edu):

  • Letter of interest
  • Professional letter of recommendation
  • Resume

Applications are due by February 13, 2026.

The description below provides an overview of duties, responsibilities, location, and salary.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact Dr. Relyea with questions.

Undergraduate Summer Internship

Location: University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources, Columbia, MO

Mentor: Dr. Rick Relyea, Director of the Johnny Morris Institute (rick.relyea@missouri.edu)

Length of Internship: 3 months (approximately mid-May to mid-August, as negotiated with mentor)

Salary: $18/hr, 40 hours/week

Ready to Apply?

All application materials are sent to jmiinternships@missouri.edu

Apply Now

Internship description

The purpose of this internship is to introduce students to the world of aquatic ecology and evolution, with a focus on wetlands, ponds, and lakes. The research team uses a combination of quantifying patterns of plant and animal abundance and distribution in nature and designing laboratory and outdoor experiments to disentangle the separate and combined effects of human impacts and natural stressors on fish, insects, bivalves, snails, aquatic plants, and plankton. Students will be trained in hands-on research by Dr. Relyea and be part of a research team that includes graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

The work will include collecting organisms from nature and setting up multiple experiments to addressing cutting-edge hypotheses about human impacts on aquatic food webs. Students will be collecting data, entering data, producing figures, and interpreting the results. Students are trained with the goal of preparing for them for their next career stage in the aquatic sciences.

Duties

  • Survey organisms in natural wetlands, ponds, and lakes.
  • Learn how to identify species of fish, insects, bivalves, snails, aquatic plants, and plankton.
  • Transport organisms to the aquatic research facilities on Main Campus and at the South Farm Aquatic Facility.
  • Assist in designing and setting up large aquatic experiments in the laboratory and inoutdoor tanks.
  • Learn how to collect, enter, organize, and visualize data for interpretation.
  • Collaborate with local researchers from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Geological Service.
  • Interact with the public, including outreach events with the public and K-12 schools.

Qualifications

  • At the undergraduate level, the emphasis is on recruitment, career exploration, and introducing top performing students to career paths in fisheries and aquatic systems research and management.
  • Students are eligible for the program when they meet the following criteria:
    • Undergraduate student at an accredited university/college in good standing. Students who will be graduating before the internship begins are not eligible.
    • Cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher is desirable (on a 4.0 scale).
    • Preference will be given to students who have completed at least 45 credit hours.
    • Pursuing a degree in fisheries and wildlife, biology, environmental science, or related natural resources or science.

Special Ability Requirements

  • Have a strong work ethic and a passion for pursuing research in aquatic ecology.
  • Work outside in adverse weather conditions and locations (e.g., wetlands, ponds, and lakes) while performing tasks that require strenuous physical activity.
  • Operate common software packages.
  • Demonstrate regular and predictable attendance.
  • Obtain a current, valid driver license by the date of employment.