Summer 2024 Water Resources Intern

YOUR ROLE: 

Progressive AE's Summer Internship Program is a paid opportunity that provides a 100% real-world experience for students early in their career.  Throughout the summer you will apply academic learning to real-world situations and cultivate client relationship, problem-solving, and communication skills.  And with service-learning opportunities, community outings, wellness participation, and professional development lunch-and-learns, you'll build a foundation for working in the Water Resources field in the future. 

As a Water Resources Intern, you will work collaboratively with scientists to conduct aquatic plant surveys, collect water quality samples, and conduct laboratory analysis.  Typical work includes driving a pickup truck and trailering a boat to lakes in Michigan's lower peninsula, assisting with loading and unloading of survey supplies, driving a 16-foot Lund boat, navigating with GPS, and recording field observations. There may also be opportunities to contribute to GIS mapping.  This would entail providing mapping services for the study and management of lakes for our clients.

HOURS:

 
This role entails working 20-30 hours weekly, typically from Monday through Thursday. Hours worked daily will vary depending on company schedule and the distance of lakes travelled to. The opportunity to work full-time may be evaluated throughout the consideration process.

WHAT YOU WILL DO: 

• Contribute to the Water Resources team and clients to ensure they achieve project schedules and budgets. 
• Participate in estimating the time required to travel to and from sites throughout Michigan's lower peninsula. Drive pickup truck and trailer 16-foot boat, working long days up to 12 hours in length.   
• Assist with loading and unloading of survey supplies weighing up to 50 pounds. 
• Obtain or maintain boating safety certification. 
• Alert the Scientist or Practice Leader if you become aware of changes that could affect the project scope, schedule, or your work completion. 
• Provide field observations consistent with Progressive's standards. 
• Assist in minor boat and vehicle repair and maintenance as necessary.  
• Provide laboratory analysis consistent with Progressive AE's standards 
• Navigate a variety of weather conditions when driving pickup truck and boat several hours each day on the job, including hot, cold, wet, humid, windy, and wavy conditions. 
• Understand what the deliverable needs to be to meet your client's project needs and what it takes to make projects successful. 
• Identify a variety of aquatic plants using basic knowledge of limnology. 

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Your Education: Enrollment in a Biology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences or similar degree program.  Completion of at least 1 year of coursework required. Completed coursework in Aquatic Sciences or GIS preferred. 
• Your License:  
• Valid driver's license and good driving record required, with no driving or other infractions that would preclude insurability. 
• Boating safety certification or the ability to obtain certification prior to hire. 
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certification preferred. 
• Your Knowledge and Experience: 
• Comfort working around and in open water in a variety of weather conditions.  Basic swimming skills are necessary. 
• Ability to work and communicate successfully during long workdays. 
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, climb in and out of a boat frequently, and drive several hours each day on the job. 
• Attention to detail with an emphasis on quality work products and client service.
• Excellent technical, written and oral communication skills. 
• Knowledge of aquatic plants and basic knowledge of limnology desirable (and necessary within start of internship.) 
• Strong commitment to continuous learning. 
• Your Technical Skills:  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
• Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping experience preferred, particularly for data collection. ArcPro experience preferred.