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Collaboration with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Surveying the Woody Vegetation across Powdermill Nature Reserve to Track Change Over Time 

Open to all Pitt undergraduate students. Sophomore & Junior students preferred.  

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Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025 

The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation is pleased to present a unique summer research opportunity in partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History at their facility at the Powdermill Nature Reserve. This full-time, 12-week program runs May 19 - August 8 with compensation at $16/hour. Housing is available on site.

Please read through the details below carefully before applying.  

  1. Project: Surveying the Woody Vegetation across Powdermill Nature Reserve to Track Change Over Time 

  1. Department: Powdermill Nature Reserve, Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Located in Rector, PA 15677). Housing is available onsite at Powdermill Nature Reserve. 

  1. Timeline: May 19 - August 8, full time. There is a mandatory orientation on May 12 which will be held either virtually or at the CMNH.  

  1. Compensation: $16/hour for the course of the 12 weeks  

  1. Project Description: The woody vegetation across Powdermill's 2,000 acres of forested habitat was exhaustively surveyed in 2008-09. Seventeen years later, we are interested in how the forest community has changed due to factors including climate change and invasive species. A field crew of 6 will revisit the >500 original survey plots during the summer of 2025 and collect data on the species and size of trees and shrubs currently living here, giving us valuable insights into how this Appalachian habitat is adapting to these changes. 

  1. Responsibilities: The hired student will be required to check in via weekly email updates with MCSI staff. The student is required to provide three deliverables: 1) an 8-minute oral presentation at the MCSI Summer Research Symposium, 2) a 2-minute video to be shown at the Symposium, and 3) a five-page final paper  

  1. Skills: Student should be comfortable working outside in rugged terrain and able to navigate off-trail using GPS. Skills in identifying eastern trees and shrubs is preferred but not required.  

  1. Requirements: Complete application form and provide resume and at least one letter of support. Students entering sophomore or junior year are preferred. Students studying environmental science, environmental studies, sustainability, biology, or other relevant fields are preferred.