Internships

The Department of Earth Sciences at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has two 12-week paid David B. Jones Paleontology Internships in digital image processing for the Fall in 2019. This internship primarily offers an opportunity to learn and apply image processing software (Dragonfly, Avizo) to reveal the anatomy of fossil vertebrates in the new Digital Imaging Laboratory at the Museum.  

The David B. Jones Paleontology Intern will have a diversity of experiences in the Department of Earth Sciences. The intern will mainly assist in the Digital Imaging Lab, with primary responsibility being to digitally image Paleocene vertebrate fossils from the Colorado Springs Project or Cretaceous vertebrate fossils from the Madagascar Paleontology Project. The intern will gain research skills and experience in image processing, segmentation, and 3-dimensional reconstruction of CT datasets. This internship also provides the opportunity to develop communication and presentation skills by working alongside curators, staff, and volunteers in a diverse, collaborative environment. Additionally, there may be opportunity for some field experience with ongoing projects run by curators. The intern will report directly to Lindsay Dougan, with more general oversight provided by curators David Krause, Joe Sertich, Tyler Lyson, James Hagadorn, and/or Ian Miller. 

The duration of the internship will be spent in the Digital Imaging Lab on-site. Any fieldwork that may occur will be conducted on a daily basis

Internship Tasks

• Processes images obtained from CT datasets
• Digitally segments elements of individual fossil specimens
• Generate deliverables (models, figures, animations) for analysis
• Collect specimens in the field as needed

Qualifications

• Ideal candidates will hold an M.S. in biological sciences, or at a minimum, a B.S. degree in biological sciences, or completion of upper-level coursework for the major.
• Experience with visualization software is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong attention to detail, patience, and fine motor skills; excellent hand-eye coordination
• Positive attitude
• Ability to work collaboratively with Museum staff and volunteers
  
  

Working Conditions

• Office: Moderate noise (business office with computers and printers, light traffic)
• Stand or sit: must be able to remain in a stationary position (85% of time)
• Digital Imaging Lab: Moderate noise (computers, light traffic), most time spent at a work station.

Compensation
$400 per week for 12 week internship

Schedule
12 week internship
August – November
Monday – Friday; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Application Deadline
Monday, August 5, 2019

How to Apply

Current or Former Volunteer or Intern?
If you are a current or former volunteer or intern at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science email [email protected] with the subject heading David B Jones Digital Imaging Internship. You will be sent instructions on how access your account.

Applying for the First Time?
Please click on the APPLY NOW button to create an account, complete the application and required forms.

All applicants are required to submit a cover letter describing previous field experience and a CV to your account. Please combine the cover letter, resume, or CV into one document before uploading to your current or newly created account.

Please be aware the system only allows you to submit one cover letter and CV. If you are interested in more than one internship, please upload the resume and cover letter for the primary intern position you are interested in and send the cover letter and CV for your second position of interest to [email protected] with the internship position name in the subject heading.

Questions
For questions about the application process please contact Moe Shuley at [email protected] or 303.370.8345.

The Department of Earth Sciences oversees several labs at the Museum. The labs include the Schlessman Family Earth Sciences Laboratory, located within the Prehistoric Journey exhibit on the third floor and visible to Museum visitors, and two new behind-the-scenes labs in the Avenir Collections Center – one used for fossil preparation of large specimens, and the second used for molding and casting of vertebrate fossils. In these labs, the intern will assist in the preparation of fossil materials collected by Museum curators from across the Rocky Mountain Region and the world for research, education, and exhibition. 

The Fossil Prep Lab Intern will participate in the following activities:

• Prepare and stabilize vertebrate fossils using air scribes, consolidants, and glues
• Assist with the inventory and accessioning of molds and casts of vertebrate fossils
• Mold and cast vertebrate fossils from Tanzania
• Build archival jackets for large and small scale specimens for storage in collections
• Assist volunteers with fossil preparation and molding and casting projects
• Communicate with museum guests during “Behind the Scenes” events
• Assist with management of supplies and materials for the Fossil Prep Lab and Molding and Casting Labs

Qualifications

• Must have a passion for the science and an interest in pursuing a career in museums
• Completed or enrolled at a 2- or 4-year institution in the Earth or Life Sciences preferred, but not required.
• Strong attention to detail, patience, and fine motor skills; excellent hand-eye coordination
• Ability to work collaboratively with Museum staff and volunteers.
• Organized; ability to self-start and maintain balance between a number of projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite products.

Mentors
Natalie Toth
Salvador Bastien

Compensation
$400 week stipend for 12 week internship

Duration
12 week internship
Monday – Friday; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Late August/Early September – November

Application Deadline
Friday, July 26 

The Department of Earth Sciences at DMNS is offering three, 8-week field internships for Fall 2019. The Denver Paleo team prides itself as one of the leading field-based programs in the US and offers unrivaled experiences and education in paleontological methods and research. New dinosaur discoveries are regularly made in the field area and a variety of techniques will be experienced including helicopter supported lifts, major quarrying, prospecting, paleobotanical collecting, geological sampling, etc. Field Internships are highly competitive.

Interns will assist Dr. Joe Sertich and the DMNS Laramidia Project team in ongoing, field-based reconnaissance and excavations in the Late Cretaceous of the southern Rocky Mountain region, collecting dinosaurs in the world-renowned Kaiparowits Formation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. For the 2019 season, we will be focusing on the excavation of a spectacular ceratopsid (horned dinosaur) bonebed and completion of other significant sites. Interns are expected to maintain a positive attitude and high level of excellence and professionalism in adverse working conditions. This internship is for undergraduate, graduate, and beginning professionals. Interns will receive a stipend scholarship for the term of the internship.

Interns will engage in a variety of fossil excavation and camp management tasks. They will receive their directives from project leaders and work on teams with Museum staff and experienced volunteers. Interns will be expected to engage in strenuous physical labor including pick axing, shoveling, and heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs). Interns will be expected to work in adverse working conditions at approximately 6,000 feet elevation, in various temperatures (20 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) and precipitation (rain, snow, sleet) conditions. The terrain is extremely steep and remote, with daily hikes of more than 10 miles. Food, water, and general kitchen/basecamp gear will be provided by DMNS, interns will be expected to provide their own personal camping gear and hiking/collecting gear.

Schedule 

September 9 to October 30

A total of three, 8-week positions are being offered, with commensurate stipends. Dates are not flexible. 
September 9: Orientation, begin in Denver to pack field equipment 
September 14: Departure for field sites in southern Utah 
September 16 – October 3: Remote helicopter camp at ceratopsid bonebed 
October 25: Return to Denver 
October 25 – 30: Unpacking specimens, equipment cleanup in Denver.

Fossil Site Tasks
Field interns should have a working knowledge of geology, paleontology, or a related field. Field tasks will be related to locating and excavating large fossil vertebrate localities, vertebrate microsites, paleobotanical localities, measuring stratigraphic sections, and geologic sampling, and will involve:

• Pickaxing and shoveling (up to 8 hours per day)
• Sample-bagging and lifting (samples may weigh 50+ lbs.)
• Rock sawing and jackhammering (up to 6 hours per day)
• Prospecting for new localities
• Quarry mapping and note taking
• Field specimen cataloging
• Plaster jacketing
• Daily tool clean up

Site Responsibilities/Gear

• Participation in camp cooking and cleanup
• Active in camp management and operations
• Appropriate hiking boots/shoes (required)
• Sun hat/glasses
• Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, and pad)
• Internal frame backpack of at least 2,500 cubic inches max volume
• GPS, hand lens, rock hammer
• 4L of water bottles

Responsibilities to Team

• Positive attitude at all times
• Attend breakfast (7 a.m.), dinner (7 or 8 p.m.), and post-dinner meetings
• Communicate all on-site issues with project leaders
• Represent the Museum in a professional and positive manner at on-site and off-site functions
• Create a welcoming atmosphere for other volunteers, visitors, and staff by being friendly, informed, and   enthusiastic
• Understand the training materials and be informed and updated on on-site activities
• Adhere to any excavation procedures and/or policies developed by the Laramidia Project team

Physical Working Conditions

• On-site work will be strenuous in terms of physical work and working conditions. Interns working at excavations must be in good physical condition, or know their limitations and only agree to volunteer within those limitations
• While working at the site, interns must be able to stand, walk, and dig for long periods of time in various weather conditions
• Showers are arranged periodically (weekly) as necessary but expect remote camping conditions with limited amenities. Regular days off from work are not scheduled but will be taken as dictated by weather/work schedules.

Physical Effort Required

• Physical activity required by handling objects up to 50 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 30 lbs. frequently
• Hiking distances of 5 miles regularly and greater than 10 miles occasionally over extremely rough and variable terrain that includes desert climates (heat, cold, wind, rain, snow), exposure on cliffs and steep slopes, and limited access to facilities (showers, toilets, phones)

Compensation
$400 week stipend for 8 week internship

Application Deadline
Monday, August 5, 2019

How to Apply

Current or Former Volunteer or Intern?
If you are a current or former volunteer or intern at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science email [email protected] with the subject heading Paleontology Field Internship. You will be sent instructions on how access your account.

Applying for the First Time?
Please click on the blue APPLY NOW button above to create an account, complete the application and required forms.

All applicants are required to submit a cover letter describing previous field experience and a CV to your account. Please combine the cover letter, and CV into one document before uploading to your current or newly created account.

Please be aware the system only allows you to submit one cover letter and CV. If you are interested in more than one internship, please upload the resume and cover letter for the primary intern position you are interested in and send the cover letter and CV for your second position of interest to [email protected] with the internship position name in the subject heading.

Questions
For questions about the application process please contact Moe Shuley at [email protected] or 303.370.8345.