Internship Title: Project TRUE Field Research Assistant
Location: Bronx Zoo
Department: Education
Supervisor/Trainer: Coordinator of Project TRUE
Duration: 8 weeks in summer (June 30 – Aug. 20) and 15 weeks in the fall (Sept. 12 – Dec. 19; plus one Saturday in January 2027 for final presentations)
Schedule: - Summer = Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9:30 am - 4:00 pm;
- Fall = Saturdays, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Number of Positions Available: 25
Application Deadline: February 25, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; candidates are encouraged to apply early. Compensation: In the summer, interns receive either a $750 stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon successful completion of the position OR are paid $17.00/hour through SYEP (if eligible and selected to work with WCS's authorized provider). In the fall, all interns receive a $350 stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon successful completion of the position. Students will be able to use school-provided OMNY cards during the internship to cover travel. OMNY cards can be provided to students ineligible for school-issued ONMY cards. Please note that both lump-sum stipends are subject to applicable taxes and your final amount will depend on personal tax status.
Internship Summary: Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology) is an urban ecology research and youth development program at The Bronx Zoo. In Project TRUE, small teams of high school students are paired with a Fordham University undergraduate student, who serves as a near-peer research mentor, to conduct field research. Research topics range from bird behavior and mammal diversity to invasive species management and water quality. Throughout the summer, students learn and put into practice research and science communication skills. Interns continue this work in the fall portion of the program while expanding on their research projects while learning more in-depth research skills through field trips, lessons, and workshops. Learn more here: https://bronxzoo.com/teens/project-true
Learning Outcomes: - With guidance from your mentor and program staff, you will learn how to design an authentic research project and conduct ecological field research.
- You will learn and practice field research and data collection techniques such as using camera traps, collection nets, plant surveys, point counts, etc.
- You will contribute to ongoing research projects that improve our understanding of NYC wildlife and ecosystems.
- You will have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University staff.
- You will learn to analyze and synthesize your data and present research findings to the scientific community and the general public.
- You will join the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium, giving you access to a wide range of professional opportunities and the chance to connect with hundreds of members and alumni through exclusive events.
Requirements/Qualifications- You must be a current high school sophomore or junior in good standing.
- Resident of the Bronx.
- Comfortable in both indoor and outdoor settings.
- Interested in science, research, and the environment.
What to expect on the application: - The application will ask you to upload a resume, but this is not required. You DO NOT need to upload a cover letter.
- You will be asked to provide the name, email, and phone number of at least 1 reference.
- You will be asked to provide 100-150 word responses to the following long answer questions. Applicants who do not fully respond to these questions will not be considered.
- Why do you want to participate in this internship? What skills, knowledge, or experiences will you bring to the program?
- What do you like about science, research, and ecology? Describe a time when you observed or experienced something in nature that made you ask a question or want to investigate further.
- What are your future career goals and how would this internship help you learn, grow, and prepare you for those goals?
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until February 25, 2026 Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
- Strong candidates will be invited to the next step of the application: an interview process. If selected for an interview, you will only need to attend ONE of the listed dates. If selected, you will receive an email with further information. Interviews are expected to take place on February 18 (1-4pm), February 28 (1-4pm), March 8 (1-4pm) at the Bronx Zoo.
