The Biocontrol & Microbiomes Internship gives undergraduates the opportunity to dive into hands-on research on soil ecology, pest management, plant–microbe–insect interactions, and the molecular tools used to study them.
Interns support ongoing lab and field research, learn core research skills, and contribute to real projects focused on sustainable agriculture, invasive species, and ecological restoration.
What You’ll Do
Depending on your interests and skills, interns may focus on one or more of the following tracks:
- Assist with insect bioassays, fungal culturing, and greenhouse trials
- Collect and process soil, plant, or insect samples
- Participate in ecological monitoring and pest management experiments
- Organize and clean datasets
- Support analysis of soil or insect microbiome data
- Help maintain research logs, metadata, and basic bioinformatics
Credits & Enrollment
- Offered for 1–3 credits, based on workload:
- 1 credit = ~40 hours
- 2 credits = ~80 hours
- 3 credits = ~120 hours
- Available Fall, Spring, and Summer
- Students must enroll in ALE …. during the semester they complete the internship
- Summer internships require tuition payment, like any other UVM summer course
- Students may earn up to 3 internship credits per semester, and up to 15 total
Compensation
- Internships are typically unpaid
- Students who qualify for Federal Work-Study (FWS) may be able to use their award to receive hourly pay
- Occasionally, grant-funded paid opportunities are available for returning or advanced interns
Learning Contracts & Evaluations
Before starting, students complete a Learning Contract outlining:
- Learning goals
- Weekly schedule & work plan
- Expected deliverables (e.g., final reflection, protocol update, dataset contribution)
During the internship, students are expected to:
- Log hours and submit weekly journals
- Attend regular lab check-ins
- Submit a final reflection, presentation, or contribution to a lab output
- Complete a supervisor evaluation
How to Apply or Get Started
Interested students should:
- Schedule a brief meeting
- Discuss available roles, your learning goals, and weekly availability
- Complete the Learning Contract and request instructor permission to enroll in ALE 2991
Additional Info
- Internships are customized based on student interests, background, and goals
- Most roles are flexible and self-directed, with weekly guidance from Dr. Nouri-Aiin
- Some positions may require early morning hours, weekend visits, or travel to research sites
- Students are expected to be motivated, communicative, and reliable, with curiosity about research and a willingness to learn