Higher-Education Student Internship: Bat Conservation & Acoustic Monitoring (2026 John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation Bat Conservation Internship) 

Host Organization: The White Memorial Conservation Center, Inc.  
Location: Litchfield/Morris, Connecticut, USA 
Position Type: Paid internship (higher-education student) 
Dates: May 18, 2026 – July 31, 2026 
Compensation: $17.00/hour 

Schedule: Target 40 hours/week, primarily weekdays with dawn/dusk work required. 
Housing: Shared housing available 

Supervisor: Research Director (direct supervision/mentorship) 

Internship Summary 

This internship provides hands-on professional experience supporting an ongoing bat conservation monitoring effort. The intern will learn to operate passive ultrasonic acoustic recording devices, implement data management standards, and use industry-standard workflows to process and interpret acoustic files (including quality assurance/quality control and documentation). The intern will also participate in an ongoing monitoring effort examining the prey availability of emergent aquatic insects in relation to a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) maternity colony, integrating prey monitoring with bat activity data. 

What the Intern Will Learn 

By the end of the internship, the student should be able to: 

• Independently deploy and maintain passive acoustic monitoring equipment and document site variables. 

• Process acoustic recordings using established workflows (e.g., screening noise/low-quality files, running an auto-classifier, and conducting manual review as needed). 

• Contribute to an insect-prey monitoring dataset (collection, basic sorting/identification, biomass preparation/measurement, and data entry/quality assurance and quality control). 

• Produce professional outputs (clean datasets, short social media posts, and a brief end-of-season summary for a general audience). 

Core Responsibilities 

Bat Acoustic Monitoring (Primary) 

• Deploy, retrieve, and maintain passive ultrasonic acoustic recorders at designated monitoring locations. 

• Follow field protocols for microphone placement and vegetation clearance to improve recording quality (training provided). 

• Download, organize, and archive recordings using established file-naming conventions and metadata standards. 

• Assist with acoustic processing workflows, which may include: 

• Screening/removing poor-quality files and background noise, 

• Running an auto-classifier, 

• Conducting manual vetting of select calls for quality assurance/quality control and flagging uncertain IDs for review. 

Emergent Aquatic Insect Monitoring (Primary) 

• Support insect sampling that pairs with acoustic monitoring nights (training provided). 

• Assist with collection methods used to characterize nocturnal insect availability (e.g., blacklight/UV trap approaches), with specimens retrieved the following morning. 

• Sort and identify insects to an agreed taxonomic level (often Order), support preparation for size-class measurements, and enter/manage results in shared datasets. 

Data Stewardship & Communication (Throughout) 

• Maintain clean, well-documented datasets (field logs, metadata). 

• Use Microsoft Office and learn other platforms as needed for the position. 

• Draft short written summaries of progress or methods for a general audience (e.g., end-of-season summary, short internal memo). 

Professional Deliverables (Grant-Aligned Outputs) 

Because this internship is intended to deliver meaningful professional development outcomes, the intern will be expected to complete: 

• A tidy, well-documented acoustic dataset for the internship period (including a data dictionary and metadata notes). 

• A tidy insect-prey dataset segment for the same period. 

• A brief end-of-season summary (2–4 pages) describing methods, accomplishments, and recommendations for next steps. 

• Social media posts, newsletter articles, and other short communications delivered to the public. 

Minimum Qualifications (Student-Focused) 

Applicants should: 

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in biology, ecology, wildlife, natural resources, environmental science, or a related field. 

• Demonstrate serious interest in bat conservation and field-based ecological monitoring. 

• Be able to work in varied outdoor conditions, on uneven terrain, and around biting insects/ticks; early morning/evening work is required. 

• Hold a valid driver’s license and be able to drive a pickup truck (automatic; occasional 4WD/off-road). 

• Be able to work independently and as part of a team; collaborate respectfully with staff, volunteers, and the public as needed. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Prior experience with passive bat acoustics and/or insect sampling (helpful but not required). 

• Familiarity with ecological data collection standards and careful field note-taking. 

• Comfort learning structured workflows in acoustic analysis software (training provided). 

Work Environment & Physical Requirements 

• Field + office role; office environment is non-smoking with moderate noise levels. 

• May occasionally lift/carry equipment (up to ~50 lbs). 

• Work includes outdoor hazards (poison ivy, sun exposure, uneven terrain, biting insects) and potential exposure considerations associated with wildlife work (training and safety guidance provided). 

Application Requirements 

A complete application includes: 

1. Cover letter (required), including: 

• A short statement (1–2 paragraphs) demonstrating serious interest in bat conservation and why you want hands-on experience with acoustic monitoring and data stewardship. 

1. Resume (required) 

1. Two references (required), including: 

• One academic advisor (name, title, email, phone) 

• One additional professional or academic reference 

How to Apply / Contact 

Please email application materials to: 

James Fischer 
Research Director, The White Memorial Conservation Center, Inc. 
80 Whitehall Rd., P.O. Box 368, Litchfield, CT 06759 
Email: james@whitememorialcc.org | Phone: 860-567-0857 

Application review: Position open until filled, with priority consideration for applications received by February 28, 2026.