2026 Internship Opportunities

The primary goal of the interns would be to search for, discover, and select significant events in New Jersey’s ecological and conservation history in order to populate a state or regional timeline for Princeton’s iteration of Maya Lin’s memorial: “What is Missing?”. These events would demonstrate instances of species loss and loss of abundance, stories of restoration and recovery, and significant conservation milestones.

The interns would search scientific literature, indigenous accounts, the writings and illustrations of early naturalists, government websites and collections, as well as open access libraries, databases, and repositories for these events. They would prioritize events for inclusion in our timeline based on their importance to our ecological and conservation narrative.  The interns would select quotes from reputable sources which would capture these episodes of loss and recovery in ways that would appeal to the general public by being both informative and emotionally evocative.  The interns would also search for images and photographs in the public domain to best illustrate the meaning and intent of the quotes.

Along with populating the timeline, interns may also work on other aspects of our exhibit.  For example, they may be asked to design their own “What If?” posters, for possible inclusion in the exhibit.

Selected students might work on two timelines: one might be a New Jersey timeline; the other a timeline that encompasses areas which go beyond state boundaries to include common watersheds or ecological ranges.

In crafting effective search strategies, evaluating and appropriately citing sources, and adhering to fair use guidelines, interns would hone powerful information literacy skills.  They would also deepen their knowledge of communication strategies, including how to communicate specialized knowledge to a general audience, and how to use visual and textual tools to communicate persuasively in a multi-media environment.

Background in ecology and environmental studies as well as a strong interest in research

Background in visual design with experience working with tools such as Photoshop is a plus.

Laptop is required.

• Students will meet with internship mentors in the spring, prior to the internship start date. Reading materials can also be provided.
•  Exploration of all facets of Maya Lin’s “What is Missing?” memorial: https://www.whatismissing.org/
• Students are responsible for securing accommodations for the duration of their internship. On-campus summer housing is typically available the first week of June until the first week of August (details to become available in Spring 2026). If the internship falls outside of on-campus housing availability, students will need to secure alternate housing.