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Year-Round Graduate Intern - Wildlife Biologist

Job Description


NREL’s National Wind Technology Center located at our Flatirons Campus between Golden and Boulder, CO has an immediate opening for a graduate intern to support our wind energy and wildlife research portfolio. The ideal candidate will be experienced in or actively researching species (e.g., hoary bats) or species groups (e.g., raptors or prairie grouse) that commonly interact with land-based wind energy development. A research emphasis on collision risk or behavioral interactions with wind turbines is desirable. Further, knowledge of and familiarity with the literature around monitoring and minimization strategies to quantify and reduce the effects of wind energy development on wildlife is also valued.

This position will work with the portfolio lead and an internal team supporting a variety of customers including the US Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office. They may also work collaboratively with other National Laboratories and industry partners. The minimum appointment duration is six months, but the position can be extended. During summer, the internship is full time. During the school semester, the number of work hours may be reduced to account for other academic responsibilities.

More specifically, the successful candidate will support several projects including advancing monitoring and minimization technologies, writing research briefs, technical reports, planning and convening workshops or similar forums, and sharing information within and outside of NREL. Typical tasks may include:

  • Conducting literature review and synthesis on interactions between land-based wind turbines and bats, raptors, or prairie grouse.
  • Supporting research activities to validate monitoring and minimization technology development.
  • Assisting in writing technical reports, research briefs, and outreach materials.
  • Participating in engagement and outreach activities to relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, researchers, wind energy partners. 
  • Collaborating with researchers and managers on best practices for effectively integrating monitoring and minimization strategies for wind-wildlife interactions.
  • Developing resources to support knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
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Basic Qualifications


Must be seeking a Bachelor’s Degree and within a year of graduation, or currently enrolled in a graduate program in wildlife biology, ecology, natural resources, or related field. or have graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Internship period cannot exceed 12 months past graduation. Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Please Note:
•You will need to upload official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process.
•If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
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Additional Required Qualifications


The graduate intern is expected to demonstrate a broad understanding of wildlife biology, policy, statistics, and a general knowledge of wind energy development. Further, the successful candidate will be driven, organized, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and thrive working independently and in a group setting.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated skill in disseminating scientific information to a variety of audiences and stakeholders.
  • Experience with synthesizing literature.
  • Experience with statistical analysis applied to wildlife management or ecology.
  • Demonstrated desire to contribute to the state of the science related to wind energy and wildlife interactions.
  • Relevant coursework or experience in relevant discipline or field, including wildlife management, mammalogy, ornithology, behavior, statistics, acoustic monitoring, mortality monitoring, or other relevant fields